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Funeral Homily
Marion Clark
Psalm 61:2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:5
It is common for Christians to turn to the psalms in times of sorrow, if only because we find in them the very real emotions of others who knew God and trusted him, and yet nevertheless were not afraid to be honest with their God. And so Psalm 61 begins: “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.” This is the petitions of someone who felt very needy, and someone who had such a relationship with his God that he could be so direct and bold in his petition. In this case, he feels that he is at the end of the earth, or the metaphor we commonly use – at the end of his rope. He is faint. He can’t handle whatever it is he is going through. He needs help from his God.
He doesn’t call on God to assist him as we might ask a friend to give a helping hand. He is not asking God to supplement his efforts. Nor is he asking God to show him where to find help. He wants God himself. So when he asks God to lead him to the rock that is higher that he, he is asking God to lift him up onto God himself. Rock is a common metaphor for God in the psalms. In this case, the scenario is that of being in imminent danger – such as fighting enemies who are about to get the upper hand – and the psalmist, who is King David, needs to be lifted up high on a solid rock that takes him out of danger.
That image continues in verse three, this time with the metaphor of a strong tower that the psalmist can take refuge in. Rock, tower – these are images that denote firmness. When life is shaky, God is the solid rock and tower on which to keep our feet, to protect and steady us.
Then the metaphor shifts a bit. The psalmist still wants God to be his refuge, but now he speaks of a tent. Most likely David is referring to the tabernacle of God, which was literally a tent at the time. He wants to be dwelling with God; he wants to be in God’s presence. And then he moves to the most intimate of images – “the shelter of your wing ...
Marion Clark
Psalm 61:2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:5
It is common for Christians to turn to the psalms in times of sorrow, if only because we find in them the very real emotions of others who knew God and trusted him, and yet nevertheless were not afraid to be honest with their God. And so Psalm 61 begins: “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.” This is the petitions of someone who felt very needy, and someone who had such a relationship with his God that he could be so direct and bold in his petition. In this case, he feels that he is at the end of the earth, or the metaphor we commonly use – at the end of his rope. He is faint. He can’t handle whatever it is he is going through. He needs help from his God.
He doesn’t call on God to assist him as we might ask a friend to give a helping hand. He is not asking God to supplement his efforts. Nor is he asking God to show him where to find help. He wants God himself. So when he asks God to lead him to the rock that is higher that he, he is asking God to lift him up onto God himself. Rock is a common metaphor for God in the psalms. In this case, the scenario is that of being in imminent danger – such as fighting enemies who are about to get the upper hand – and the psalmist, who is King David, needs to be lifted up high on a solid rock that takes him out of danger.
That image continues in verse three, this time with the metaphor of a strong tower that the psalmist can take refuge in. Rock, tower – these are images that denote firmness. When life is shaky, God is the solid rock and tower on which to keep our feet, to protect and steady us.
Then the metaphor shifts a bit. The psalmist still wants God to be his refuge, but now he speaks of a tent. Most likely David is referring to the tabernacle of God, which was literally a tent at the time. He wants to be dwelling with God; he wants to be in God’s presence. And then he moves to the most intimate of images – “the shelter of your wing ...
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