His love is underneath us, upholding us. If you’re worshipping or praying “Hallowed be your name,” Psalm 18 gives you content, some fodder, for your prayer. Praise him.
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock…fortress…deliverer…shield, and the horn of my salvation…stronghold.” Psalm 18:1-2
Pour out your unquenchable love for the Lord. He is our rock. Fortress. Deliverer. Shield. Horn of salvation. Stronghold. Praise be to the name of our blessed rock.
Praise turns to petition in a broken world. Brokenness seems to prevail at every turn. And so, David turns and prays; he calls upon the Lord his God.
“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. …cords of death…torrents of destruction…entangled…snares of death…” Psalm 18:3-5
Brokenness and loss deliver pain and danger to each of us. No one is immune. Cords. Destruction. Entangled. Snares. But the Lord is the strong tower to which we run. Call to him, our blessed rock, and be saved.
“In my distress I called upon the Lord…my cry to him reached his ears.” Psalm 18:6
Lament is appropriate. Distress is real in a broken world. And in your pain, you can turn to a God who has open ears. He sent his Son to die to overcome this broken world. Distress defeated. His ears are open to your cries.
David rehearses a litany of attributes about how God sees and responds. Psalm 18:7 reveals that “…the earth reeled and rocked…” and the very foundations trembled “…and quaked, because he was angry.” Smoke, fire, coals. Hailstones. Thunder. Arrows. Lightening. Psalm 18:15 reveals “…the blast of the breath of your nostrils.” What a description of our defender. God saves us from deep waters and rescues us from a strong enemy. A real enemy. Real brokenness and loss.
“We of Thee unworthy own that we are Thine.” Gerhardt Ter Steegen, Hymns of Ter Steegan and Others
We are, indeed, his possession. The Lord defends the defenseless in a fallen world. Our role is to recognize the danger, turn to him, believe, and follow. Trust him for salvation. Keep and walk in his ways. Keep your hands clean from unrighteousness. Turn away from wickedness. Be blameless. Walk in humility.
“For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.” Psalm 18:27
God embraces the humble and brings down the arrogant. God enlightens and overwhelms the darkness. God empowers, and his words are true. He is “…a shield for all those who take refuge in him” (Psalm 18:30). He is a rock, a secure place on the heights. Stability is ours. With all this power and strength, I love how the psalmist explains that “…your gentleness made me great” (Psalm 18:35). It’s his kindness that draws me to repentance (Romans 2:4). I’m strong when I’m weak (2 Corinthians 12:10). We can walk because he gives us a wide path.
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation…” Psalm 18:47
When your world is turned upside down, blessed be the rock of your salvation. Yes, brokenness is real. Face your loss. Acknowledge pain. Do not diminish it. The depth of your pain shines a light on the blessedness of the your Savior.
Safety in brokenness gives rise to praising and exalting our God. We exult in security born of the lovingkindness of a good God. Psalm 18:49 says, “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.” If you’re experiencing the pain of loss, remember that the Lord lives! Blessed be my rock. Exalted be our God!
Turn to the blessed rock who shows us steadfast love forever.
“Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.” Psalm 18:50
Read the E-book Facing Loss: Lessons of Hope from My Unwanted Journey