I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalms 18:1-2)
David wrote this Psalms when God delivered him from his enemy and from the hands of Saul. David was expressing his love and gratitude to God for His salvation, His deliverance, and His covenant faithfulness. David’s love for God was an affectionate love, that’s why God could say of David he is ‘a man after mine own heart’ . He loved and trusted God to deliver him from his enemies. He had the full assurance that God would come through for him despite the circumstances. David used several attributes to described God which emphasize the stability and security found in God, which we can used in our lives today when we are faced with difficulties, distresses, and anxiety. God wants us as His people to know that the stability and security that we have in Him, we will never find it in anyone or anything else.
God wants us to know that He is our strength– the source of our strength or from whom all our strength comes from. He is our rock- our place of safety and protection in time of danger (this rock is like a cleft rock for concealment that one can find shelter and protection). He is our fortress– our place of defense, a place that is so strengthen that an enemy could not approach it, or where we would be safe. He is our deliverer- He delivers or rescue us from our enemies and He is a living Protector. He is our God– our Protector, Helper, Healer, Father, Friend, Savior, Comforter. He is our strength (Rock)- our firm, immovable Rock. He is The Rock and His work is perfect (Hebrew -Tsur). He is our buckler– He covers and shields us from the enemy or anyone who tries to rise up against us. He is our horn– our defense and strength (the ‘horn’ is to animals the means of their attack and defense. Their strength and power lies in the horn). He is our high tower– our refuge and we can run to Him for safety when we are in danger (a high tower/place were built on mountains, rocks, or on the city walls and were regarded as safe places because they were inaccessible).
What a wonderful and gracious God we serve. He is to us what no one else will ever be or can ever be because He is Sovereign. He is trustworthy and will always be our Rock (Tsur). That firm immovable Rock that we can always run to for stability and security. My question for you today is ‘Do you know Him?’.
Missionary Judith A. Gilzene Moodie
Resources:
1. Barnes, Albert, Albert Barnes Notes On The Whole Bible.
2. Duffield, Guy, Foundations Of Pentecostal Theology.
3. Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible.
4. Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, A.R., Brown, David, Commentary Critical And Explanatory On The Whole Bible.
5. Spence, H.D.M., Pulpit Commentary: Psalms (Vol.1).