SCRIPTURE: PSALM 18:2-19

This psalm was written by David who was felt an inevitable death approaching him. Despite this, he emphasizes God’s trustworthiness, holiness, deliverance, & righteousness. The poetic words illustrate the way the Creator turns the universe inside out & upside down to rescue one of His children. The Hebrew word for my rock parallels with the word strength, referring to God as a mountain fortress or stronghold (David often fled to the mountains for security from his enemies). The psalm assures us that we have nothing to fear when we are in the Lord’s hands. He does all of this because He delights in those who serve Him. No one is sinless, but God enables those who are under the federal headship of Christ to purse holiness & righteousness. God will bring about justice as He sees fit, according to the heart of each person. God opposes the proud, but awards the humble who lean on Him.

David is known by the general public as the boy who took down Goliath (1 Sam 17), however, he is better described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:13-14). Saul was made king of Israel by the people, but God did not recognize him. God sent Samuel to find Israel’s legitimate king who was a son of Jesse. Samuel passed through seven of Jesse’s sons before he got to David, a shepherd boy (somewhere between 12-16 years old). He was an unlikely candidate for king, but the Lord told Samuel to not consider David’s outward appearance. The Lord doesn’t look at the things the world looks at, He looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7). David was met with much opposition from those around him. He was constantly pursued by his enemies, not because of anything he did, but because of the calling God placed on his life. Despite it all, David remained wholeheartedly in love with God, confident in His deliverance, & consistent in glorifying Him. He calls the Lord: my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my shield, my salvation, my stronghold. He gives all the glory to God for His saving grace. David wasn't perfect, he made some terrible decisions, but he always fully confessed his sins to God & surrendered to God's Will.