" My ROCK and My FORTRESS "

Psalm 71:1-8   " In THEE, O LORD, do I put my trust:  let me never be put to confusion.  Deliver me in THY righteousness, and cause me to escape:  incline THINE ear unto me, and save me.  Be THOU my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort:  THOU hast given commandment to save me; for THOU art my ROCK and my FORTRESS.  Deliver me, O my GOD, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For THOU art my hope, O LORD GOD:  THOU art my trust from my youth.  By THEE have I been holden up from the womb:  THOU art HE that took me out of my mother's bowels:  my praise shall be continually of THEE.  I am as a wonder unto many; but THOU art my strong refuge.  Let my mouth be filled with THY praise and with THY honor all the day. "

     " In THEE, O LORD, do I put my trust " (v.1); herein lies the foundation for every aspect - past, present, and future -  of our relationship with GOD. Saving faith establishes a bond with the ALMIGHTY that is inseparable and eternal. Once we have placed our trust in JESUS CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR, HE becomes much more to us than only the Sin-Bearer WHO has redeemed us from the penalty of sin. HE is now the ONE in WHOM we can have absolute confidence with respect to all things that pertain to this life as well as to the future certainty of life everlasting with HIM. The psalmist had this wholehearted assurance in the LORD, even from his youth (v.5)

     His "hope" (or confident expectation, v.5) regarding the good things promised in GOD's WORD provided the writer with absolute confidence that what GOD had spoken HE would also perform. Notice that it was the "commandment" (v.3), the WORD of GOD, that provided the understanding to which he anchored his faith. He, therefore, had the confidence that what he requested in prayer according to the WORD would, indeed, come to pass. When the enemy of the soul and the trials and dangers of life came upon him, he could pray with unwavering faith,  "Deliver me...and save me. Be THOU my strong habitation" (v.2-3). Praise was continually upon his lips for GOD's proven faithfulness (vv.6-8). Think of the many marvelous accounts of how David was delivered and blessed time and again as he walked in obedience to the WORD and lived with the eye of faith set upon his GOD. Thus, he could say firsthand, "THOU art my ROCK and my FORTRESS" (v.3) !  Does our walk with GOD echo this testimony ? " DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, Feature: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  With  Permission.   www.feasite.org