“LEAD ME TO THE ROCK HIGHER THAN I ”

JUNE 15, 2008

New Life Bible Church

Allen McLauchlin, Pastor

 

Hear my cry, O God;  listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you,  I call as my heart grows faint;  lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  Psalm 61:1-2

 

I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.  Exodus 17:6

 

"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.  Numbers 20:8,11

 

for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.  1 Corinthians 10:4

 

"The stone (rock) which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone," 1 Peter 2:7b

 

1.  A rock is symbolic of a place of refuge or FORGIVENESS.

 

For you have been my refuge.  Psalm 61:3

 

"Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. Numbers 35:6

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,  Ephesians 1:7

 

2. A rock is symbolic of a tower or a source of STRENGTH.

 

A tower of strength against the enemy. Psalm 61:3a

 

He alone is my rock and my salvation;  he is my fortress (tower), I will never be shaken.  Psalm 62:2

 

3. A rock is symbolic of a tent or a soft PILLAR place of rest).

 

I long to dwell in your tent forever… Psalm 61:4

 

Say to the Israelites: `On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days,  so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'"  Leviticus 23:34,43

 

One thing I ask of the LORD,  this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD  all the days of my life,  to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD  and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble  he will keep me safe in his dwelling;  he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle  and set me high upon a rock.  Then my head will be exalted  above the enemies who surround me; Psalm 27:4-6

 

4.  A rock is symbolic of God’s wings or His CHARACTER OR LOVE.

 

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.  Psalm 61:4

 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.                   Matthew 23:37

 

He will cover you with his feathers,  and under his wings you will find refuge; Psalm 91:4

 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. 1 John 4:16

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19