"My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken...
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge...
"One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that You, O God, are strong,
and that You, O Lord, are loving..."
This is a song (Psalm 62), and thus the repeating chorus. But when something is repeated in Scripture, it's worth taking a close look at.
God alone is our rock. When our emotions are at a low; when our life seems hopeless and, indeed, our hope is shattered, God is constant. He is there -- even if we don't feel the goosebumps of a prior encounter with His presence. This is tough to believe. When all we want is a good cry and His arms around us, sometimes we have to press on and believe.
God is our salvation. When we are in our "dark hour," and we long for the light of salvation, sometimes it's hard to hold out hope or hard to even look up to see if that is light cracking in. Yet God has saved us, is saving us, and will save us.
God is our fortress, we will never be shaken. Sometimes this "shaking" sure feels like shaking. And tossed about and attacked we are. Yet holding firm to God, even if we feel like we are shaking and worthless and fearful, this will keep us from being shaken (and destroyed) by outside forces. A fortress is a wall of protection. When we don't feel like we have the energy to fight, He will guard us. Even when we feel like we are losing and all is lost... even when we don't feel His presence... even when we doubt He's there... even when we are depressed and brokenhearted... God is our fortress. He is our protection. Sometimes a fortress is a place to sleep safe from enemies. Sometimes it is a medical room where we can get healed. Sometimes it's a place to plan our counter-attack. Sometimes it's a place to replenish our weapons. Sometimes it's just a place to get refreshed, eat, drink, and splash water on our face. A fortress is many things of provision. God is our fortress.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at May 10, 2005 08:27 AM