[:en]SCRIPTURE: PSALM 18
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2)
“The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleaness of my hands in his sight (Psalm 18:24)
“To the faithful, you show yourself faithful. To the blameless, you show yourself blameless. To the pure, you show yourself pure; but to the crooked, you show yourself shrewd” (Psalm 18:25-26)
“You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty” (Psalm 18:27)
“With your help, I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall”(Psalm 18:29)
“For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights” (Psalm 18:31-33)
This Psalm was written by David when God delivered him from the hand of Saul and all his enemies. He described how God rescued him through nature. The earth trembled and quaked. The mountain shook the foundation. Smoke rose and fire came out. The heavens came down with dark clouds. The wind blew and darkness covered the clouds of the sky with rain. Hailstorms and bolts of thunder resounded. The enemies were shot and scattered. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare. It was a graphic picture of God’s rebuke.
For several years, David fled from Saul. He fled to a cave to save his life. Now, God had brought him out of the confinement to a spacious space.
DAvid had clean hands because he kept the ways of the Lord. He never turned away from God’s laws and decrees. That is why God rewarded him according to his righteousness and cleanliness. God armed him with strength and guided his way. He made his feet like the feet of a deer to stand on the heights. He trained his hands for battle so that his arms could bend a bow of bronze. God’s right hand sustained him to broaden his path and secure victory. Finally, God beat his enemies as fine as dust borne on the wind and poured them out like mud in the streets (v. 42).
In closing, David sadi: “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! (v. 46) He praised His name for giving him great victory. He declared the unfailing kindness that God had shown to him. To David, God was his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his strength, his shield, the horn of his salvation, his stronghold, his Lord. He saw God’s faithfulness, righteousness and gentleness and exaltedness.
REFLECTION:
- Do you have enemies? Don’t be afraid. Call upon Him. He can protect you and save you from your enemies.
- Are you experiencing storms of life? If the storm comes from the hand of God, it can mean blessings from Him. But if the storm is out of your disobedience against God’s will, then you need to repent.
- Do you feel being confined physically, mentally or emotionally? Trust God to deliver you and put you into a larger place so that you can take giant steps for His glory.
- Is your hand clean? When your hands are clean, God’s hand will be upon you to provide and protect you.
- Looking back, can you praise God for the gentle hands of God that led you to go higher and become more Christ like?
- When crises occur, do you become smaller or bigger? Do you overcome them or are you being overcome? Remember the victory is the Lord’s. Ask God to help you grow through your circumstances.
- After winning the battle, do you give glory to God and sing hymns of praise to the Lord? Do you proclaim his greatness and lead people to Christ?
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