The Lord is 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 my high tower. Psalms 18:2 KJV
The Context:
How do you start to describe the life of David? A man who from his youth lived in solitude, away from his family, with sheep, exposed to dangers. It didn't look good on the surface, but those were the ingredients for the miracle his life became. It was in that solitude that a relationship with God was birthed and sustained, from the confrontation with the lion, bear and the encounter with Goliath, to the eventual reign over Israel. I can say here that a good prayer is to ask God to help you crave private moments to know more about Him. The hustle and bustle of life keep us distracted; they do not allow focus on what is truly important. Men who God can use are made in the secret place, far away from the critical analysis of men.
David here was one of such men, and it is not a wonder that the psalms he wrote then are the songs of past and present generations of Christians. It is God's dealings with a man that can make that man go this personal with God. There is a danger that this generation must avoid, and it is mere head knowledge about God, with no heart witness about who he is. We know a lot about him; we read several books about Him, and hear a lot of testimonies about him, but we really truly know very little about him. We know about his name, and in fact know the power of the name, but we don't know the One who bears the name. It is such a fine distinction that many in our present times miss, and it is an assumption that has eternal consequences.
The Message:
In today's extract, there are 9 personal referrals, 9 ways God is described in just one verse: rock, fortress, deliverer, God, strength, trust, buckler, horn of my salvation, high tower. Tied to every one of these descriptions is a story of God's faithfulness and mercy. How do I get to this point without tough times? How do I appreciate God as my rock and fortress if there was no danger and the testimony of God's deliverance? How do I call anyone a deliverer or the horn of my salvation if there was not a time when death or danger stared me in the face but I survived?
If my prayer is that God should keep me away from trials and tough times, am I not keeping myself away from all the wonderful encounters with God that these experiences can bring my way? Check out the story of David and how he ended up with the promise of an eternal kingship, and you will know the power of a life that is committed to knowing God personally. There is no replacement for that personal encounter; other men's stories should not make me comfortable, but point me in the direction of my own personal encounter.
And he takes care of both the internal and external. He girds my heart with strength, and he is my God, with my allegiance to him shining out of me as a public testament to who I believe. He is the Master of my private and public life; no hypocrisy or eye-service. Can I, with confidence, use the personal MYs that David used here? Can God say that indeed he is all of these and more to me?
The Response:
Have I indeed met the God David describes here? Is He the One I presently serve or are there other viable alternatives? A personal encounter with God will last a lifetime; its value is good for both this present life and the eternity to come. The opposite is also quite true; without that personal touch, all I have are stories. Check again how many times David used the word MY. When God would respond to David, he said: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart'. When God is all I have, he makes me like I am the only one in earth. His heart is so large that he can take billions of people who come to him on that personal basis, and make them his personal people. Does He then hold my heart? Is He all that matters? Don't let the world tell you what is proper; make sure God knows He is your all. His time of favour is here.
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