Blessed Be My Rock!

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies…

In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears…

He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me…

For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights…
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip…

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—

For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.” Psalm 18:1-3,6,16-19,31-33,36,46,49

Attacked by ruthless enemies, David held to his Rock. Distressed and embattled in spirit, he fled to his Rock. In turmoil and need, he cried to his Rock. By God’s grace, he was planted on the steady, firm, immovable Rock. And from that Rock he praised. David held varied roles through seasons of his life, but always he knew his Rock, the stronghold of his might, skills, defense, and wisdom.

We all choose a daily vantage point from which we hope, through which we see every situation and predicament, from which we make decisions. We each determine our foundation, be it self-will, personal talent, or a selected set of mores. Any manmade religion or system of belief apart from Scripture will become a foundation of shifting sand. Life apart from Jesus is uncertain, subject to whims, doomed to destruction. A steady building on the Rock assures stability in troubled times. (Matthew 7:24-27; James 1:5-6,17)

In whom do we place our trust? On what do we base our thinking and decisions? How do we set about maintaining stability of emotion, direction, devotion? Reading through this song, do we find our heartbeat and connect with this wondrous Savior? How will we settle and strengthen our trust in the immovable, unchanging Rock?

“O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
greatest treasure of my longing soul;
my God, like you there is no other,
true delight is found in you alone.
Your grace a well too deep to fathom,
your love exceeds the heavens’ reach;
your truth a fount of perfect wisdom,
my highest good and my unending need.” ~Nathan Stiff (2017)

Father, stabilize my resolve to trust, obey, and bless You as the Rock of my salvation all my days, to the glory of Your name.