Between “The Rock” And A Hard Place

           

2 Samuel 22:1-8

And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. 8Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

 

Has life ever dealt you a hard blow? Got any enemies? Limitations? (Don’t Go Anywhere!!!)

David had killed a lion, a bear and a giant as a young boy. (Invincibility of youth?)

David’s enemies had taught him his strengths, limitations and God’s character.

Age and experience ought to make us wiser.

It is this same man who said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Ps 37:25 (KJV)

2 Sam. 22 is actually a Psalm and is found in Psalm 18

Psalm 18:1-6

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 2The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

In it David shares the solutions to three major problems we all face.

(1st the PROBLEM then David’s SOLUTION)

[He uses three (3) metaphors in three (3) different ways in verses 2 and 3.]

First Problem: Things Tend to Become Unstable. (Volatile, Unsecured)

Things degenerate – not visa versa.

Just when you think you have got a grip – POW!

To realize just how much you need an anchor you need the stress of a storm.

1. If you aren’t anchored – you drift.

2. If you are anchored to the wrong thing you drift with it.

3. When you are anchored to the ocean floor you only go where the ocean’s floor goes!

ANSWER: “The Lord is my Rock”.

Three Important Rocks in Scripture:

(1)God, a Rock or Foundation (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 40:2; Psalm 42:9; Psalm 71:3; 2 Samuel 22:2)

(2)Christ, the smitten Rock (Psalm 78:16; Numbers 20:8-11; Neh. 9:15; 1 Cor. 10:4). See note, “Psalm 31:2

(3)Christ, the Foundation of the church (Matthew 16:18; Romans 9:33; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 1 Peter 2:8)

Second Problem: No One Can Stand the Constant Stresses of Life Alone.

Life is much like ocean waves, if you get knocked down they won’t stop to let you get your breath.

We all need a “safe place” and place to hide.

Things that “seem” to give us a break often deceive us. (ie. Drugs, alcohol, sex)

ANSWER: “The Lord is my Fortress” (stronghold – fort – bastion – hiding place)

Fortress, mountain stronghold-a place of strength and safety (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 71:3; Psalm 91:2; Psalm 144:2; Jeremiah 16:19. See 1 Samuel 23:14,19).

Third Problem: We Get in too Deep to get Ourselves Back Out.

Knowing how to get into trouble come naturally!

No practice needed but the more we practice the better we get at it!

I need a “rescue”.

ANSWER: “The Lord is my Deliverer”.

Deliverer, who causes one to escape (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 70:5; Psalm 144:2).

“My deliverer,” interposing in my hour of peril. When almost captured the Lord’s people are rescued from the hand of the mighty by him who is mightier still. This title of “deliverer” has many sermons in it, and is well worthy of the study of all experienced saints.

“My God;” this is all good things in one. There is a boundless wealth in this expression; it means, my perpetual, unchanging, infinite, eternal good.

He who can say truly “my God,” may well add, “my heaven, my all.” “My strength;” this word is really “my rock,” in the sense of strength and immobility. My sure, unchanging, eternal confidence and support.

Ps 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (KJV)

God.  Hebrew:  El (HSN-410), the Almighty, the Strong One.  El (HSN-410) is

God the Omnipotent; the God who knows all, sees all, and performs all things for His people (Psalm 57:2).

Strength.  Hebrew: tsuwr (HSN-6697), firmness, fountain, source, origin (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 73:26; Psalm 144:1; Isaiah 26:4).

Buckler, shield, defender (Psalm 18:2,30; Proverbs 2:7; cp. Genesis 15:1). God covers the head and heart so that neither is wounded by the dart of the enemy.

The horn of salvation (Psalm 18:2; 2 Samuel 22:3). Horns are frequently used in Scripture as a symbol of power, hence this means a powerful salvation. See 1 Samuel 2:1,10; Psalm 132:17; Jeremiah 48:25; Daniel 7:8-24; Daniel 8:3-21; Rev. 5:6; Rev. 12:3; Rev. 13:1,11; Rev. 17:3,7,12.

High tower.  The Hebrew: misgab (HSN-4869) signifies a place so high as to be out of danger (Rev. 18:2; Rev. 144:2; 1 Samuel 22:3)

Those who have placed their faith in Christ need not fear because the worst thing that could ever happen already has. Our sins have been judged.

The best thing that could ever happen is yet before us. We will make heaven our home.

What about the person who does not have a relationship with the Lord? (“Normals”)

Describe the distance between the terms “the Rock” and “My Rock” etc.

Action:

1- Ask the Lord to be “Your Rock”!

2- Ask the Lord to be “Your Fortress”!

3- Ask the Lord to be “Your Deliverer”!