Inspiration for Week of January 17 to 23, 2021

[Pastor Gary]

Good Day, Friends; Many of us find our days becoming more and more stressful. The prices of every day necessities seem to increase faster than our pay raises, the domestic and international tensions are at an all time high and it seems sometimes that no one truly has time to care about anyone else these days.
Perhaps it is time for those who feel stressed to turn, once again, to Our Father for strength. We are reminded in Psalm 18:1-3 (NLT), "I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. 3 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies."
Talk with God in prayer and tell Him your concerns. Ask for His help and His strength will become your strength. May God bless.

 

[CPerkins]

We are reminded in Psalm 18:1-3 (NLT), "I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. 3 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies."
Talk with God in prayer and tell Him your concerns. Ask for His help and His strength will become your strength. May God bless.

Just to get a little better sense of what David was saying here to Israel and us today. I've highlighted several words and using Benner's "Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible," and hope to share the richer meaning of his message to us.

Psalm 18:1-3 (NLT)
"I love you, Lord; you are my strength that supports me and holds back enemies. 2 The Lord is my rock that towering high place of defense, my stronghold surrounded on all sides in protection and my savior; my God is my hard rock of defense able to cutdown my enemies, in whom I find protection. He is my wall of protection that shields me, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold that high place of defense and protection. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies."

Interestingly many of these words refer to a high cliff indirectly speaking to God's high place in heaven. Also the various means that the high place gives us strength in time of trouble.

Strength - 2391
The strength of something that holds back or supports

Rock - 5553
This word pictured a cliff and means a high rock, cliff or towering rock, a place of defense.

Fortress - 4686
Stronghold: a hiding place surrounded on all sides

Rock - 6697
Rock specifically Flint: a very hard rock that when fractured forms a razor-sharp edge. Used for knives, spears and arrowheads. Signifying God’s strength

Shield - 4043
Wall of protection

Stronghold - 4869
A high place of defense and protection

 

[Nazarene Servant]

This makes me think of the lava fields in Hawaii. The lava there in some areas can be hiked upon but a person does so at their own risk as some areas will chew up even the best shoes leaving you barefooted and stranded. I fantasize the demons and even Satan himself standing outside that perimeter wishing they could get to me but knowing the risk is far greater than the reward forcing them to just move on their miserable little way. Jesus is my Rock and Jesus ain't no pansy. He is gentle as a lamb, comforting as a Shepherd, to those who know Him but a nightmare for anyone or anything that doesn't acknowledge Him and His authority. He is my hiding place and the only strength that I have.

Oh, my God, my Savior;
Bless these here in this group as we are so desperately longing for that day that we will receive our redemption in You. We are becoming more oppressed and our spirits are becoming more damaged. We see the destructive nature of humankind in this rotten world and we hurt and want so badly to see something beautiful. Lord, You are beauty. Hide us in You as You have said that You will when we know and trust in You. Take us home soon, Lord. We need you and love you. We are desperately aching for that day that we will enter your presence to sit with you at the Marriage Supper and know that all pain and suffering is finally over. In Your Precious and Holy Name, Amen, Amen, and Amen.