My rock, my fortress, my deliverer

 

The Verse of the Day for February 4, 2018 is found in Psalm 18:1-2 (NIV):

[Psalm 18] [For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:] I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. [Psalm 18]

This passage presents a series of metaphors personalized with the pronoun, my, meaning each of the attributes described belongs to the Psalmist, who composes his own song of praise for God’s deliverance:

My strength:

This expression echoes throughout the Psalms, especially in Psalm 27:1-2

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

Verse 32 of Psalm 18 also makes known this truth:

It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.

Psalm 19:14 also makes reference to the source of strength for David:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

My rock:

Psalm 18:46 offers a similar expression:

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

Psalm 31:2-3 offer this petition:

² Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of refuge,
A fortress  of defense to save me.

³ For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.

Psalm 61:2 also elaborates on “the rock”:

From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help]

Psalm 62:2 makes this bold declaration:

He alone is my rock and my salvation, My defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened

My fortress

A similar expression is found in 2 Samuel 22:2:

And he said: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

Verse 33 elaborates:

“God is my strong fortress; He sets the blameless in His way.

Psalm 59:16-17 use a similar phrase

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

We find references to the Lord, “My savior” throughout the Psalms and elsewhere:

Psalm 18:46 (NIV):

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!

Psalm 25:5 (NIV) states:

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 89:26 (NIV) also speaks:

He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’

Psalm 118:21(AMP):

I will give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; And You have become my salvation [my Rescuer, my Savior

My shield

Here we find another strong metaphor, appears in the Psalms and elsewhere:

In 2 Samuel 22:3 (NIV) we find this reference:

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.

2 Samuel 22:36 makes this bold statement:

You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.

Psalm 3:3 (AMP) declares:

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.

Psalm 119:114 (NIV) puts it this way:

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

One of favorite verses using “shield” is Psalm 84:11 (AMP):

¹¹ For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

My stronghold:

The series of metaphors closes with the phrase “my stronghold,” used in various places:

Psalm 31:4 (AMP)

You will draw me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength and my stronghold.

Psalm 31:49 (AMP):

You will draw me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength and my stronghold.

Psalm 59:9 (AMP) has this to say:

O [God] my strength, I will watch for You; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower].

Verses 16-17 express the same:

But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.

To You, O [God] my strength, I will sing praises; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower], the God who shows me [steadfast] lovingkindness.

After reading this barrage of personal references the Lord and all that He is and what He  does for us, all we can offer is this expression of absolute delight and pleasure: “My, my, my…what a Savior!.”

The essence of the message of the Verse of the Day is embodied in the song “Jesus, My Savior”:Jesus My Savior: