What Does Psalm 18:2 Mean?

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.

Psalm 18:2(NASB)

Verse of the Day

From the time he was a young shepherd boy, David loved the Lord with his whole heart and was able to proclaim that the Lord was his strong Protector and faithful Deliverer. "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer," he wrote, "My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. My shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold." Were this the only verse describing God’s dependable and faithful character, it would provide us with a great wealth of evidence. 

David penned this song of deliverance to the Lord on the day He rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and in particular, from the hand of King Saul. It was a psalm that expressed David's deep love for God for he confessed, "I love You, Lord. You are my strength." David was a man after God's own heart who not only made this claim because of his head knowledge, but due to an inner experience of the heart.

No doubt David found shelter from the blistering sun in the shadow of a rock, and he would have found protection in its crack and crevasses on cold winter nights. He would also have found the rock to be a firm place on which to stand firm in the midst of a battle and he no doubt would have recalled the Rock in the wilderness from which poured forth streams of living water for his forefathers. And as the Rock on which we stand, He is the firm foundation upon which our faith is built and the top-most cornerstone that completes all that we are in Christ. 

As the Rock of our salvation, Jesus is the One that has been raised up, far above all others. From Him flow fresh rivers of living water, with which to satisfy the hungry soul and refresh the weary sojourner. And along with David, we can all rejoice that, "He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock - making my footsteps firm"

Just as a rock provides shelter from the storm, a firm foothold and an immovable anchor, so too David discovered the Lord to be his sturdy fortress - a safe place of secure shelter and a sure protection. And David was able to call Him "my Deliverer", for the Lord is the source of our strength and the well-spring of our stability. The Lord is a Refuge from the storms of life and a Defence from the enemy that prowls around, as a roaring lion, seeking to sift the lone pilgrim as wheat, and to fling him into the miry depths of deep despair.

And so... as the Rock on which we stand and the Fortress in which we shelter, the Lord becomes our Deliverer from our enemies, and our Strength in times of trouble. He is our Shield from principalities and powers in heavenly places. He is our Protection from those that seek to do us harm. Our Provider in times of need, and our Joy in times of sadness.  David was never removed from the difficulties and danger of life, but he proved that God was the one that kept him safe in the storm and protected him from the attacks of the enemy. Yes, the Lord delivered him from arrows that fly by day and the perils that stalked in the night. 

In the opening verses of David's great song of deliverance we can all recognise many wonderful characteristics of our God, which never change... for The LORD is my rock and my fortress. He is my deliverer. The Lord is my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation. The Lord is my stronghold. 

The Lord empowers and protects each one of His children. He defends and delivers, and He is our place of shelter and our seat of safety. David proved that the Lord our God is a faithful God, Who will not let us be tried beyond our ability to endure, but will also provide the way of escape, that we may be able to endure life's problems and pain, and we have all been given that same wonderful promise.

But the Lord is also the object of David's love and adoration, and like David, may we also proclaim, He is the One Who anoints me with the oil of gladness, and He is none other than my GOD - my Father, my Lord, my Saviour, my Friend, my King and my ALL in ALL.

"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, and my stronghold." And were this the only verse in scripture describing God and displaying His dependable and faithful character, what an amazing array of evidence we would have of His dependability and great goodness. Let us praise His holy name.

My Prayer

Thank You Father, that You are my faithful and dependable God and heavenly Father, in Whom I place my trust. Use me I pray, as a witness of Your dependable faithfulness in my life today. Open the eyes of those that have been blinded to the glorious truth of Your saving grace, through the tactics of the enemy. This I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

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Psalm 18:2 Further Study

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