Our Refuge

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies."

Psalm 18:1-3

This is a psalm of deliverance, written by David after the Lord saved Him from all his enemies and the hand of Saul. David called God his rock and fortress. Rock is solid, a fortress is impenetrable. Then David described God as his shield, the horn of his salvation, and his stronghold. A man uses a shield to protect himself. In the horn of an animal is its strength and defense. A stronghold is a place that has been fortified to protect it against attack. So essentially, David is saying that God is his strength; a solid, impenetrable, place of protection that enemies can't overcome. This is David's song of praise, and it can be ours, as well. Our enemies may not be flesh and blood, as his were. They may come in the form of fear, worry, doubt or hopelessness. When they make their appearance, we must call upon the Lord and take refuge in Him. He has promised to give us His peace. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)

Those Who Wait, Will Fly

"Yet those who wait for the LORD

         Will gain new strength;

         They will mount up with wings like eagles,

         They will run and not get tired,

         They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31

In the midst of trials, it is hard to wait for the Lord's deliverance. We want so badly for the hardship to be over, and it is difficult to understand why God tarries. But He has promised to give strength to the weary and power to the weak, if they will only wait on Him. Isaiah tells us they will mount up with wings like those of the eagles.  You can be sure that the same God who created the powerful wings of the eagles and gave the raptors such an amazing wingspan with which to fly high above the earth, will come through on His promise to lift us up, too. Trust Him. Rely on Him. He is faithful.

Our Fortress

"Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress." 
Psalm 71:3

David knew what it meant to look to God for salvation. The Lord delivered him from danger many times. Just as David continually ran to the Lord, so can we. If you are troubled today, run to the Rock of Habitation. Our God, the Fortress. He's waiting for you.