Devotional

"Calgon, Take Me Away!"

There are times when life does not play fair. Hardballs, curveballs, fastballs all pummel you at once. To the casual observer, you are calm, cool and collected on the outside. However, on the inside fear, worry and stress threaten to swamp you. “I can’t do this! Will it ever work out? I am losing the ground I gained!” In times like these you want to yell, “Calgon, take me away” (YouTube) like the 70’s television commercial and be swept into never-never-land where the problems of everyday life vanish. For a writer who has spent the greater part of her life wanting to write, but sitting, bound and gagged by fear, stifled and disempowered from doubting myself and the One who called me (the Lord Jesus Christ), I can testify there is a remedy for this “stinking thinking.” Psalm 61:1-4 gives explicit, concise instruction.

We find David crying out to the Lord in verse one, “Hear me, God!  Pay attention, listen to my prayer (Strong’s, 1980, p. 109, 105).” We witness David taking his troubles to someone that possesses the power to change them. Scripture teaches to cast our cares on the Lord for He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7, KJV). David’s expression of crying out from the ends of the earth suggests he felt distanced or disconnected from the Lord. David’s heart was overwhelmed. The word “overwhelmed” is from a Hebrew root meaning; to shroud, clothe, to languish, to cover, faint, fail, feeble, swoon. It carries the idea of darkness (Strong’s, 1980, p. 87). David was faint and languishing in the dark. Did he continue to sit there and swoon? No, David cried out for help, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Pridrangar Lighthouse, Iceland Photographer: Arni Saeberg (2017)

The word “Lead,” comes from a Hebrew root indicating: to guide, to transport, govern, lead (forth), straiten (Strong’s, 1980, p. 77). The word “rock” is defined: cliff, rock, boulder, figuratively a refuge (Strong’s, 1980, p. 99). David was looking for guidance, governing, leadership to a specific place the cliff, the boulder, the refuge that was higher than himself. He was looking unto the author and finisher of his faith (Hebrews 12:2, KJV). Notice, David did not depend on his strength, power or intellect to grant transportation. He was trusting in the Lord to guide him to a higher place than where he was currently. Can we do that today? Yes, we can. The Lord is waiting for us to come to Him so He can supply us with rest (Matthew 11:28-30, KJV).

The Psalm continues with David declaring God is a shelter, a strong tower from the enemy. The Hebrew word for shelter specifies a refuge from rain, storm and danger (Strong’s 1980, p. 65). In verse four, David commits to trust in the “covert” of God’s wings. Covert is defined: hiding place, secrecy, protection (Strong’s, 1980, p. 84). David knew God in a Psalm 91 definition: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High (there is no one and no-thing higher), shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:1, 2, KJV).

Glory to God! David had a refuge and shelter. We have the same shelter and sanctuary today. No matter how big the storm gets, how hard the wind blows, we can run to the rock that is higher than we are and find safety and protection. When we are overwhelmed, faint, feeble and failing, and we cry out, we will find refuge from the storm, rain and danger.

References

Saeberg, A. (2017). Pridrangaviti Lighthouse [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/nature_and_travel/2017/05/15/incredible_location_for_a_lighthouse_perched_on_a_r/

Strong, J. (1980). Abingdon’s Strong’s exhaustive concordance of the Bible with the exclusive key-word concordance. Nashville, TN. Abingdon.

The Bible. King James Version. Public domain.

Vintage 70’s Calgon Take Me Away Commercial. (2009, August 6). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVLzkTuVmrw.