THE LORD, OUR STRONGHOLD - Ps. 18:1-3

Webster’s defines the word “enemy” in this way:

·        A person who hates another and tries to injure him

·        Anything hostile or injurious

Maybe you have no enemies in the traditional sense. There is no one you can point to and say “he or she hates me and is always trying to hurt me”. 

But what about the other aspect of Webster’s definition?  Is there anything hostile or injurious in your life that could do you real harm – like an illness, or anxiety, or depression, a hostile work environment, an abusive marriage, or any of a number of other things?

Sometimes when we are faced by an enemy there is an obvious way out – we can leave the job and find another, we can go for counseling and hope to save the abusive marriage, we can see a doctor and hope medication will help.  But what about when there is no circumstantial way out? 

David, who would one day be the King of Israel as God had promised, knew what it was like to flee from an enemy seeking to harm him.  His enemy was the current king, King Saul, who out of jealousy, kept David on the run for about 18 years, while trying to kill him.  The psalms of David written during this time reflect the fear, anxiety, depression, impatience, loss, doubt and sense of uncertainty and insecurity David felt while he ran.  You can “hear” the emotion in his words.  And yet, in the same psalms in which he expresses his negative emotions, he often also expresses hope in the LORD, who had promised him that he would one day replace Saul on the throne of Israel.

It was to the psalms that I turned this past week when our family found itself “pursued” by the enemy of fear, anxiety, doubt and uncertainty. 

If you read the blog I wrote last week you may be wondering about the outcome of the medical situation I mentioned regarding my 15 year old granddaughter, Emma.

When I wrote, we were waiting for a call from the doctor’s office to set up an appointment to follow up on a lump we discovered on her chest.  The pediatrician, the first doctor to see her, didn’t say what concerned him, but we were later to find out that he suspected it could be lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymphatic system.  He wanted her to be seen by a hematologist before the week was out and that was the call we were expecting.  They called last Tuesday and set up an appointment for Wednesday morning.

I was disappointed to discover that morning that Emma didn’t want anyone but her mom going with her.  I really wanted to go, but since I couldn’t go along, I decided that the BEST thing I could do was pray, and so for several hours that morning I prayed my way through the Psalms, praying God’s Word specifically for my daughter and Emma. 

I began with Psalm 18.  My Bible says this about Psalm 18:  “David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”

What a perfect place to begin my prayer that morning when we were battling some “enemies” of our own!  The way David described the Lord held such comfort, encouragement, and hope for me throughout that long day of waiting. 

v. 1  “I love you LORD, my strength”

If there was anything we needed that day, it was strength:

·        strength to look to the Lord and not allow the “what ifs” to distract us

·        strength to choose peace over anxiety, strength for the sake of others – to help them stay calm

·        strength to face whatever the day might hold

·        strength to endure the waiting

Physical strength for bodies easily prone to stomach upset when stressed. 

Emotional strength for emotions easily driven by fear and doubt. 

Spiritual strength for keeping mind and heart on the Lord and not on the circumstances.

David’s words affirmed the truth that the Lord just doesn’t GIVE strength, He IS the source of strength.  He Himself is my strength thanks to the personal relationship I have with Him through the work of His Son Jesus. 

I also took strength from Him knowing that both the Son and the Spirit were interceding with the Father for Emma’s sake.  And Jesus, by virtue of His finished work on the cross, is HEARD!

And the LORD is not just a source of strength for everyone out there – although those who turn to Him in faith have access to His strength as well.  His provision of strength is PERSONAL - He is MY strength – personal, intimate.  He knows me well enough to know and supply all the strength I will ever need.  His strength is IN HIMSELF. 

For this and so much more, I truly love Him, as did David.

v. 2 The LORD is:  my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.  My God is: my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, the horn of my salvation; my stronghold.

In our culture here in the US, fortresses and strongholds are not familiar pictures. As I read these strong words used to describe the Lord, I tried to think of what they might look like to us. 

In the 2^nd movie of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - The Two Towers, the people of Rohan flee to the fortress of Helm’s Deep in order to shield themselves from the attack of the armies of Mordor. 

Helm’s Deep is a fortress.  Made of stone and set into the side of a mountain, it is formidable, encompassing several stories in height.  The walls are wide enough to accommodate many men wielding bows and arrows in defense.  Its entryway is sealed with secure, heavy wooden gates.  Completely protected on three sides by the mountain into which it is built, enemy armies can only attack on one side, making it easier to defend.  Underneath are caves filled with food and water supplies and shelter for women and children to retreat to for safety.  The people of Rohan had fled there many times for safety, believing the fortress to be impenetrable, and indeed it had been in times past, but not this time. 

In the end, the armies of Mordor mounted an insurmountable assault and the citadel was breached.  With the enemy army swarming throughout, rescue finally came at the 11^th hour when the horsemen of Rohan led by Gandalf arrive, to route the armies of Mordor.

When I read that the LORD is MY ROCK, MY FORTRESS, MY REFUGE, AND MY STRONGHOLD, it’s a citadel like that of Helm’s Deep that comes to mind.

The difference is that unlike Helm’s Deep, nothing can breach God as Stronghold.  Nothing touches His children unless He permits it to enter.  The LORD is able to keep us safe in Himself for He truly IS a stronghold that is impenetrable, secure, and strong.

And He is MY SHIELD – my full body armor – protecting body, mind, heart, and spirit from the enemies of disease, fear, doubt, anxiety, and the unknown.  Nothing can touch me unless it first passes through the hands of His permissive will.

Verse 3 says: “I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

How faithful the Lord was to save us from our enemies this last week. 

Throughout that day my daughter Becky remained strong and calm for Emma’s sake.  In the past, Becky often had difficulty controlling her own emotions, but this week she was mindful of wanting to stay calm and in control in order to help Emma to do so.

And Emma, who just the night before was having difficulty remaining calm and said she would refuse the testing, and who was terrified as well, endured all the testing calmly.

The result of her visit to the hematologist was that the doctor was 98% sure it was not lymphoma, or anything “bad”.   Tomorrow she has to visit a surgeon to talk about removing it.

How thankful I was to the Lord, Who is our rock, fortress, stronghold, strength and deliverer – and Who upheld us and met us where we were.  For that He deserves all our praise.

Psalm 18:1 “I love you, O LORD, my strength.”

 PS  Emma is scheduled for surgery on Thursday, Aug. 8 to remove the "thing" on her chest.  We'd appreciate your prayers!