Psalms 18:1-6 (ESV)
The LORD Is My Rock and My Fortress
TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, WHO ADDRESSED THE WORDS OF THIS SONG TO THE LORD ON THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED HIM FROM THE HAND OF ALL HIS ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF SAUL. HE SAID:
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
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.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
As the introduction to Psalm 18 states, this song was written when David was being pursued by King Saul and his army. David, at this time is hiding in caves and trying to stay alive. It is doubtful that most men, being hunted like a dog, would take time to stop and write a song. Maybe, this song was composed after this time in his life, but the passion and emotion that runs throughout the song indicates he is in the throes of this moment. He is turning to God for help. This is not post reflection, this is present need for salvation. He feels “entangled” by death. It is “in” distress that David calls for help. Most of us can’t even relate to his being hunted by another human being, much less being reflective enough to take our our iPhone and compose a song. Yet, David finds a parchment and pen to write out his prayer to God for help. In this articulating his pain he finds relief in knowing that God will draw him out of this rough waters. Toward the end of the song he writes:
Psalms 18:16-17 (ESV)
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
He is full of praise and glory for God. He knows where his help comes from, it is from the LORD. In the midst of our toughest times we might want to take a moment to write our prayers. We might want to reflect more on the character of God through prayer than through the pain of the moment through sight. God allows these moments to happen because He wants us to draw near to him in time of need:
Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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