Every year between Christmas and New Years I watch the Lord of The Rings trilogy. All three. Extended versions. I can quote some of the scenes. No matter how many times I have seen it, I am always cheering at the end for Frodo and Sam to flee Mount Doom as the lava is pouring out. They scramble up the only secure spot to be found- a large rock. As lava streams beside them, they rest on the one safe place.

Rocks are significant. Plymouth Rock symbolized life in a new land to the Pilgrims. The Rock of Gibraltar grants views of two continents, a Sea and a Ocean, and for years symbolized the “permanence” of the British Empire. The solidity of a large rock communicates security.

God is our Rock is one of several metaphors used in Scripture that describe the solid protection of God. We will concentrate on these metaphors over the next few days. Let your mind fully embrace the picture the Lord paints of Himself in Scripture through these word pictures. He wants us to get it. HE is our safe place.

This metaphor of “the Lord is my Rock” is packed full of meaning and implication for me. It means the Lord is solid ground - the place to run when all disintegrates around me. He is safety and security. He is unchangeable and immovable. Just writing those descriptions down, my heart soars. I am thrilled as I realize the confidence available to live in, but I am also ashamed as I recall my reoccurring moments of worry, instability, and fear. How could I rest on my Rock and still worry?

Because God is my Rock, I should never fear or fret, but rather I should shout praise for the security He gives!

• Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1 NIV)

Let’s look at the benefits Scripture reveals about our Rock. I don’t think we can KEEP ourselves from saying “thank You” once we realize all He gives us. Because God is our Rock, He is our fortress, which means He gives us safety.

• For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; (Psalm 31:3 ESV)

We can persevere patiently in the midst of trial because our Rock provides refuge and salvation.

• Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3 ESV)

Because our Rock is solid and secure, we can wait in watchful hope. We don’t have to worry about being shaken when we take refuge on our Rock because He is trustworthy.

• For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:5-8 ESV)

The characters of the Bible experienced the stalwart trustworthiness of the Lord. Toward the end of his life, after all he had experienced, Moses said of the Lord,

• I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NIV)

David also praised this characteristic of God, because he experienced all its benefits when he hid from King Saul, who wanted to destroy him. For years David hid in the mountains and in practicality experienced the value of a good, solid rock. When Saul was finally defeated and David was safe at last, he wrote a Psalm praising his Rock, who was his strength, fortress, refuge, shield and stronghold.

• A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?-- the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. (Psalm 18:1-3,31-32 ESV)

Eventually all physical rocks will fail. Erosion will do its work. But our Rock will never fail. He is eternal.

• Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4 NIV)

Jesus is our Rock! As the old hymn says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sending sand.”

• For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4 ESV)

• Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? (Matthew 21:42 ESV)

Aren't you glad God is our Rock? I am and can't wait to praise Him.

Prayer

Oh Lord, my Rock, how grateful I am for You.

Thank You for Your immovable safety. You are not fleeting or changing, but solid and reliable. I am so grateful that when all around me seems uncertain and I don’t know what to do next, I can rely on You.

Because You are my Rock, You act as a fortress. Thank You for the protection You so willingly extend to me. It is that safety that energizes me to persevere in face of trials. Thank You for providing exactly what I need. You even give the command to save me! How can I thank You enough?

Lord, all around me seems to be shifting. But as long as I stayed rooted on You, and wait in hope for You to work, I am safe. It is only the security that You provide that enables me to wait. You even tell me I can pour my heart out to You, my mighty Rock. Thank You Lord for the security I experience in You.

I agree with the word of Moses: Your works are perfect and Your ways are just. You are a great God. Thank You! Like David, I come to You for refuge. Thank You for being the same today for me as You were in ancient times for David and Moses. You are still the only Rock to rely on.

As I go about the day today, please help me to be aware of the stability I have in You. Nothing else I rely on is reliable- not my schedule or plans, not my money or abilities, not my relationships or job. The ONLY Rock in my life is You.

I ask You to help me build my life on Jesus, the only Cornerstone that will last. Please keep my feet squarely on You, and no other.

Amen

Friend- many options present themselves daily. We choose where do put our feet. Let’s stand together on the Rock that is the Lord. He is the only reliable place.

• The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation. (Psalm 18:46 ESV)

Some extra Scripture: (1 Samuel 2:2-3 (Psalm 19:14)  (Psalm 78:35) (Psalm 92:15) (1 Peter 2:6)