How Is God My Rock? (Psalm 18)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

What does the Bible mean when it says God is our rock?

Psalm 18 is a great example to look at. Verses 1-3 say,

¹ I love you, Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock where I seek refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
³ I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I was saved from my enemies.

Verse 2 is the focal point of this entire psalm. Words like rock, fortress, and shield paint a vivid picture of the way the psalmist believes we are to understand God. He is dependable, and when we place our trust in him, we will be strong. As Daniel Henderson writes, this psalm helps us understand that “we can have absolute confidence in our all-powerful God. He is our unfailing place of refuge, strength, and security!”^[1]

This word rock is used throughout the Old Testament, notably in Exodus 17, when Moses strikes a rock that gives water for the Israelites to drink. But not only is God our rock, he is also our refuge. As Tim Keller notes, “The psalms repeatedly call God a refuge, because we so constantly need it. Habitually turning to God for refuge is the only real support we have in life.”^[2]

In an uncertain world, it’s refreshing to anchor our souls in someone who is secure.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | I praise you for being my rock. I can stand firm on your promises.

Release | I cannot be self-sufficient. I need you to be my refuge.

Ask | Protect me from enemies I may or may not see. Be my shield and fortress.

Yield | I surrender the earthly things I shelter in. Only you can sustain me.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul indicates that this rock we see in the Old Testament is Christ. According to Paul Carter, “You could almost say that ‘Rock’ is the Old Testament name for Jesus.”[3] Carter goes on to say, “To speak of the Lord as my ‘Rock’ is to refer to ‘the life giving, smitten rock of Exodus 17:6’, who is Jesus, who gives us life, refreshment and renewal in a dry and barren world.”^[4]

Christ is our hope.

Today, if your life feels shaky, take several minutes to meditate on Psalm 18 and take confidence in the reality that God is your rock. You can trust him, and he will not fail.

[1] Daniel Henderson, Praying the Psalms , ed. Daniel Henderson, vol. 1 (Denver: 6:4Press, 2021), 58.

[2] Timothy and Kathy Keller, The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms (New York: Penguin Publishing Group, 2015), 26.

[3] Paul Carter, "What Does It Mean to Call God My Rock?," The Gospel Coalition - Canada, accessed January 6, 2024, https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/ad-fontes/what-does-it-mean-to-call-god-my-rock/.

[4] Paul Carter, "What Does It Mean to Call God My Rock?," The Gospel Coalition - Canada, accessed January 6, 2024, https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/ad-fontes/what-does-it-mean-to-call-god-my-rock/.