{"id":7830,"date":"2024-01-24T00:01:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T08:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/?p=7830"},"modified":"2026-06-03T14:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:36:20","slug":"psalm-182-the-lord-is-my-rock-and-my-fortress-and-my-deliverer-my-god-my-strength-in-whom-i-will-trust-my-shield-and-the-horn-of-my-salvation-my-stronghold-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/?p=7830","title":{"rendered":"Psalm 18:2: \u201cThe LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; \/ My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; \/ My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we read the word my<\/em> in this psalm, it jumps off the page at us. This is a very personal psalm as David declares how he feels about his relationship with God Almighty. He uses both offensive and defensive military metaphors to describe who God is to him. Obviously he was saying that the Lord was all he needed to survive life’s demanding battles. David described the Lord as his rock, and the concept had much meaning to him. As a shepherd, he knew that often the only place to find relief from the sun in a hot, arid desert was by the shade of a rock. As a man of war, rock represented a stronghold, a place of safety. And as an Israelite, he had been taught since childhood that during the Exodus, the rock represented a place of refreshment. In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he said that the Rock that took care of Israel of old was Jesus: \u201cand all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ\u201d (1 Cor. 10:4).<\/p>\n

We all need a secure rock in our lives. For some people, their rock is a person, like a mother or father. For others, it’s not a person but a place. The neighborhood where they grew up or a special place in the mountains, desert, or beach, where they go when they feel lost and alone, or when life gets to be too much. Familiar people and places can make us feel secure, but neighborhoods change and people come and go. We need something or someone more reliable, unchangeable, and powerful. David knew who to make his rock. He had come to trust that in the darkest hour, God was the only reliable place for comfort, refuge, and strength.<\/p>\n

We could learn a lot from the rock hyrax. This small, badger-like animal found in Israel makes its home in large, ragged, tumbled rocks. It knows to run to those rocks when danger comes. If a predatory bird, like an eagle, swoops down and tries to capture the little animal, it simply runs into one of the openings of the rock. The bird would have to tear the mountain apart to get it. The same is true of four-footed animals that would prey on it. As long as the hyrax hides in the rocks, it is safe. If it wanders away into the grassland, it is an easy target. The hyrax is wise enough to know that its strength is not in its own muscles but in taking shelter in the safety of the rock.<\/p>\n

“LORD, You are the Rock we look to today.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Psalms 18 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup> I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/sup> The LORD is <\/em>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 <\/em>my high tower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3<\/sup> I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy <\/em>to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4<\/sup> The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5<\/sup> The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6<\/sup> In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even <\/em>into his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7<\/sup> Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8<\/sup> There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9<\/sup> He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was <\/em>under his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10<\/sup> And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11<\/sup> He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were<\/em>dark waters and <\/em>thick clouds of the skies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12<\/sup> At the brightness that was <\/em>before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones<\/em>and coals of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13<\/sup> The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones <\/em>and coals of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14<\/sup> Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15<\/sup> Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16<\/sup> He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

17<\/sup> He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18<\/sup> They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19<\/sup> He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20<\/sup> The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21<\/sup> For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22<\/sup> For all his judgments were <\/em>before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23<\/sup> I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

24<\/sup> Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

25<\/sup> With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26<\/sup> With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

27<\/sup> For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28<\/sup> For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

29<\/sup> For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

30<\/sup> As for <\/em>God, his way is <\/em>perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is <\/em>a buckler to all those that trust in him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

31<\/sup> For who is <\/em>God save the LORD? or who is <\/em>a rock save our God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

32<\/sup> It is <\/em>God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

33<\/sup> He maketh my feet like hinds\u2019 feet <\/em>, and setteth me upon my high places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

34<\/sup> He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

35<\/sup> Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

36<\/sup> Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

37<\/sup> I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

38<\/sup> I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

39<\/sup> For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

40<\/sup> Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

41<\/sup> They cried, but there was <\/em>none to save them: even <\/em>unto the LORD, but he answered them not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

42<\/sup> Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

43<\/sup> Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and <\/em>thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom <\/em>I have not known shall serve me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

44<\/sup> As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

45<\/sup> The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

46<\/sup> The LORD liveth; and blessed be <\/em>my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

47<\/sup> It is <\/em>God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

48<\/sup> He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

49<\/sup> Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

50<\/sup> Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we read the word my in this psalm, it jumps off the page at us. This is a very personal psalm as David declares how he feels about his relationship with God Almighty. He uses both offensive and defensive military metaphors to describe who God is to him. Obviously he was saying that the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7830"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16509,"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7830\/revisions\/16509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packinghouseredlands.org\/devotional\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}