Inspired by Psalm 18:2
Rocks are pretty interesting, yeah? When I was young, I used to have a rock collection. I would go across the street to the playground and sift through the sand for hours to find the prettiest rocks. I would divide the playground out into sections and tackle a new section each day in the summer. I would then bring them home, spend just as much time scrubbing them clean, and then put them in a little box that I kept in our clubhouse. Apparently I was pretty easily entertained as a kid. On a larger scale, we basically live on a huge rock called Earth. Look at a huge mountain and you are basically looking at a huge pile of rocks. Look at the Grand Canyon and you’re looking at a huge hole within a rock. Did I ruin these natural wonders for you? Hopefully not… But when you pick up a rock, you have no idea as to where it came from. That thing could be a million years old! Who knows where it has been and how it got into your hand. Kind of cool, right? Usually I end up tossing it, but the thoughts are what count.
But then I did a double take when I read multiple times in scripture where God is described as a rock. What?
Psalm 18:2 says “The Lord is my Rock… My God is my rock”. Psalm 61:2 says “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. Psalm 62:2 describes God as “my rock and my salvation”. And then Psalm 71:3 says “Be my rock of refuge”. The view of God being a rock is not just in the Psalms, but in multiple other places scattered about within the Word.
I love the use of metaphors and parables in the Bible, and this one is no exception. When I think of a rock, I see strength, constant, consistent, and steadfast. This points to a God who does not move when threatened by anything or anyone. He is constantly there and never wavering. He remains the same, unchanging, regardless of the current situation. He is strong, mighty, and powerful. He does not break. This is a God I want to put first.
But also, what I think is interesting is the language used with the description of the Lord as a rock. The writers describe the rock of the Lord as “MY rock” and “THE rock”.
God is MY rock. As a believer, as one of His daughters, He is MY rock. God is not just a God who sits on His throne and rules the crowd, but He is a deeply personal God. He is MY God. He knows the names of His people. He creates, sustains, carries, and rescues His people (Isaiah 46:4). He has His people engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). He summons His people by name (Isaiah 43:1). He takes hold of the hand of His people (Isaiah 42:6). He was so deeply personal that He sent Himself in the form of a man, Jesus, to dwell among His people and create relationship, proclaim His message, and die on a cross to save His people. Scripture has countless examples of how God is just so deeply personal with His people.
Not only is God MY rock, but He is THE rock. There is no other God and none like Him (Isaiah 37:20, 45:5, 46:9). He is "the rock that is higher than I". Despite all the human and material things we try to fill voids with, NONE can satisfy or sustain like He can. He is sovereign. He is all-knowing. He is all-powerful. He is a mighty fortress. He claims victory in all battles, and none can thwart Him. He is a CREATOR without ever having been created. And we honor His name alone.
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Scripture References
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold
Psalm 61:2
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I
Psalm 62:2
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken
Psalm 71:3
Be my rock of refuge,
To which I can always go,
Give the command to save me,
For you are my rock and my fortress
Other references:
Isaiah 46:4
Isaiah 49:16
Isaiah 43:1
Isaiah 42:6
Isaiah 37:20
Isaiah 45:5
Isaiah 46:9
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