MY ROCK
Suggested Reading: Psalm 18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Monasteries are built high above on great rocks in this rugged landscape in Greece. The monasteries that you see are the Great Meteoro and Varlaam.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 18:1-2
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The conclusion David draws from the above statement is this, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” (18:3). David composed and sang this song to celebrate the Lord’s deliverance from the hand of King Saul. Saul was trying to kill him. Again and again David hid amongst the great rocks in the area of En Gedi, east of the Dead Sea. It is plain to see as we learn about David, as well as from David, that his rock-solid confidence was not in the rocks, but in the “Rock,” his God! David exclaims in song, “Who is a rock, except our God?” (18:31b). “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!” (18:46a).
The confidence that those of us have who believe in Jesus is expressed in song too. Let’s find online that amazing hymn, “Rock of Ages,” and sing along (click here).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, You gave me instructions about the foundation for my life. I know that I must build my life on the Rock! You are that Bedrock, dear Jesus. I rest securely on You, not on the shifting sands of contemporary human experience and the philosophies of mankind. I pray that I will stand firm on You, Lord God! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I may have referred to this sometime last year, but here goes… I was listening to a French language radio station as the late Pope, John Paul II, was speaking in Quebec City. Here are the words I heard, “Pierre (Peter) est un petit pierre (is a little stone), mais Jesus est Le Grande Pierre! (but Jesus is The Great Rock!).” He was referring to the words of Jesus following the answer of Peter to the question of Jesus, “Whom do men say that I am?” Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Then Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter (a little rock) and upon this Rock (a great Rock, Jesus Himself), I will build my Church.” In my early days as a follower of Jesus, I struggled with my understanding of these words of Jesus found in Matthew 16:18. My concerns about the Church being built on Peter were highlighted by the words of Jesus just five verses later (Matthew 16:23): “But He, (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'” Yes, Peter was mightily used of God. I want to be used of God too, but I’m ever so thankful that no church is built on me, a weak and flawed human being. There is only one GREAT ROCK!!! Jesus Himself!!! I’ve just read again Matthew 16:13-26. Like those very small-appearing monasteries built on that great rock in Reynold’s photograph above, I’m building my life and my hope for eternal life on Jesus alone!!!
Yours for the only true eternal foundation for life, “The Christ, the Son of the Living God,”
David
I had a very similar struggle with this scripture in Matthew 16 at one time and thank the Lord I came to the same conclusion you did David. The Church could only be built on the foundational truth of Jesus Christ as Lord; any other foundation would have surely crumbled long ago. He alone is the chief cornerstone, our faith rests solely upon Him and no other. Many Churches start well, but in due-time lag due to empty philosophies and man made rules which corrupt. Man’s rules and traditions placed on an equal par for authority with God’s Word is a recipe for disaster. Scripture must be compared and contrasted with Scripture, in only this manner may the Holy Spirit reveal to us what is truth and what is contrary to the truth. Tradition and philosophy are fine in context, but never never let them define, replicate, dictate or replace the foundational truth found ONLY in Christ Jesus.
I agree with you, David and Scott, about Matt 16 as well.
To illustrate, a few years ago, the Sunday came when our pastor announced that he and his family would being leaving our church. After the close of the service, the pastor came to me quite perplexed. A person that had recently become a Christian came up to him at the close of the service and said, “I don’t know what I am going to do now, pastor, you were the one who saved me!”
As you can imagine, the pastor realized that this might have been a slip of the tongue, but if the parishioner really believed that the pastor had saved him, bad things might be in this parishioner’s future. He asked me and a few other leaders to pray for the man and to come along side and disciple him to be sure he was basing his salvation on the ROCK, not on a man.
Many, I fear, are drawn to a personality in the church, the music or the community of a church and could be just as lost as if they had not begun attending. This is a shame and needs to be guarded against.
Thanks for the continued diligence every morning, David Maines… You are a big rock to me, but I appreciate you not trying to be the BIG ROCK who can only be Jesus.
Yes Im thankful that we put our foundation on the rock of our Lord and saviour Jesus the son of the living God , and not on the sand like foolish man and when the storms of disappointment , fear are only examples of if your life isnt built on the rock you could be washed away from the cares of this world
Jesus is the rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
Thank you Lord that you are blessing
David with strength and wisdom and knowledge as he continues to be used by you father to bless others with the understanding of your word Lord in Jesus name Amen
Very inspired words David (commenter David). Replying to what Scott said, people can twist scripture to fit there personal biases and politics. They say it is honest interpretation but it is obviously a stretch at the least. This is often seen in life and is warned of in the Bible by Peter. An honest heart and mind is very important to interpreting scripture and just looking for a justification is not honest. Jesus commended Peter at one moment and at a later moment rebuked Satan in him and said you love the things of the world more than the things of God. It is a very important thing against which we all need to be careful.
As we put our trust in the Rock, look how the world moves about with the whims of the times.
When attending Sun.school, many many
years ago, I enjoyed singing the chorus,
“The foolish man built his house upon the
sand…..The wise man built his house upon
the ROCK …”. When the winds of adversity
blew on the house built on the sand it fell
down…but when the winds blew on the
house built on the ROCK, the house stood
firm. That has stuck…Sunday School is
so important in a child’s life.
Thank you David for sharing the hymn with
us this A.M. Always a blessing. The Lord
is your strength, your ROCK, your fortress
and your deliverer…..and to all who have
put their faith and trust in God. Praise the Lord.
when Jesus asked peter, who do you say that I am, his reply was thou art the Christ the son of the living God, because of the misuse of scripture, ie the confess and possess doctrine, Christians have thrown out the baby with the bath water as it were by failing to declare, speak, acknowledge, say, affirm on a daily basis, who He is and who we are in Him, we overcome satan by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony, thank God He has given us weapons to fight the accuser when he comes at us with accusations and condemnations and lies, thank God for the rock on which our faith is built, Bill Walsh
Such a powerful reading today, the rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ! It is amazing to read the depths to which King David wrote about in today’s Psalm. To trust completely in God as our rock solid foundation and shield. Being keen on archery, it’s hard to imagine an arm so strong as to bend a bronze bow! Amazing, just as Reynolds photo! It is the rock, Jesus Christ, to which we build our foundation upon. Thank you David for your insight! Have a great day, to all!
Dear David— I want to bless you for the wonderful Hymns that
you have shared on your daily Blog: Please continue to share
them as the Lord leads you— Thanks again– Amsey Martin
Agree fellow bloggers. Here is a link to the song “I go to the Rock”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZReXFY4t-1E
I agree with you Faith sunday school is very important for children
I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t go now you can get many
can learn their lessons from Crossroads 360. I loved that song when
I was young although didn’t early understand it until a little later.
Have a great day everyone
Lianne Hogg
“Let us hold firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. Let us be concerned with one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another, all the more since you see the Day of the Lord is coming near.” Hebrews 10:23-25 TEV
With these words the Holy Spirit has given my courage to share our Lord with others, even if I am not always certain it will be understood or safe to do so.
Many years ago I ordered from Huntley Street a videotape called Matthew. I think many of you might know of it. In it, when they come to this scene where our Lord says that line to Peter, the actor playing our Lord, Bruce Marchiano, did a totally different take on it. He hugged Peter and in anguish he said those words. He believe the Lord wasn’t angry at Peter, but was speaking Satan, who was trying to use Peter’s innocent but misguided words to tempt our Lord from fulfilling His destiny on the cross.
Jesus said ” I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put death,and on the third day I will be raised to life.”
And the Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him — it was Peter rebuking our Lord, not our Lord rebuking Peter. In Peter’s rebuke the Lord knew Satan was trying get Him– to heed the words of His dear friend and not His Father’s plan. Peter had no idea that if our Lord had listened to him, what a disaster that would have been to mankind. And our Lord knew that and knew Peter was speaking without understanding what his words meant. Our Lord loved Peter so like Bruce I am incline to believe he didn’t speak in anger, out of love, while sending the message to Satan to get lost and not use His friends against Him.
The Father was Jesus’s Rock in that moment and now our Lord is our Rock. May we always listen to what Jesus’s says, reveal in Scripture and through the Spirit of Truth given us when we made Him Lord of our lives.
Blessing to all the saints. Amen
There is also a melody to the words in this Psalm:
“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies. The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted. The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”
It was well into my faith walk before I understood it was “The Rock” that the church is built on. Praise His Holy Name!!! Amen, and Amen!!!
Irene
Oh, the rock of our salvation! The photo speaks to the strength of that majesty–a divine painting in the making.
Thank you for your words, this morning, David Mainse, reminding us to be ever so humble, and gracious that the Lord is the rock on which we stand!
Rock of Ages, Augustus Toplady
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labors 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.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Wishing everyone a blessed day!
Dear Rev. David M .
Once more today I am so grateful for your daily blog . Such clarity from you and the many clear comments from the fellow bloggers for I too for many years was not clear about that scripture but Praise The Lord there is only One Rock its called Jesus Christ Our Saviour , Redeemer . Amen .
God bless you all .
xxxx Carole.
Thank you for your daily blogs In Jesus’ love barb
“On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.” As with you, David, fellow bloggers and David of the Bible, Christ our Lord has proven again to be the solid rock as the photo exemplifies. He has sustained me through one of my greatest fears as you all know. As I testify, I don’t remember a lot of pain but i remember a lot of grace. He is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. Blessings to all.
There is only one problem, there is no mention in Matthew of Peter being a little rock, and we are left with the fact that Jesus gave to Peter, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, a sign of authority. Jesus also said to the Apostles: “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent me.”
Yes we have the Scriptures, but Jesus didn’t leave us the Scriptures, he left us his followers, the Church, who incidentally decided which books would be included in the Scriptures. The Bible didn’t drop complete out of heaven.
At the last supper, Jesus promised his Apostles the guidance of the Holy Spirit who would lead them to all truth.
The Catholic Church does not claim to be above the Scriptures, and does not teach anything that contradicts Scripture, properly understood. The Vatican II document Dei Verbum, (the Word of God) is a good document to read to see how the Catholic Church reveres the Scriptures, also Verbum Domini (the word of the Lord), the Apostolic Exhortation written by Pope Benedict after a synod of Bishops in 2010.
In the Catholic Church there is no conflict between the Word of God and the Teaching of the Church. It has been grossly misunderstood and distorted by some Protestants. (Not wishing to start another conflict….I have learned much from our Protestant friends)
Amen!! Amen!! & Amen!! David
God Bless you!!
Nancy xoxoxo
Thanks David for your encouraging blogs – God has given you wisdom and knowledge to help us to continue trusting God no matter what trials He allows us to go through. I also appreciate all other bloggers – we are all on the same journey. It is so good to sing again the hymns that you all post. In this morning’s Daily Light’s reading I read “Search me O God, and know my heart, test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the paths of everlasting life. We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly, His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. God’s truth stands firm like a great Rock and nothing can shake it. It is a foundation stone with these words written on it “The Lord knows those who are really His”.
Jesus is the solid ROCK ,were we stand ‘ dear friends, all other ground is sinking
sand.Amen, Amen, Amen. …R..
This is one of my very favourite Psalms and I recite the first few verses often.
It has been my go to Psalm when things are dark and getting me down and then I perceive THE ROCK…..Jesus on which I stand!!!
Thank you Pastor David and fellow bloggers for your words of wisdom and links to songs etc. You are all blessed. Praise be to God The Most High.
Hope all of you had a blessed day. A few years ago my self and a loved one were under attack from people who do not know Jesus. All through the contraversy
I prayed for them. But one day the persicution and false statements became
diffacult to bare. I needed a pray to deliver me. I was sitting in my vehical I
opened my bible and my eyes fell upon Psalm 18 etc. Oh how the living bible speaks to us. It was just what I needed.
Dear David M. God loves your tender heart and counts your every tear.Sometimes crying can be so liberating. I love a good heart felt justified cry.
I must confess that many times when I read this blog I am also moved to tears.
Today was one of those days
Thank you for teaching us from the heart. Your heart 🙂
M.
Jesus said to Peter, “do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know I do.” Jesus said, feed my sheep.” He asked Peter three times. Peter felt troubled by the question but three times said that he loved him and Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. Later, Peter denied, out of fear, three times that he knew Jesus. Yet, Jesus gave His sheep to Peter knowing Peter would grow stronger and be a good and faithful servant while Jesus was sort of away from the house in a far country. Likewise, Paul was a good and faithful servant waiting for his master to return. They both had the faithful Witness to help them as can we. They did not claim to be supermen but they were entrusted with the sheep and died faithful to that trust. The catholic church is not perfect. Far, far from it. As David Mainse said recently, no christian church is perfected by God yet. Still, Jesus gave the keys to Peter and Paul and John Paul II and David Mainse. They are in charge of the sheep. Who is a wise servant who waits for the Master to return and is faithful to feed the sheep? Yes, David Mainse is one but Jesus left His church in his care and in Peter’s and in Paul’s and in good popes’ like John Paul II and bad popes’ like Borges. Us? Should we not look for the Master to return. The whole bible says I should.
The Bible is the Word of God.