Blessed Be My Rock – Psalm 18:46

“The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock!  Let the God of my salvation be exalted.”

At a church we attended in San Diego, our music leader seemed to work in the song with this verse at least once a month.  I love it.  It is a song of praise as a result of victory in a surprise battle.  Even as I think of it now, it makes me want to stand up and sing.  It is a boisterous song.  The music director had the congregation answer the choir in song, there was a lot of clapping and it was fun.  I have been singing it in the field since I read this verse this morning.  Here is a link to a version fairly close to what we used to sing: enjoy!

It is so amazing that God has arranged for us to call him ours.  David makes a habit of it in this psalm.  “My strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my support!”  In His unconditional love, God has made Himself all these things to us, and much more!  He is our Provider, our Protector, our Healer, our Redeemer, our Counselor and our Righteous Ruler, our Prince and our King.

What a Mighty God we serve, and yet He interacts with us on an individual level.  “He bowed the heavens also, and came down…” (Psalm 18:9).  I am so thankful for such a wonderful Heavenly Father.  Does it not make you want to sing praises to Him?  “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.” (Psalm 18:49)

When we call upon God for a situation, we cannot help but describe Him for His deliverance in that situation.  “For there is that in God which is suited to all the exigencies and occasions of his people that trust in him.  He is my rock, and strength, and fortress.” (Matthew Henry)

What names do you ascribe to our God and our Creator?

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my Blessed Rock and the God of my salvation. 

Be Silent, All Flesh – Zechariah 2:13

“Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

The prophets Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied regarding the unfinished temple to the people that returned to Israel from captivity in Babylon.  The general approach by Zechariah was to encourage the people to continue in God’s work by reminding them of the coming Messiah.  In the book of Zechariah, the descriptions of the coming Messiah cover both the first and second coming.  Can you think of a better way to encourage God’s people to return to passionately serving God than to remind them of our Redeemer’s imminent return? 

In this particular passage, the description of the joyful coming of the Messiah also includes instructions for silence.  One would expect that we, His people, would be reverently silent and in awe as God comes to the earth to complete His mighty work.  But this instruction is to “all flesh.”  Such a momentous occasion is this that God’s enemies will be silenced.  “before God and his providence; the enemies of the church shall be silenced; all iniquity shall stop her mouth. The friends of the church also must be silent. Leave it to God to take his own way, and neither prescribe to him what he should do nor quarrel with him whatever he does. Be still, and know that he is God.  Stand still, and see his salvation.  Silently acquiesce in his holy will, and patiently wait the issue, as those who are assured that when God is raised up out of his holy habitation he will not retreat, nor sit down again, till he has accomplished his whole work.” (Matthew Henry)

The word ‘silence’ used here is NOT used in a descriptive sense such as we see following the opening of the seventh seal: “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1)  Rather, this word in Zechariah is used as a command and is directed to all humans and animals (flesh) who dwell on earth.  It is the same word (Strong’s 02013, to hush, hold your peace, hold your tongue) used in Zephaniah when the day of the LORD is at hand.  “Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” (Zephaniah 1:7)  It is the same word used in Habakkuk, when the LORD is in His holy temple.  “But the LORD is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”  (Habakkuk 2:20)

On that glorious day of our Lord’s return, of His second coming, there will be no arguing with Jesus.  There will be no ‘presenting your case’ in defense of rejecting His Way of salvation.  There will be no words worthy to be spoken to a holy God, in His holy temple in His holy land.  All flesh will be silenced in the presence of pure truth.  For those who have not been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, His return will be a time of great fear and holy judgment.   

Friends, we plead with you to surrender to Jesus, receive His gift of eternal salvation, before it is too late.  Once Jesus leaves heaven to inhabit His holy temple on earth, it will be pencils down, exam over. 

If you are already God’s child, then we encourage you to quicken your work in His service.  Be diligent that your service will speak multitudes to Christ in the form of saved souls.   For those who have been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, His return will be a time of awe and joy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

(Matthew 5:8)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.