David’s personal and earnest expression of praise to the LORD is the theme of today’s reading. This was a song composed when God delivered David from the hand of Saul during David’s wilderness experiences.  His several encounters with Saul and the miraculous escapes orchestrated by the Lord is recounted many times by David and have become the theme of several Psalms. The song in today’s reading is seen in Psalm 18.

David’s songs (the Psalms) often deals with real life issues and thus one can easily flow with their themes. They serve as a platform for people to get connected with God in their times of distress and deep sorrow. David always attributes his victories and escapes to God Almighty. Right from the time of his early life when he was delivered from the paws of the lion and the bear and when was used by God to defeat the Philistine giant, David always attributed his victories to the Lord’s mighty power. As David declared in Psa.16:1 ‘I said to the LORD, “you are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”’ He declares again in Psa.16:8 “I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” David has written some of the exuberant Psalms – the reason being the joy of the Lord residing in his heart.

We all pass through various problems in life – but how do we face them? When the joy of the Lord is our strength- our mainstay, then victory becomes the outcome! The power of praise is demonstrated through the life of David – that turned every bitter moment into a joyful note.

We can even see how God was protecting David throughout his wilderness sojourn! 1 Samuel 23:14 – “David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Soul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.” There is a God watches you from heaven, He understands your struggles, He is aware of your wanderings, He will never allow the enemy to devour you!! Hallelujah – He is our ROCK. The Rock of ages, the rock that follows you in your wilderness journey – and that Rock was Christ Himself!!

1 Samuel 23:25 records another time when Saul was chasing David, he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. However, Saul’s efforts in finding David became futile and further we read in 1 Samuel 22:28 that Saul returned from pursuing David… therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape!!

In fact we can see that the Rock symbolizes God Himself – as we read in 1 Corinthians 10:4 “… for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”

From the time you put your trust in Jesus Christ, until your journey on this earth is complete, there is the continuing presence of the Lord that accompanies you every single day of your life. He promised in Matt.28:20 “I am with you always.” Your challenges are known to Him, your wanderings and your struggles are known to Him – will you declare that Jesus is your Rock and put your complete trust in Him?

Then as David declared, you will be able to declare that: “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing!!” (Psalm 30:11)

A Promise:

"Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the

Lord we have an everlasting Rock."

Isaiah 26:4

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Listen- ‘Rock of Ages’