1 I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; 5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation— 47 the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, 48 who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence. 49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name. 50 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever. to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
Psalm 18:1-6, 46-50
God has thousands of names to meet our thousands of needs! Do you understand what this means? Do you believe it?
When the Lord delivered David from all his enemies, David wrote Psalm 18. He experienced God’s deliverance! He knew God’s name, not only because of the teachings passed on to him by others but because of his life experience. He really met God!
God is my strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, God, rock, in whom I take refuge, shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, the living God!
God was David’s personal God! God was his companion through the trials of death!
Many people only know God as the omnipotent and omniscient, a judge who punishes evil and rewards good. Chinese people fear gods and keep away from them. It never occurred to me that God is willing to dwell among people and build friendships with them! I have heard many people worship God, fear God, and serve God. But David said that “I love you, O Lord, my strength. ” David did not believe in one of the religions, but he had a close relationship with God who loved him! And David proclaimed his love to God!
We’ve read quite a bit about God’s name over the past few weeks. We have knowledge of God, but more importantly, have we experienced God personally like David? Have we got a relationship with God? Can we proclaim to the world that “I love you, O Lord, my strength? ”
by Jenn Johnson
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 