ONCE again in the Psalms we observe the Psalmist going to prayer in time of trouble. There are four things to note about this verse concerning the Psalmist’s prayer in a time of trouble. They are the place of prayer, the passion in prayer, the problem for prayer, and the petition in prayer.
Place of prayer. “From the end of the earth.” We do not have to be in a church or a chapel or other special place to pray to God. The “end of the earth” speaks of those places far from normal help. Yet, in those places we can still seek God for help, for He is omnipresent. We can reach Him in prayer from anywhere on this earth.
Passion in prayer. “I cry unto thee.” This shows the earnestness of the Psalmist in his praying to God. We need to be earnest in praying. If we are not earnest in praying, we cannot expect God to be earnest in answering our prayers. The only way to pray aright is to pray earnestly.
Problem for prayer. “When my heart is overwhelmed.” The Psalmist is experiencing some very deep troubles, for his heart has been overwhelmed. He is ready to give up. His problems have just about defeated him. But God is able to help no matter how great our troubles. God is not limited by big problems but by small prayers. And the prayer here is big in faith. In spite of his dire situation, the Psalmist still clings to God in faith and pleads his case.
Petition in prayer. “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” In Scripture, Christ is sometimes spoken of as a rock. Like a rock, He can provide safety and sight. One way the rock provides safety is to give shade to the weary traveler in the hot wilderness. But the rock has to be “higher than I” to do it. Spiritually Christ provides protection for us from the heat of God’s judgment because He is higher than us. The rock also provides sight. Being on a rock “higher than I” gives better sight than being on ground level. Christ and His Word give us better sight about life and eternity than the world.