The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
Psalm 18:2 NIV
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The imagery of the psalm is very military in nature. It is attributed to David after the Lord had rescued him from the hands of his enemies, including Saul. David gave thanks to the Lord and described God’s provision using many military terms. The Lord was his rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, the horn of his salvation, and stronghold. All of these terms picture a strongly held place of defense. David saw God as his protector. One in whom he could rest securely, regardless of what an enemy might be able to bring against him.
A Deliverer
David went on to describe the helplessness he felt before calling on the Lord. And what follows is a very imaginative picture of God mounting his cherubim and taking up arms against David’s enemies. The Lord thundered and shot his arrows. The depths of the sea were exposed, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare. The picture is one of overwhelming strength. Irresistible power.
And after defeating David’s enemies, he gently reached down and drew David out of the grasp of his enemies and brought him into a spacious place. And David said God did this because of his faithfulness to God and the commands he had given to him.
This psalm is a beautiful reminder to us to be faithful to our Lord. And to trust that he not only can, but will, rescue us from the hands of all of our enemies. He is a stronghold to all who place their trust in him.
