1“I love You, O Lord, my strength.” 2The 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. 3I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.
This wonderful song of praise overflows with exaltation of the character of God; we run the danger of diminishing its eloquence. But a few notes may serve to move us beyond a perfunctory skimming to catch a glimpse of what David discovered of God.
The inspired pre-verse inscription gives us the historical setting as one of the times when David escaped Saul’s treachery (for more background, see 1 Samuel 18-31). David’s response is an overwhelming expression of love for God. He begins the song by directly talking to God: “I love You, O Lord, my strength” (vs. 1). Then he goes on to praise God with seven descriptors, calling God his rock (or crevasse), fortress, deliverer, rock (different word), shield, the horn of my salvation, stronghold (vs. 1-3). Each of these deserves meditation on its own.
David gives an overview of his cry for help (vss. 4-6), followed by God’s angry response at his oppressors (vss. 7-15). He then rehearses God’s rescue (vss. 16-19) and David’s reward for his integrity (vss. 20-24). Through his difficulty, David sees God’s nature: unlike the made-up deities of other nations, God characteristically shows Himself as kind and pure, not just to important people like David but to everyone who lives a humble, blameless life (vss.25-36). The promise given to David is also ours: “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places” (vs. 33). In dicey situations where we need to act carefully—whether in physical battles or emotional, interpersonal conflicts—God will enable us to walk confidently and securely where others might trip and fall.
In vss. 37-45, David acts with the strength of the Lord to go on the offense against his enemies, in this case probably not Saul. Even while King Saul was chasing him, David defended Israel against the Philistines, Amalekites, and others, whom he says, “I destroyed” (vs. 40).
Finally, David circles back like a closing bookend of praise. We join him in declaring:
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation. Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing praises to Your name. (Ps. 18:46, 49)
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