DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 April 3
Gordale Scar (1811-1813)
James Ward (1769-1859)
Romanticism Style
Tate Britain, London, England, United Kingdom
Image Source: Wikipedia
Explanation: In Psalm 61 David asks God for refuge and receives assurance of help. The particulars of the Psalm (especially the fact that he wrote it when he was king - v. 6) suggest that it was written during the rebellion of Absalom and his cohorts. The painting above (Gordale Scar) symbolizes the type of rock or cliff (v. 2) in which he wished to be hid.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 15 - 18. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 61 - #1. Psalm 61 - #2. Psalm 61 - #3. Psalm 61 - #4. Psalm 61 - #5. Psalm 61 - #6. Psalm 61 - #7. Psalm 61 - #8. Psalm 61 - #9. ]
David asks God to hear his cry and prayer. He is in exile (at the "end of the earth"); and from there he cries out to God with an overwhelmed heart and asks God to lead him to "the rock (cliff) that is higher than I." He acknowledges that God himself has been a shelter and a tower for him, guarding him from his enemy. He expresses his confidence that he will abide in God's Tabernacle (tent) forever because he trusts in the covering of his wings (1-4). He expresses his assurance that God has heard his vows and has given him an inheritance among those who fear his name. He expresses his trust that God will prolong the life of the king (David). He expresses his assurance that he will abide before God forever. So, with these assurances in mind, he asks to be preserved by God's mercy and truth so that he may sing praise to God forever and daily perform his vows (5-8).
THE PSALTER:
BOOK TWO OF FIVE:
Psalms 42-72.
Psalm 61
Hear my cry, O God;
attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me,
and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever:
I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows:
thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life:
and his years as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever:
O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever,
that I may daily perform my vows.
* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer ( Habakkuk) and a musical notation (" upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a " send to" notice (" To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]
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