Psalm 61--Lead Me to the Rock

Psalm 61
English Standard Version

Lead Me to the Rock
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.
61 Hear my cry, O God,
    listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
    when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
    Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Prolong the life of the king;
    may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
    appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,
    as I perform my vows day after day.

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I've included a couple of songs that come directly from this psalm.  David cries out to God once more to hear and listen to his prayer (and answer him).  David is spiritually exhausted as if he has been traveling from one end of the earth to the other crying out to the Lord for help.  His heart is faint (weary), and he needs the strength, shelter, and security found only in The Rock of Our Salvation that is the Lord.

David says that the Lord has been his strength in times of trouble (like he's probably in at this moment).  A tower above his enemies--the picture is that David is safe there as no one can get into the tower or scale it to get to him.  If God is keeping you safe, then no one can do you harm.

David then prays that he could dwell in the Lord's tent (His Tabernacle) forever.  That is pretty close to what is going to happen in the New Heavens and the New Earth, actually.  The Father and the Son will dwell with us so that it will be fair to say that God tabernacles with men.  We will then be like His chicks gathered under His wings for shelter, warmth and safety.  David knows the Lord has heard his vows, and David knows the Lord has made a covenant with him concerning a kingdom that will belong to his descendants (until the one called The Son of David comes and inherits that kingdom).  For this reason, David knows that he and his kingdom will not pass away at this time, for God will not break His covenant with David.

David then prays for long life for himself (the king) and those that would come after him that would be king.  I think David has in mind the blessings of the Law that long life is a blessing for obedience, and he wants himself and all of his descendants to worship and obey the Lord so that they will be blessed with long life.  David knows this will not be possible though without the Lord's steadfast love (mercy) and watch care over him and his family, for they are prone to sin.  The Lord will both keep them from sin and take the penalty of their sin upon Himself when they do sin--that is for all those who belong to Him (not assuming that all of David's family belong to the Lord because we can see from some of their actions later that some of them had no relationship with the Lord and instead chose to serve other gods, yet God did not destroy their lineage or the kingdom for the sake of the covenant He made with David that would be fulfilled through Christ).

David then ends the psalm saying day after day he will choose to sing praises to the Lord, even as he goes about performing his daily duties that he has sworn to by vow/oath.  It is the Lord that he knows will sustain him and keep him all the days of his life.