Verse of the Day 5-2-22

I love you, LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

Psalm 18 appears in 2 Samuel 22 with some minor differences. There it is positioned as a capstone prayer after God gave David victory over his many enemies, especially Saul. David begins with a variety of metaphors focused on God’s strength and protection. David’s dominate image of God is that of an impenetrable fortress. And it is the metaphors that David used to describe God’s protection and strength that we are going to be focusing in on today.

The symbolism of verse 2 applies to our ongoing life struggles against physical and spiritual forces. God’s care for us is described by six symbols or metaphors:

1. “My rock”-representing the safety and security of God’s steadfast strength.
2. “My fortress”-representing a place of refuge and safety that the enemy cannot penetrate.
3. “My deliver”-representing God’s ability to rescue and free people from trouble.
4. “My shield”-representing how God steps between us and harm.
5. “The horn of my salvation”-representing God’s strength and victorious power to save us.
6. “My stronghold”-representing the fact that if we hold firmly to God and remain in a right relationship with him, he will provide security and will lift us above the dangers of life.

Today’s Bible Readings:

Judges 15-16, John 2, Psalm 103:1-22 and Proverbs 14:17-19