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Todd's
Tips For Tough Times: Untangling Today's Twists With Timeless Truth
From The Bible Teaching Ministry of Todd M.
Freeman
Psalm 18:1-2
PS 18:1I love you, O LORD, my strength... PS 18:2 The LORD is my rock,
my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
One of the most recent successful commercial campaigns is the
"Got Milk" campaign. The alluring commercials insinuate that drinking
lots of milk will guarantee that a kid will grow up with a strong body.
The latest commercial is set in a county fair. The man who runs the
strong man booth is encouraging small kids to pay the fee and sling the
hammer. To his dismay, child after child rings the bell and displays
strong man strength. He is horrified as he gives large stuffed animal
after large stuffed animal away.
Where does lasting strength come from? Does it come from a proper diet that
includes milk and green vegetables? Does it come from a pantry full of
potent vitamins? Does it come from a rigid and consistent exercise
program? Does lasting strength come from the might of a powerful
person? Does lasting strength come from a gifted politician? Does it come from
a wealthy relative? Does lasting strength come from a community leader
or an attractive person of the opposite sex? All of these sources provide
strength, but none of these can can guarantee lasting strength. There
is only one source of lasting strength: The LORD. Psalm 18 contains the
confession of a weak man who found his strength in the Lord.
Before the ancient song begins, we read an introduction which
provides us with great insight. For the director of music. Of David
the servant of the LORD. He 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. It is interesting to me that David does not spend time seeking
to justify himself in this brief introduction. He could have introduced
the song by saying, "David, the true king, or David, the man with a heart
for God; the anointed one who constantly faces persecution from an insanely
jealous king who deserves to be removed from power. He could have
brought attention to the fact that he had been unjustly made a fugitive
on the run for over a decade.
David could have given us an honest look into the emotional and
physical suffering that had caused tears to stream down his face time
and time again. He could have expressed the times he wondered if God had
deserted him. Instead, he keeps his focus on the blessings of God. He
boldly declares that the LORD has delivered him from all his enemies.
In other psalms David does share his struggles, but not this one. This
particular song is not about the desert, but about the oasis that God
alone can provide.
How did David survive the long, raging storm? How did he make
it through the long days of loneliness and questioning? The answer to
that question is found in where he looked for strength. PS 18:1 I love you,
O LORD, my strength. He sings from a heart full of praise: "I love you,
O LORD..." His emotions overwhelmed him. David had shed many tears and
cried out many times to the Lord. Now those prayers were being
realized! Victory came because the shepherd king had drawn his strength from the
Lord. When tough times come, it doesn't take long to find that we are
limited and weak. Our batteries run low and we start searching for
strength. Some look to parents, or religous leaders, or drugs
(including alcoholic beverages) or their stored riches, or an attractive person of
the opposite sex. These wells are destined to run dry, but the Lord is
a source of strength that never runs dry!
David declares three truths about the Lord and His strength.
First, David writes, The LORD is my rock. A rock is a solid, firm
foundation that can be built upon. Jesus told a parable about two
builders. One builder built upon sand and the other built on rock.
The rock foundation held up when the storms came, but the foundation of
sand caused the house to crumble. One of the great tragedies is that the
majority of the population are building their lives on a foundation of
sand. Inevitably, the storm will come and their lives will crumble.
The Lord is the only solid rock. ISA 44:8 Do not tremble, do not be
afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my
witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not
one." There is great security in knowing that the Lord is secure and
trustworthy. The storm will come. That is not the question. The
question is, "Will we be broken and destroyed by the storm? If our
lives are not built on the ROCK, then we will be candidates to crumble.
The second truth David proclaims is, "The Lord is my
fortress..." David moves from the idea of the Lord being a firm, immovable
foundation to being a place of safety. When our enemies brutally attack or ambush
us, it is good to know God desires to be a place of safety for us. In
another place David pens this lyric, PS 32:7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Have you ever just wanted to hide? Sometimes the assault of the evil
one and his blinded servants can severely sting and injure us. Remember,
when it gets hot God has his hand on the thermostat, and when the vise seems
to be crushing us; God's hand is controlling the pressure. His desire
is not to incinerate us, or crush us; but to reshape us for His glory.
During these times He promises to be a fortress, a place of safety so
that the work of our enemies does not overstep His will. PR 18:10 The
name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are
safe.
The third truth is that he is our deliverer. The first two
truths reveal that God is strong and secure, but the third truth shows
us that God is not only a place to which we can run; He is a God who
fights for us! Eight times the Bible refers to God as "Deliverer." It is
interesting to note that the name Jesus literally means deliverer or
"one who will save His people from their sin." God went far beyond
providing a listening ear and a compassionate heart. He sent His one and only
Son to die for us. Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who
gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for
himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. God loves us
too much to sit on the sideline and watch us suffer. At the
appropriate time He acts to deliver us! When we meditate on the depth of God's
love we realize that God went far above what was necessary. He lavished us
with His love. 1JN 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Let
me close with this wonderful thought from the scriptures which reminds
us that God has held nothing back in the love that He lavished on us.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all
things?
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