Focus: What Is God To You?

Text: Ps.18:1,2

"I will love Thee, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; My God, my Strength, in Whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower."

This is an apt question: what's God to you? How well do you know your God? Do you have testimonies or story to tell about Him with proofs? Can you brag about your God in public? Have you seen His wonders? What can you confidently say about your God?

David is all praises for his God. His story of God was not a mere theory; it is rooted in personal experience.

This song of David came out of personal experience. He spoke the words of this song to God "in the day that the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul" (2Sam.22:1). The Lord delivered him from ALL his enemies. The Lord delivered him from the hand of Saul. The Revised Version says, "The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, EVEN MINE." David claims God to himself. He uses the personal pronoun for God. The Revised Version adds, "Even mine." God is intensely personal for David.

He said to the Lord, "Thou savest me from violence," and he described his enemies as "too strong" for him (Ps.18:17). He went through hell in the hands of Saul. Life was not easy for David, growing up. He could be described as an abused child. As a little teenage boy, he was already taking care of his father's sheep in the woods within Judah's territory. He was not even considered to be anything among Jesse's children. Jesse only thought of him when God rejected all his boys. None of them was chosen by God for Israel's throne. Then he remembered him. David was lowly rated by his father and his brothers. Saul envied him and sought to destroy his life. But in all this, God preserved and promoted him.

David knew God personally. He calls God:

*"My Strength" - strength here refers to the strength of a rock. In verse one of Psalm 18, the word for 'strength' is different from that of verse two. 'Strength' in verse one implies 'ability to offer help as required, and much more.

*"My Rock" - A lofty rock, highly elevated. Rock speaks of solidity and stability - that which is strong enough to carry your weight. God, as David's rock, is reliable.

*"My Fortress" - a stronghold, a no-go-area for your enemies. A fortress is a trap for an enemy.

*"My Deliverer" - One who delivers from harm, evil and bondage. He rescues and relieves His own.

*"My God" - God who is Maker and Master, creator and owner.

*"My Buckler" - Buckler and shield are the same thing.

*"Horn of my Salvation" - horn speaks of power. No one touches you when you lay hands on the horns of the altar. You are untouchable.

*"My High Tower" - an inaccessible place, a fort, a lofty place, of high altitude, a place where security is guaranteed. You are invincible.

In 2Sam.22:3, he adds, "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield…my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence."

So in addition he calls God:

*"My Shield" - A protective armor. It's the same as buckler. It hides you from a hurled sword, arrow or darts.

*"My Refuge" - a place where one can flee to for protection.

*"My Savior" - One who makes room for those he frees from trouble, sorrow and destruction.

He goes on to say in Psalm 18:17, "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me" (Ps.18:17). 

All power bows before the God of all power. All braggers quit bragging when they come face to face with your God. In the name of Jesus Christ every knee bows.

David opens up the first line of his song by saying with so much excitement, exclamation and determination, "I will love thee, O LORD…" The word in Hebrew for love here is strange. It is the word râcham. It is one of the Hebrew words for mercy, and interestingly, it has something to do with 'womb.' I believe David is saying that he is pregnant with love for God. His love for God is full of good feeling - affectionate and passionate love. God, in many ways, has invaded David's life and planted or deposited in his spiritual womb the seed of divine love. Love for God is growing in David's spiritual womb.

When you encounter God as your personal Rock, Strength, Savior, Deliverer, Shield or Buckler, Horn of Salvation, Refuge, Fortress, High Tower, and God, you will surely be filled with love for your God. You will become pregnant with divine love - hot love, love with intense heat. Your heart will beat for God. No one remains the same who has personally met with God.

Socrates said, "Man, know thy God," but I say to you today, "Believer, know in whom you have believed." The best way to know yourself is by knowing your God. You become a reflection of the God you know.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter