May 1st~Your Stronghold

2 Samuel 22:1-51

Psalm 18

We read one psalm, and what a psalm it is! While David wrote these words after the Lord had rescued him from all of his enemies, these words were incredibly prophetic. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the descriptions included here were later wonderfully fulfilled by the Lord Jesus in His final days on earth.

Consider these lines in light of Christ’s trials, suffering, death, resurrection, and eventual return:

“The waves of death surrounded me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. But, in my distress, I cried out to the Lord who heard me from his sanctuary.”

“Then the earth quaked and trembled; the foundations of the earth shook... He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath His feet... The Lord thundered from heaven.”

“He reached down from heaven and drew me out of deep waters. He delivered me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me...”

“The Lord rewarded me for doing right; He compensated me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I am blameless before God; and, I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right.”

“I chased my enemies and destroyed them. I did not stop until they were conquered. You gave me victory over my accusers. You preserved me as the ruler over nations.. He subdues the nations under me. You give victory to your King, and you show unfailing love to your Anointed.”

Wow, Christ, indeed, fulfilled these words!

Daily Reflection

What I love about the psalms of David is that they are incredibly personal. “I love you, Lord; You are my strength. You are my Rock, my fortress, my Savior, my shield, the strength of my salvation, my stronghold” (18:1-3).

These words reveal a deep, intimate relationship with the Lord, a closeness that could not occur without difficulty in David’s life. He would not write these things unless he were in distress. In other words, David’s trials afforded him an avenue to grow in his faith and understanding of who God is and how much he relied on Him for strength, for hope, for help, and for survival.

Why is it that David, or you, would never have written these things in times of convenience and comfort? Why is easy living a poor teacher?

Have you ever noticed that it’s during the difficult times in your life that you grow closer to God? Explain.

Instead of getting upset with God during tough times, thank Him for giving you an opportunity to know Him in a better way. Without the enemy “pressing in on you,” you will never discover your fortress and stronghold.

BiAY.org | Day 121 — 244 Days to Go