The LORD Is My Rock — sacred illustration
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Strength & Courage

The LORD Is My Rock

Psalm 18:1-6

Psalm 18:1-6 opens the song David sang, its heading says, on the day the LORD delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul; the same song appears in 2 Samuel 22.

O LORD, my strength, I love You. You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my shield and my stronghold; in You I take refuge. When the cords of death surround me and the torrents of chaos overwhelm me, I call upon You and cry to You for help. Hear my voice from Your temple, and let my cry reach Your ears. Be my strength today. Amen.

Psalm 18:1-6 opens the song David sang, its heading says, on the day the LORD delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul; the same song appears in 2 Samuel 22.

The Scripture

“For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered 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, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.”

— Psalm 18:1-6

Prayer points from Psalm 18:1-6

  1. Tell God you love Him, and call Him your strength (v. 1).
  2. Pray through each name: rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, stronghold (v. 2).
  3. Name the enemies or pressures you need to be saved from (v. 3).
  4. Tell Him honestly what feels like it is overwhelming you (vv. 4–5).
  5. Cry to Him for help, trusting that He hears your voice (v. 6).
  6. Thank Him for the times He has already delivered you.

About this verse

Psalm 18 is one of David’s longest psalms, and its heading tells the story behind it: David sang it “on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” The same song, with small differences, appears in 2 Samuel 22. The first verses pile up names for God: rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold. Each is a place to hide or a wall that holds. Then David remembers how close he came: “The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.” And then, simply: “In my distress I called upon the LORD,” and God heard him from His temple. The rest of the psalm tells of the rescue. This prayer is for anyone who feels overwhelmed and needs God’s strength and protection now.

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