My Mighty Deliverer (January 18)

Today’s Bible Reading:
Job 23-24
Psalm 18
Sabbath Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1)
**Click to read Christine Miller’s Bible study for today.

Shabbat shalom! I tried to really rest today, not only because it’s commanded (Exodus 20:8-11), and not only because we had a snowstorm that prevented us from meeting with our local Sabbath fellowship, but because it was a harder-than-normal week and I’m a bit worn out. So I slept in, and we had a quiet day as a family.

I didn’t even read my normal Bible reading until this evening. And since these first three verses of Psalm 18 are some of my favorites, let’s just pick these apart and fill up our spiritual tanks with some of these wonderful truths.

According to what our Bibles say, this Psalm was written “to the Chief Musician,” who is probably the chief musician at the Tabernacle. It is a “psalm of David the servant of YHVH, who spoke to YHVH the words of this song on the day that YHVH delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”

We haven’t read this far in our Bibles yet, but the cross reference in my Bible says it’s recorded for us in 2 Samuel 22, which we’ll read in mid-June. so help me remember this when we get to it, okay? Otherwise, feel free to peek if you’d like a spoiler.

“And [David] said:

‘I will love You, YHVH, my strength.
YHVH is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon YHVH, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies'” (Psalm 18:1-3).

Let’s define some of these words. I’ll link to the lexicon where I got my definitions, if you’d like to check me or get in the habit of using it yourself.

“I will love You, YHVH, my strength.”

Love

racham (Strong’s #7355): Have compassion; literally to cradle in ones arms to protect or cherish. By extension, to have or show sympathy or sorrow.

Strength

chezeq (Strong’s #2391): Forceful; a strong grip on something to refrain or support. Driven with force. Acting with power.

I don’t usually think of my love for YHVH as having compassion for Him, but I think it’s more the idea of cherishing Him as a treasure I would cradle in my arms. And don’t you just love that He has a strong grip of support for us that drives us with His force and power? There are a lot of days where I really need that kind of strength.

“YHVH is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer…”

Rock

cela` (Strong’s #5553): A cliff; a high rock, cliff or towering rock, as a place of defense.

Fortress

matsuwd (Strong’s #4686): A stronghold; a hiding place surrounded by sides.

Deliverer

palat (Strong’s #6403): Escape; to bring out or rescue from trouble.

Maybe these were all obvious definitions, but I love how Hebrew is a visual language. I picture this like I’m in a video. I’m running from an enemy, and I have nowhere to go to hide, but up ahead, I see a cliff with a castle on top. I can’t reach it, but my “knight in shining armor” comes to deliver me. He places me safely inside this high fortress, and all my fear is gone.

“My God, my strength, in whom I will trust…”

God

‘el (Strong’s #410): Mighty one; one who holds authority over others, such as a judge, chief or god. In the sense of being yoked to one another. It comes from the word yoke or ox.

Strength

tsuwr (Strong’s #6697): Flint tools are made by striking or pressing the edges with a tool to remove flakes creating a sharp edge; a boulder; a large rock used as a weapon or a rock cliff used as a place of defense. Also flint, a very hard rock that when fractured forms a razor sharp edge and used for knives, spears or arrowheads.

Trust

chacah (Strong’s #2620): Refuge; to take shelter or place ones trust in someone or something of support.

So the video playing in my mind is a powerful ox charging into the room, so strong that His muscles are rippling, stronger than a boulder. If you’ve ever read Daniel 2, you might be picturing that rock (Daniel 2:35, 44-45)! And He is my shelter! We are very safe!

“My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Shield

magen (Strong’s #4043): A shield; a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm, or a protective structure. Wall of protection. It comes from a root meaning a place for growing crops and is often surrounded by a rock wall or hedge to protect it from grazing animals.

Horn

qeren (Strong’s #7161): One of a pair of bony processes that arise from the head of many animals and used as a wind instrument; the horns of an animal or a musical instrument in the shape of a horn. Used as a symbol of authority.

Salvation

yesha` (Strong’s #3468): Rescue; a deliverance or freedom from a burden, enemy or trouble. When one of the flock is in trouble, the shepherd rescues it.

Stronghold

misgab (Strong’s #4869): High; to be raised up in height; to be exalted; tower; high place of defense and protection.

Wow. He is a wall of protection around me, and I am His garden and worth protecting in His eyes. And the horn of His authority? It reminds me of that strong ox again!

“I will call upon YHVH, who is worthy to be praised…”

Call

qara’ (Strong’s #7121): To call out; to raise one’s voice or speak loudly and with urgency.

Praised

halal (Strong’s #1984): To shine; to emit rays of light. Shine brightly. To shine or cause another to shine through one’s actions or words.

Isn’t this an amazing picture? We call out to Him loudly! With urgency! We raise our voice! Please help me! And because He delivers me, He is so very worthy of my praise! It shines out of me!

“So shall I be saved from my enemies.”

Saved

yasha` (Strong’s #3467): To rescue; to free or deliver from a trouble, burden or danger. (This is almost the same word as salvation up above.)

Enemies

‘oyeb (Strong’s #341): To attack; to be antagonistic or unfriendly to another. An action taken by an enemy. The tent pole is pointed at one end and doubles as a spear which can be used against an enemy to defend (also a support of) the family.

An enemy who invites you into his home and then grabs a sharp tent pole and thrusts it at you? That’s scary stuff. The word attack is putting it mildly, because the attack comes at a moment when your guard is down. But when we call to YHVH, He comes running in to rescue us.

Back on schedule tomorrow morning, Abba willing. See you then?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture in this blog post taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.