A man of God has great difficulties. David is almost over­whelmed with adversity. He cries to the Lord. And the Lord seems to be far from him; he is crying "from the ends of the earth."

Many Christians have had similar experiences. The Bible mentions a few by name. Old father Jacob's sons had returned from Egypt with the grain they needed to stay alive. But they could get no more unless Jacob's youngest and favored son, Benjamin, accompanied them on the next trip. This was too much for Jacob, who in his depression cried out, "All these things are against me." Elijah under the broom tree asked the Lord to take away his life. He would rather die than continue in his circumstances. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Here David, in some great difficulty and possible opposition, cries to the Lord for help. His request is, "Lord, lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

About the setting and historical circumstances we are uncertain. Possibly he was fleeing from Saul in the desert of Judea. This is a hilly and rocky area. Does Saul perhaps have him "cornered"? Seeing high rocks around him David then may have cried this prayer, "Lord, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Notice that he speaks of the rock, not just a rock. In what had become a spiritual struggle he cries to be lifted up on the rock, which can only be His God. In serious difficulty down in the valley below, seeing the high rocks that are near, he knows that he can be safe only on one of those rocks — finding security in his Lord.

This readily applies to other Christians. True Christians know what it means to be threatened, opposed, and in such circumstances to feel weak and insecure. They always face the enemies, sin, unbelief and the world. The Heidelberg Catechism says that we have three mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. The true church, always a militant church in this world, faces opposition, and therefore the people of God, when their faith is weak may feel apprehensive and afraid.

Throughout the Bible, God is often called "the Rock." One psalmist says, "He will lift me up, upon a rock." Another says, "He only is my rock and salvation." Again we read, "Thou art my Father, my God and the rock of my salvation." In Matthew 7 Jesus speaks the parable of building on the sand and on the rock. This metaphor usually refers, not to some comparatively small rock, but to a massive boulder that is immoveable. God is such a rock God for His people in Jesus Christ. Christ gives them security and joy. Christ came down to our level in the valleys and lifts man up on the spiritual "Rock," his God. The Scriptures teach that every other place in life and the world is insecure.

A writer of hymns wrote,

On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

The rock is too high for David. He can never get to the top by himself. It is too high to climb, and its sides are too steep. Therefore he cries, "Lord, lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I."

Aren't God's ways always higher than our ways? One might ask, "How much higher is that rock than what David can reach, or what man can attain?" How much "higher" is God than sinful, mortal man? His ways are higher than our ways, as the heavens are above the earth. We are talk­ing here about a distance and difference that is infinite. Man is finite, limited in all that he is and does. That God is infi­nite means that there are no limits with Him. Consider the vast dimensions of the universe, measured in millions of light years, distances beyond our comprehension. Even that great universe is limited; it can be measured. But God cannot be so limited.

God's power	………………	is incomprehensible and infinite.
God's love	……………….	is incomprehensible and infinite.
God's faithfulness	……………….	is incomprehensible and infinite.
God's mercy	……………….	is incomprehensible and infinite.
His holiness	……………….	is incomprehensible and infinite.

There is no searching of His understanding.

David felt something of this. On the Rock, with his great God, he would be safe and secure. On that rock, finite man as a believer, receives blessings from his infinite Father. Peter says that the Christian participates in the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Naturally, this does not mean that man in any way becomes God, but it does imply that the Lord gives "something" of the infinite in His great blessings to him. That which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has ever arisen in the heart of man, the Lord has prepared for those that love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). He gives to mortal man as a believer everlasting life. Scripture speaks in superlative language about the blessings bestowed on His people. The Christian is given a peace which surpasses all understanding of the finite mind. The believer receives "super-human" strength to remove mountains. He experiences that God is able to give exceeding abundantly above all that we can even ask or imagine. David at another time could say, "With my God I can run through a troop and jump over a wall." Paul experienced the same blessings when he said, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content." Being "on that Rock" martyrs throughout history were given peace of mind and the courage to face death.              

David, realizing his own inability, cries, "Lord, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Experientially he knew that it took almighty grace to lift him to such heights. In desperation he cries to the Lord for help. Such prayers the Lord always promises to hear.                               

From the subsequent verses it is plain that David finds security on the top of the rock. He can say again, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

The heavenly Father always gives good things to His children when they ask in faith. It may not always seem that way to many struggling, praying Christians. But it is true; the Bible says so. Would this Father ever give a stone for bread?

Lord, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.