Tuesday, August 12, 2008

He is the Rock

Introduction

For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
(Deu 32:3-4 ESV)

For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves.
(Deu 32:31 ESV)

God is our Rock... As our Rock he is our shelter... Those who don't know God they "are by themselves."

If God isn't your Rock then maybe you are trying to find shelter in something else. What are the "idols" of todays western culture? There are many for sure, but they include Alcohol, Drugs and Money. If you put your trust in these, if you try to shelter in these you will sink.

In ancient Israel a large Rock in the wilderness provided shelter from different hazards. As well as being the picture of something stable, constant and immovable, the Rock is also a practical shelter.

A shelter from the burning sun

When we shelter from the heat of the sun we can rest, we can rest before we move on, we can rest in the shade of the Rock. But the thing about shade is that it is only found near the object casting the shadow. In the same way we can only rest in the shade of the Rock if we come near to the Rock.

A shelter in the storm

There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
(1Sa 2:2 ESV)

This is Hannah's testimony, having been through the storm of being childless she found shelter in the Rock.

Other times in our lives can be stormy. A rock provides shelter from the storm. From the wind and from the beating rain. Like sheltering from the sun, you can only shelter from the storm when you stay near the Rock.

A shelter from the attacks of the enemy

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
(2Co 4:8-9 ESV)

There are times in our lives when circumstances bring heat or storm but there are also times when the enemy attacks. In every attack we mustn't pretend the attack isn't happening, we must be blind to the reality, we may be "afflicted in every way" but we are "not crushed". The Rock provides refuge from the attack. He doesn't move and the enemy can't penetrate the shield of the Rock.

Conclusion

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
(Psa 27:5 ESV)

Why do we search for other Rocks? God is our ever present Rock, constant, always available and always able to offer shelter.

The wonder of it all is that if we call him "he will lift me high upon a rock." I don't need to climb up there myself, I call, he lifts.

God bless,

Gary

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