January 28, 2026 -- Psalm 18:1-3 -- God is my rock
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 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.
3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 ESV
What is God like? David describes God as ‘my rock”. Twice in fact. Think how many people say of their partner “she’s my rock” only later to discover she cheated on him. The rock becomes a slope of slippery shale and pebbles. Or, he who has been steadfast, ages, gets sick and dies. Suddenly his spouse has lost her rock. People aren’t designed to be the rock and strength of others.
David experienced this firsthand. He’d led out King Saul’s armies. He was the celebrated war hero. King Saul turned on him. The army David had formerly led, now hunted him down. Should the king command it, any soldier would have killed him. The very people who had earlier sung his praises as their deliverer.
God is the rock of His people because he is from eternity to eternity. He is faithful. He is true. He is not fickle. God is the rock of His people, smashing down the faithless who attack His own. God is the rock of salvation in Whom I take refuge. He is an impregnable fortress protecting His loved ones.
No wonder Paul would write, “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain” Philippians 1:21. No matter how great the storms of life, nor the vastness of the army arrayed against the believer, or the hardship of following Jesus, Jesus is the victor. Anchored on Him the believer has all he needs for life which begins here and stretches out into eternity.
No doubt some of you might be wondering, if Jesus really is this strong rock, why am I suffering? Life is good. Life is hard. Life is complicated. Life is infected with sin in every part. People suffer because of their own sins. People suffer because others sin against them. People suffer because the hosts of hell are constantly mounting attacks against them. Doesn’t matter. Jesus is the rock of my salvation. He is the rock of your salvation. In Him the purposes of God for your life will be fulfilled. Living for Jesus, as the Spirit continually empowers you to do so, means your life is permeated with the glory of God. The people around you are right now, looking at you, to see how you live for Jesus in every circumstance of your life. As He is the rock of your life, others, who are storm-tossed and wretched, will approach you, seeking to know the hope you have. They are, in fact, seeking to know Jesus.
God our Father, thank You for the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. Spirit of God, when my handhold on Jesus is tenuous, or I feel my feet slipping, guard me safe in Jesus. Thank You, Father, for the people You put into my life whose testimony led me to know and love Jesus. Motivate me, Spirit of God, to live out loud for Jesus, so that others will be drawn to God, the rock of salvation. Amen.
https://youtu.be/gM7gt_cSxjw?si=oa5p5tgtMhX4onWZ Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
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