Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my GOD is my rock, in whom I take refuge. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
Psalm 18 is a song of praise, a song of thanks and a song of affirmation about the who GOD IS. The writer is David—the boy shepherd, who became a great military leader, and who became the second King of Israel, after the death of King Saul.
In Palms 18:2 David praised GOD for being his STRONG shelter. David could sing GOD’s praises with great conviction because GOD sheltered David many times against his enemies, including the jealous and paranoid King Saul. When David wrote Psalms 18 perhaps David recalled how he had to seek shelter in the caves of Adullam with his brothers and other relatives to escape Saul, but it was GOD who protected him. (1 Samuel 22:1)
Perhaps David recalled going to Moab and asking for permission and royal protection from the King of Moab to shelter his parents, while David lived in a cave. (1Samuel 22:3) But even though David was sheltering himself and his parents in earthly places, David understood his true shelter was GOD. David may have been physically living in the caves and living among the rocks, but David understood that GOD was his solid “ROCK.” David knew that without GOD he would perish. So, while he sheltered, David prayed and consulted GOD.
When David wanted to know whether he could go into battle, he asked GOD. When David asked GOD whether he should go into battle against the whole Philistine army (even though David’s own men advised him against doing so), GOD said yes, go. Afraid, uncertain David asked GOD again, and again GOD said yes and reassured David that HE would protect David and help him conquer the Philistines. And, GOD did. (1Samuel 23:5)
Perhaps David recalled the history of his ancestors, recalling how Joshua defeated Jericho, a city that everyone thought was invincible, until the walls fell. Perhaps he recalled how great nations would rise up against the Israelites but would fail because David and the Israelites were SHELTERED by GOD. David understood that GOD, not buildings, was his “FORTRESS.” GOD, not earthly shelters, was David’s “DELIVERER.”
In Psalms 27:5, David declares with confidence:
For HE (GOD) will hide me in HIS SHELTER in the day of trouble…
Psalms 46:1 states:
GOD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
This means that all of us can shelter IN GOD because only GOD is a STRONG SHELTER.
EVERY EARTHLY SHELTER REQUIRES MAINTENANCE
Take a survey and you will find that every earthly shelter requires maintenance.
Any homeowner or apartment owner will tell you that in time, if it is not the roof, it’s the plumbing or the siding, or the trees that need to be cut, or the weeds, or the leaves or the gutters or the chipping paint, the floors, the carpet, or the furnace, the hot water tank, the stove, refrigerator, the washing machine, microwave or dryer that needs to be replaced. Sometimes it is an ant invasion during the rainy season, or flies or gophers or woodpeckers or other rodents. The list of things that an early shelter needs can seem endless.
Our Body Requires Maintenance
Like an earthly shelter, our bodies need maintenance too! Ignore it too long, fail to “maintain it,” “retrofit it,” or prepare in anticipation of problems and you can easily find yourself in trouble.
Joint Exercises
Like maintaining your plumbing, it is a good idea to exercise your joints. Some simple exercises to increase flexibility and reduce joint stiffness include some of the following:
- Shoulder rolls – Stand up straight (without locking your knees) with your arms pointing straight down and close to your body. Take three deep breaths and try to relax and center your body, with your head pointing straight ahead. Then slowly roll your shoulders forward ten times and then slowly backward 10 times.
- Straight backward leg raises – Lie on your stomach with your elbows and forearms on the ground. Keeping your legs straight, gently raise one leg straight up and down and then gently raise the other leg up and down. Repeat on each side about 10 times.
- Side Bends- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, with your knees slightly bent. Slowly reach over your head with your right hand toward the left, while your left slowly reaches down toward your knee as you lean your body into the stretch. Hold for a count of 10, taking deep breaths. If you feel pain, you’ve reached too far. Then repeat on the other side.
- Truck Rotations- Lie on the floor, with your knees bent and your hand extended on the floor in opposite directions. Take three deep breaths and try to relax. Then slowly let your still bent knees fall to the right. Then return to your original position. Then repeat on the other side letting the knees slowly fall to the left. Repeat 5 times alternating from right to left.
- Hip Roll- Lie flat on your back with your knees straight and legs about shoulder-width apart. Slowly roll your knees and feet in the inward so that you are pigeon-toed. Them slowly roll your knees outward.
If you have a medical condition, injury or have never started an exercise program, consult your personal physician for an exercise program right for you. If you feel any pain doing any of these exercises, discontinue immediately and again consult your physician about an exercise program that fits your needs. Exercise within your limits. If you do not regularly exercise start with one simple exercise and slowly increase your exercise tolerance. Remember, “Rome was not built in a day.”
For more information about joint exercises see, WebMD, “Simple Joint Exercises For Health,” https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/oa-active-18/everyday-exercises-for-oa-slideshow “Exercises to Relieve Joint Stiffness, April 22, 2013, by Pfizer Medical Team,
https://www.gethealthystayhealthy.com/tools/exercises-relieve-joint-stiffness.
GOD: OUR MIGHTY FORTRESS AND SHELTER AGAINST ALL ILLS
It has been called “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation.” It was written by one of the greatest leaders and reformers of the time, Martin Luther, priest, monk, theologian, and composer. In 1529, Martin Luther wrote, “A Mighty Fortress Is our GOD.” He wrote:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
Today, humanity faces another “mortal ill” -- a virus, called COVID 19. And, like Martin Luther and David, we can all have a confident assurance that GOD is still a STRONG SHELTER, a REFUGE, and DELIVERER against mortal ills. GOD is still a solid ROCK. (See Matthew 16:18)
Whether we shelter in China, Italy, America, or other parts for the world --- whether in homes, hospitals, nursing homes, or even, like the homeless, we have no earthly shelter at all, or like David, live in a cave---we can all turn to GOD for SHELTER.
Remember, sheltering is nothing new. GOD SHELTERS every day!
Trust GOD to be your STRONG SHELTER and BE BLESSED!
