[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-rock-that-is-higher-than-i":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-rock-that-is-higher-than-i-surround":69},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":13,"columnName":51,"date":52,"description":53,"extension":54,"image":55,"meta":56,"minRead":57,"navigation":58,"path":59,"postType":60,"publication":61,"publicationUrl":55,"seo":62,"stem":63,"topics":64,"__hash__":68},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-rock-that-is-higher-than-i.md","The Rock That Is Higher Than I",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9,10,11,12],"Psalms","1 Samuel","Hebrews","1 Corinthians",{"type":14,"value":15,"toc":47},"minimark",[16,23,26,29,32,35,38,41,44],[17,18,19],"p",{},[20,21,22],"em",{},"\"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I\" (Psalm 61:2).",[17,24,25],{},"Small stones pave sidewalks and make fine jewelry, but there's something awe-inspiring about enormous stones like the ones you see at Stone Mountain, Georgia, or Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Ancient builders used large stones to construct architectural feats like the Pyramids in Egypt, the Coliseum in Rome, and the temple in Jerusalem. Some of the foundation stones the Jews used to build the temple in Jesus' day weigh more than 200 tons. What did David have in mind when he asked the Lord, \"Lead me to the rock that is higher than I\"?",[17,27,28],{},"A high rock offers protection from enemies. When David fled from King Saul, he used a range of towering rocks as a natural screen to shield him from visibility and capture (1 Samuel 23:25-29). Likewise, the Lord is our fortress and refuge, \"a strong tower against the foe\" (Psalm 61:3).",[17,30,31],{},"A high rock provides shade from the sun. When Satan turns up the heat and the pressure rises, \"The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night\" (Psalm 121:5, 6).",[17,33,34],{},"A high rock provides an elevated vantage point from which to see. From a mountaintop, we can see for miles. When we look at the world from God's point of view, our vision expands and our outlook improves.",[17,36,37],{},"A high rock reminds us of our limitations. A rock that is \"higher than I\" puts my small size and strength into perspective. As Philip Yancey puts it, we need to learn the same lesson Job discovered—\"our arms aren't long enough to box with God.\"",[17,39,40],{},"A high rock can be seen from afar. Even from a long distance away, a tall mountain draws our eyes upward. It's an inspiring landmark that motivates us to keep climbing. Even when the Lord seems far away, people of faith see his promises on the horizon and \"welcome them from a distance\" (Hebrews 11:13).",[17,42,43],{},"A high rock is not easily moved. In our rapidly changing world, values shift, moods change, and ideas come and go. Today's newest philosophy is tomorrow's discarded theory. Today's big star is tomorrow's has-been. Today's hot fashion will be laughably out of style in a couple of years. \"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations\" (Psalm 33:11).",[17,45,46],{},"David wrote, \"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand\" (Psalm 40:2). When we're mired in the mud of depression, there's still a rock that is higher than you and I. A \"spiritual rock\" accompanies us (1 Corinthians 10:4), and that rock is Christ.",{"title":48,"searchDepth":49,"depth":49,"links":50},"",2,[],"First Look","2002-01-13","*\"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I\" (Psalm 61:2).*","md",null,{},3,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-rock-that-is-higher-than-i","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":53},"articles\u002Fthe-rock-that-is-higher-than-i",[65,66,67],"Biblical Theology","Spiritual Formation","Discipleship","nVjN08y5tdB3GBbv1IXFa3cXSacWedXqzSsTi7R-48I",[70,75],{"title":71,"path":72,"stem":73,"description":74,"children":-1},"The Resurrection Differential","\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-resurrection-differential","articles\u002Fthe-resurrection-differential","Everyone has a burden to bear—and sometimes many burdens. Collectively, the people you see at church or at the ball game carry more burdens than you could possibly count. They worry about dysfunctional family members, emotional problems, money troubles, physical ailments, doubts about God, complications at work, disappointing relationships, and an assortment of other concerns.",{"title":76,"path":77,"stem":78,"description":79,"children":-1},"The Scene of the Crime","\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-scene-of-the-crime","articles\u002Fthe-scene-of-the-crime","Several years ago, my wife and children returned home to discover that a burglar had entered our house. The back door was broken open, and dresser drawers lay emptied on the floor of our bedroom."]