From Chris Dodds
Psalm 60: The situation is dire and any solution goes far beyond what humankind can achieve. The defenses are broken and the land is torn open. The Psalmist cries out to God for restoration. Faith is being stretched to its limits but it is strong! Despite the turmoil, and their accusations against God, the afflicted know they are God’s beloved ones (v5) and salvation comes through Him. Confident in this they plead to Him in prayer.
Psalm 61: As much as we may wish it were otherwise, there are times when things are out of our control, and like the Psalmist our hearts are faint (v1). There are many things our culture tells us we can seek security in and should turn to, but the ultimate security is found in God. He is the “Rock, higher than I” (v2), a “refuge”, and “strong tower” (v3), and the provider of shelter (v4) for those who fear him and put their hope in him.
1 John 5:1-5: Ask anyone on the street whether they think we should all love each other and you’ll likely get an emphatic yes. But if we then asked, what does it look like to love someone, the answers would be far more varied. How do we know if we are loving someone well? According to John, love God and keep his commandments (v2). Love here is far more than just an emotion or feeling. Take a moment to consider what this verse infers about the goodness of the commandments. How does this differ from many modern perceptions about them?