In
this Psalm the writer sees God as his ultimate Protector: “For thou hast
been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (61:3). David was
driven out and banished when he penned this Psalm: “Hear my cry, O God;
attend unto my prayer” (61:1).
God has been good to David. He has delivered him on
numerous occasions. David knows the only one he can trust is God. He says: “I
will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings”
(61:4).
The word “tabernacle” refers to the sacred tent which
was erected for the worship of God. In the Tabernacle, there was a place called
the Holy of Holies. In it stood the Ark of the Covenant. On top of the Ark was
the mercy seat, which was a symbol of the divine presence. The mercy seat was adorned
with the figures of two golden cherubims like two eagles: “And the cherubims
spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy
seat,” (Exodus 37:9).
David
regarded it as a great privilege to abide in that sacred tent and under the
protection of the wings of the cherubins, symbolising the protection of God. So
glad was he to be under God’s protection that he sang this song of praise: “So
will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows”
(61:8).
I may daily perform my vows – The word that
interests me is the word “daily”. David aims to perform his vow daily, which is
done by praising the Lord, giving Him the glory of all mercies, as vowed and
promised.
Praising God and paying our vows to Him must be our
constant daily work and not just on Sundays. Every day we must be doing
something towards it, because it is all but little in comparison with what
which we have received. David realises that just as he has been receiving daily
the blessings from God, therefore, he needs also to perform his vows daily to
God. This is called gratitude.
David says: “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth
us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19).
Do you get it? God daily and fully supplies us
with blessings. And, His benefits are not few nor light, they are “loads”, that
is in abundance. Neither are they intermittent, but they come “daily”.
Do you realise every day is a blessing from God? Many
people in this world did not live to see TODAY that you are seeing right now.
According to the World Health Organization, 56 million people die each year,
which is an average of about 153,424 people each day.
Therefore, thank God that you are not in that 153,424
who died yesterday. God has given you TODAY. He has added another day to your
life. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is hope, but today is a present from God;
that’s why it is called present. In the parable of the rich fool, the rich man
did not live to see TODAY (Luke 12:20).
God daily performs His promises; let us also daily
perform our vows: He keeps His part of the covenant; let us not forget ours. He daily loads us with benefits; let us be thankful and
praise His name daily: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of
praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks
to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Are you performing your vow to God daily?
Jimmy Lau
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