Originally posted: 1/09/2020
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence,” (22:2-3).
Ever find yourselves wondering what David’s thought-life entailed, what kinds of emotions rolled over him as he reflected upon the events of his life? A brief overview of David’s life depicts his journey from shepherd to king to refugee; from the slayer of giants and ten thousands to the leader of a rag-tag army of 600; from a man after God’s own heart to the adulterous murderer.
David definitely had his ups and downs, his highs and lows, his successes and defeats. But through it all and in the midst of his ever-changing world, one thought is decisive, persisting as sure, solid, and secure in David’s mind; God was his only hope for strength, security, and salvation, his Definitive Rock of Deliverance
Consider Him, the Definitive Rock of Deliverance
Definitive: most reliable or complete; having its fixed or final form; providing a solution or final answer; satisfying all criteria.
“I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Besides Me there is no God.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me;
6 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
7 The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these,” (Isaiah 45:5-7).
Rock: a large mass of stone; a firm foundation or support.
“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He,” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
“There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God,” (1 Samuel 2:2).
Deliverance: the act of setting free, releasing or freeing.
The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles, (Psalm 34:17).
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut bars of iron asunder, (Psalm 107:13-16)
How can we respond to Him, the Definitive Rock of Deliverance?
Did you notice David’s declarations towards God? The pronoun “my” was penned some eighteen times in his song as David made reference to God, His character, and His abilities. In faith, David determinedly claimed God as his God; and because he was absolutely persuaded, David was able to claim for himself every attribute of God’s as well.
David’s faith took hold of every truth of God’s character and built his life on everything he knew of God.
May we learn well from the practices of David.
- Let us acknowledge Him as the Definitive One: our sole solution and final answer to satisfy all criteria for our salvation.
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).
- “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).
- Let us believe Him as the Rock: our solid and sure foundation Who keeps us secure in every storm.
- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock,” (Matthew 7:24-25).
- “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone,” (Acts 4:11).
- “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed,” (1 Peter 2:6).
- Let us count on His Deliverance: our only hope of freedom for now and all eternity
- “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed,” (John 8:36).
- Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death, (Romans 8:1-2).
Let us determine to learn from David, that we would, like David, take hold of Him, the Definitive Rock of Deliverance, as our own:
- That we would, like David, speak the truth to ourselves.
- Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence, (Psalm 42:5).
- Why are you in despair, O my soul?
- That we would, like David, rehearse the truth in our minds.
- Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things, (Philippians 4:8).
- That we would, like David, believe the truth with all our hearts.
- “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me,” (John 14:1)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, (Romans 15:13).