My Rock

I was brought up in a small village in Albania where we spend most of our days outside. Country living is not as idealistic as the magazines make it. Farming is hard work. It was hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, but work was as hard in every season.

What comforted the villagers and myself when working in the fields was the presence of some big rocks along the paths that had names and served as shelter, safety and security.

Whether it was hot and the sun was scorching our heads, or stormy and the wind was running wild, those rocks were the perfect place to run to.

“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 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 power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.”

Psalms 18:1-3 NLT

For David, to pen those words after 20 years of living as fugitive and in fear, God must have meant the same.

Shelter

Safety

Security

Many things had gone and forgotten during those years for David, many comforts and connections had been lost during that time, but God stayed the same, like an immovable rock, he stood the seasons of his life and all the changes he faced.

We use it often these days, said associated with people ’he is my rock’ ’she is my rock’ ’they are my rock, ’ but have we experinced Christ to be The Rock, like that old hymn by Augustus Toplday says it:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labour of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone…