TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:9-14
He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. - Psalm 72:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Captain Scott O’Grady knows better than most what rescue means. In June 1995 his plane was shot down over Bosnia. The Air Force pilot survived on insects, plants, and rain water and was only able to use his radio transmitter late at night. On the sixth night of his ordeal, his faint radio signal was picked up by another U.S. pilot. A daring rescue mission eventually brought the helpless pilot to safety.

As amazing as this rescue was, every believer has experienced one even more miraculous, as today’s passage reveals. As part of his prayer for the Colossians, Paul first prays for knowledge of God’s will. This isn’t knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but knowledge that causes growth in one’s relationship with the Lord so as to live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing to Him in all respects (Col. 1:10). As Bible scholar David Garland says, “God gives us knowledge to lead us to deeper faith, greater virtue, and more devout service.”

What are the elements of a life pleasing to the Lord? Paul lists four things: fruitfulness in good works and growth in the knowledge of the Lord (v. 10), strength according to His might for endurance and patience (v. 11), and gratitude to the Father for our inheritance and redemption.

The idea of a “share” (v. 12) originally referred to allotments of the promised land (see Nov. 11). After the Exile, however, this concept began to mean sharing in “the age to come,” or eternal life. The fact that Gentiles, such as the Colossian believers, would share in this inheritance was truly amazing. Also surprising was that qualification as an “heir” was only through Christ (recall Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29).

The kingdom of light (Col. 1:12) naturally suggests a contrast with darkness. In the ancient world, it was common for conquering kings to resettle vanquished people in new lands. Here it is God who is victorious and who “resettles” us from Satan’s dark dominion into His Son’s Kingdom.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Calvin once wrote, “Faith rests not on ignorance, but on knowledge.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9
He has given us . . . an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. - 1 Peter 1:3, 4
TODAY IN THE WORD
For as far back as she could remember, Annie associated her Aunt Edith with a beautiful walnut piano. Each visit to her aunt’s brought the opportunity to lovingly stroke the finely carved piano legs and cautiously play the ivory and ebony keys.

It was no surprise, then, that her aunt’s will left the piano to Annie. At the time, however, Annie’s family had no room for the piano. A relative agreed to keep the piano until Annie could take it. Finally, after Annie graduated from college and got a place of her own, she called her relative specifically to make arrangements to move the piano.

Her relative’s response shocked her: “Why, that old thing! I sold it last year to get a new air conditioner!”

Perhaps you know of a similar story regarding an inheritance, or perhaps you have experienced a similar disappointment. Few issues can create sensitive disputes in families like inheritances can.

Fortunately, God’s inheritance is not like human inheritances! Peter emphasized the true nature of God’s inheritance when he wrote to a group of believers scattered across the region that today is modern Turkey. These people were facing persecution that was causing them great distress (1 Peter 1:6; 4:12).

Peter started off by focusing on the current reality of the living hope that was theirs through their new birth in Jesus Christ (1:3). Then he directed their thoughts to eternal realities about their inheritance (v. 4): it could never “perish, spoil or fade.” Finally, Peter reminded them that this inheritance was kept for them in heaven (v. 4).

This reflects Jesus’ words: “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy. . . . But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19–20). Peter wanted these anxious believers to know that nothing on earth could take away what was safely preserved for them in heaven.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you been setting your hope on something that can perish, spoil, or fade?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 21:1-8
In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. - 2 Peter 3:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Fanny Crosby, the blind American hymnwriter, wrote an astonishing nine thousand hymns! The first line of one of her most beloved hymns provides a fitting close to this month’s study: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”

This one verse reminds us that we are heirs who have been redeemed by His blood. Also, our current life in Christ is only a “foretaste” of the “glory divine”–our inheritance–that awaits us in heaven.

Today’s passage helps us see just how glorious this inheritance will be. Using the words of Isaiah (Isa. 65:17–18, 66:22), John describes the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1). The image of God dwelling with His people reminds us of His covenant promise at Sinai (Ex. 29:45–46) and the incarnation of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). But in the new Jerusalem, God will dwell with His people in a way that has never yet been experienced.

This description of the new Jerusalem gives us great encouragement; although life now is often brutally hard, this life will pass away, and a glorious new heaven and new earth will replace it. All the pain and tears, the mourning and death will finally pass away (Rev. 21:4). What we have only begun to experience by faith, we will fully experience then (1 Cor. 13:12).

Notice Jesus’ words in verse 6: “It is done.” This reminds us of what He said on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Just as Jesus’ death and resurrection effected the ultimate atonement for sin, so also His final victory over Satan (Rev. 20) makes possible the new creation. The title “Alpha and Omega” emphasizes the certainty and finality of Jesus’ work.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Although this month’s study has looked at our inheritance as believers, it’s worth shifting the focus and asking, “What legacy do you want to leave in your life?”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:1-27
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,and the heavens are the work of your hands. - Psalm 102:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Consider one example of the wonders of creation: an elephant’s trunk. It’s strong enough to throw a log, yet sensitive enough to pick up a pea. There’s not a bone in it, but more than 100,000 muscles regulate its actions. An elephant’s trunk is typically about seven feet long and weighs over 300 pounds. It can hold more than a gallon of water for drinking or washing. An elephant also uses its trunk to trumpet warnings and other signals. And of course, it’s also used for smelling and breathing.

Our Creator God is an artist of astonishing breadth and depth! This month, we’ll be studying biblical images or metaphors for God. We’ll start with God the Father, then go on to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, recognizing that many of the images will interconnect and overlap. The purpose of our study is to gain a clearer understanding of the multi-faceted glory of our infinite God.

The fact that God is the Creator isn’t a metaphor, but it does have metaphorical implications. Like a painter hovering over a canvas, the Spirit brooded over the waters (v. 2). Both the created world itself and the Genesis 1 narrative reflect pattern, design, and artistry. Whether looking at stars or atoms, we only scratch the surface of the ordered complexity and beauty that God spoke into being by the power of His word.

Even now, we are surrounded by a world that testifies to the creative power of God (Ps. 19:1-6). The witness of Melchizedek shows that human beings have an innate knowledge of the Creator. That we often suppress this truth signifies our sinful rebellion against God’s sovereignty (Rom. 1:18-20; 2 Peter 3:5).

God did not simply create the world and walk away. He is the Maker of nations and of individuals. He’s the artist of your life, sculpting each new day to bring you closer to Himself.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To focus your mind and heart on God as Creator, make use of Psalm 8 during your personal prayer time today. It begins and ends, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Pray back these words of David. Meditate on them, asking the Holy Spirit to help you see creation through the same eyes as the psalmist.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 45:9-25
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. - Isaiah 64:8b
TODAY IN THE WORD
When you were in school, did your art teacher ever ask you to use clay to mold a candy dish or other object? Such an activity might have been timed so that you could take your handiwork home as a Christmas gift for your parents.

At first, you started off with grand ambitions of sculpting a masterpiece. As the deadline drew nearer, however, you thought you’d settle for wrestling the stubborn muck into any recognizable shape. Your candy dish ended up lopsided, but your mother still saved it proudly for many years.

Today’s reading pictures God as the Potter and ourselves as the clay. At one level, this is literally true. God formed man from the dust of the earth, breathing life into clay (Gen. 2:7). Interestingly, the word “formed” has the same root as the word “potter” in Isaiah 45:9.

On another level, this metaphor demonstrates God’s sovereignty and righteous judgment. He shapes the destinies of nations (cf. Jer. 18:1-10). He sent Israel into exile, and He will use Cyrus to restore them to their homeland. We often think of this metaphor only in individual terms–God molds us. In Scripture, however, it is more often used in bigger terms–God directs world history. That’s why near the end of today’s reading the whole earth is called to salvation and worship (vv. 22-24).

For us, this image is a lesson in obedience. To rebel against God is as wrong and unthinkable as clay quarreling with a potter. It’s ridiculous and presumptuous for us to question Him or to doubt His plan and power (vv. 9-10). God has every right to do as He pleases in making us fit and useful vessels (Rom. 9:20-21). Submission and obedience are our proper and righteous responses.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today would be a good day to compare your attitudes to Scripture. If you are the clay, is your heart soft before God, the Potter?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 82:1-8
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. - James 4:12a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Whom do Americans trust? According to a recent Gallup poll, we trust nurses, followed by pharmacists, veterinarians, doctors, and teachers. Asked about the ethical standards of various professions, 79 percent of Americans rated nurses as “high” or “very high,” making them the clear winner.

By contrast, lawyers fell near the bottom, with just a 17 percent “trust rating.” Judges finished in the upper middle of the pack, but only 8 percent rated them “very high.”

It’s a shame that many people don’t have much faith in lawyers or judges, those with the task of maintaining justice. God’s justice, on the other hand, is flawless and trustworthy. He is the perfect Judge.

Psalm 82 pictures God in His throne room, specifically a judgment hall. It’s similar to a modern courtroom, wherein He is above all supposed “gods” and human rulers (v. 1).

The Lord’s judgment is that the rulers and leaders who should be most responsible for upholding justice and righteousness are doing no such thing. They “defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked” (v. 2). They’re not meeting God’s standards, which include championing the needy and oppressed. Modern implications include speaking out for those who cannot defend themselves, such as unborn babies and abused children.

Those who govern should be God’s deputies; when they fail to act rightly, the foundations of society are undermined (v. 5). It’s as though the guards leave open the city gates–enemies enter freely. Under such conditions, the psalmist puts his trust in God’s ultimate justice.

God is a patient judge, wanting everyone to repent and receive mercy. But one day His just sentence will be irrevocably carried out, and the wicked will receive their due. David prayed for this day in Psalm 58. Though we may feel disturbed by his desire, we should likewise rejoice that one day God’s justice will prevail and sin and death will be no more.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In order to get the most out of this month’s study, we suggest you keep a list with brief notes on the biblical metaphors or images for God studied each day. So far, we’ve looked at God as Creator, Potter, and Judge.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 35:1-28
The Lord will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal. - Isaiah 42:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In times of war, soldiers and generals often become popular heros. Their brave exploits frequently attain legendary status. During World War II, General Douglas MacArthur came to signify firm, unflinching resolve when he left the Philippines declaring, “I will return.”

When he did, in fact, return to liberate the Philippines from Japanese control, a famous photo of him wading ashore captured the American sense of commitment to be defenders of freedom against aggression.

Today’s reading portrays God as a divine Warrior or Defender. David calls on the Lord to come to his aid, picturing him as a mighty, rescuing soldier wielding all-powerful weapons (vv. 1-3). The king, himself a famous military commander, knew that his successes and victories resulted not from human strength, but from God’s supernatural power (2 Sam. 22).

This passage alternates between accusations against the wicked and prayers for God to save the psalmist. David’s enemies had attacked him without cause, so he hoped their downfall would be sudden and complete. They repaid evil for good, betrayed friendship, made false accusations, and took malicious delight in all of it.

Showing faith in God’s righteousness, David prayed that his enemies would be routed: “God, come and fight for me! Vindicate me! Defend me! Strap on your armor and rush to my aid!” When that day comes, he said, “My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long” (v. 28).

God fights on behalf of His people, as He did to bring Israel out of Egypt. On the eve of the battle of Jericho, He appeared to Joshua as the commander of the heavenly hosts. He uses His might to help widows and orphans (Prov. 23:10-11). As a warrior, He also opposes His people when they follow false gods and sinful lifestyles.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Memorizing Bible verses is an excellent way to encourage ourselves with truth. To strengthen your faith with the thought that God is our Warrior or Defender, why not memorize one of the less familiar verses or cross-references from today’s reading?

We recommend the brief prayer of Psalm 35:23: “Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 11:1-11
You received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” - Romans 8:15b
TODAY IN THE WORD
The first African-American novel by a woman in American history was written out of a mother’s love for her child. In 1859, Harriet E. Adams Wilson, a dressmaker in New England, published an autobiographical novel in order to raise money to get her son back.

Harriet’s husband had deserted the family, and because of illness she’d been forced to put the boy into foster care. Tragically, he died at the age of eight, just six months after the book’s publication.

Harriet’s parental love motivated her to fight against the difficulties of her life and the injustices of her society. Similarly, God’s fatherly love for us motivates Him to continue fighting for our salvation by loving and chastening us.

The image of God as Father is widespread throughout Scripture. In today’s reading, He is shown to be a kind father, but also one who is willing to discipline His children for their own good.

God liberated Israel, His “firstborn son,” from Egypt (v. 1; cf. Ex. 4:22-23). He taught the child to walk, and fed him tenderly–a personal picture of a loving parent (vv. 3-4).

How did Israel respond? With rebellion, unfaithfulness, and idolatry (v. 2). Like Moses, we ask, “Is this the way you repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” (Deut. 32:6). If they persist in these ways, God will allow them to be conquered (vv. 5-7). But He won’t totally destroy His child--one day He will restore and bless them (vv. 8-11).

We see here the Father’s compassion and unconditional love, along with His patient teaching, correction, and discipline within a sovereign plan. What a privilege that Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven”!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here’s an open-ended question for you to reflect on today: How might today’s devotional affect your parenting style? That is, if God is the perfect Father and the model for how we interact with our children, in what areas do we need to change or grow?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 54:1-10
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. - Isaiah 62:5b
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent study by Rutgers University found that fewer Americans are getting married these days, and that of those who do, fewer than ever say they are “very happy.” The national marriage rate has dropped 43 percent over the last four decades, with many couples opting to live together outside marriage.

One of the study’s authors believes that popular culture reinforces this trend: “With the breakdown of the family, peer culture, including pop culture, has gotten stronger. Nothing could be more anti-marriage than much of popular culture.”

In such times, it’s more important than ever that believers have a biblical understanding of marriage. Along these lines, it’s instructive to consider today’s reading and the biblical metaphor of God as Husband.

In the Old Testament, prophets frequently spoke of God as a husband and Israel as a faithless wife, whoring after idols (see, for example, Jer. 3:8-9 or Ezek. 16:32-34). But, even though He had every right to divorce her, God pursued and loved Israel nonetheless.

That’s what we find in today’s reading. God is Israel’s husband (v. 5). His key attributes in this regard are His “everlasting kindness” and “unfailing love” (vv. 8, 10). Both qualities translate the important Hebrew word hesed, often used of God’s covenant faithfulness. For a moment, God sent Israel away, but He “will call [her] back as if [she] were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit” (v. 6). He is her Redeemer (vv. 5, .

The context for this passage is God’s promise that Israel will one day return from exile and prosper. As we saw yesterday, He exiled the nation as discipline for her sins. However, “His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime” (Ps. 30:5). As in the days of Noah, sin had to be punished, but mercy will ultimately win (v. 9).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As a related topic for additional Bible study, we suggest you take a look at one of the wedding parables of Jesus, such as the one found in Matthew 22:1--14. Here, Christ is portrayed as the Bridegroom or Husband of the Church (cf. Gal. 4:27).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 147:1-20
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Psalm 147:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
One day, Jesus surprised a tax collector named Levi by calling him to be His disciple. Tax collectors were despised as Roman collaborators and dishonest men, so why would Jesus call this man?

Levi left his tax booth behind and followed the Lord. He even threw a party for Jesus, and invited all his friends to celebrate. Of course, his friends were equally disreputable, and the Pharisees criticized Jesus for going into the house and eating with them. Christ’s answer is classic: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:27-32).

Spiritually and physically, Jesus ministered healing. In this, He imitated His Father, shown as a Healer or Comforter in today’s reading. Psalm 147 was probably written to commemorate the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls after Israel’s return from exile (vv. 2, 13-14).

It had broken the nation’s heart to leave the Promised Land and to see the Temple burned. But God had not forgotten His people! With compassion, He had promised that He would one day bring Israel back and restore her (Isa. 51:3).

God’s healing and comforting qualities are found in this psalm in context with many of His other attributes. He is the Creator, all-knowing, all-powerful, and just. He sustains, commands, reveals His Word, and takes pleasure in our faith and in our worship.

For today’s metaphor, the key is verse 3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (cf. Ps. 34:18). God is like the Good Samaritan in that well-known parable, bandaging the victim and showing him kindness (Luke 10:30-37). He is a shepherd, caring for the needs of His flock (Ezek. 34:16). He’s the “God of all comfort” who enables us to minister healing and comfort to others (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you accepted the remedy offered by God, our Great Physician?

God cares for every one of us and has offered us the gift of eternal life in His Son (Isa. 53:5; 61:1). We are terminally ill with the cancer of sin, but He stands ready with the cure.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Malachi 4:2; Psalm 84:11
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:24-25
TODAY IN THE WORD
When was the last time you watched a sunrise? Perhaps you’ve slept in too often, and can’t remember.

If you’ve been up, perhaps you’ve been busy or stuck in traffic, and not taken the time to enjoy this daily drama of nature. Perhaps because sunrise is so frequent, you’ve been taking it for granted. Yet no two sunrises are exactly the same–our Creator makes a new masterpiece each and every morning!

Today’s verses use the sun as a metaphor for God. Notice there is no confusion between the sun and God, as in the case of the pagan nations which surrounded Israel. The sun is a created object, and only the Creator is worthy of worship.

In that case, what attributes of God do the Jewish writers want to highlight by comparing Him to the sun? One answer is His righteousness and glory (Mal. 4:2). For those who revere the Lord, a new day is coming. Like the sun rising, God will appear on the horizon of our wicked world, dispelling the darkness and bringing the fire of judgment to evildoers and granting healing and redemption to His worshipers (v. 1).

In exactly this way, the first coming of Christ was like a sunrise: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:2; cf. Luke 1:76--79). When the day of the Lord is full, there will in fact be no more need for the sun–“the Lord will be [our] everlasting light” (Isa. 60:19-20).

A second meaning of this sun metaphor spotlights God’s blessing or favor (Ps. 84:11). That’s why the standard priestly blessing included the phrase, “the Lord make His face shine upon you” (Num. 6:25). As with the first meaning, this happy result is only for those who are living righteously, “those whose walk is blameless.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Schedule a time soon to get up early and watch the sun rise. Pick a good vantage point. Allow plenty of time. You might even invite a friend to join you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 2:1-22
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. - Genesis 15:1b
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the most famous shields in literature is that of Achilles in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad.,The shield is described in some detail at one point, and many literary critics agree that the pictures etched on it reflect a classical Greek understanding of the world, society, and religion.

Of course, the shield is also important because it belongs to Achilles, the (nearly) invincible warrior fighting for the Greeks against the Trojans. When his enemies saw him coming, they usually ran or were destroyed.

We’ve already seen God depicted as a Warrior, and in today’s reading He’s compared to a shield. What’s the primary meaning of this image? Just as a shield protects the one who carries it, so God protects and delivers us (cf. Ps. 3; 28:6-9). It was a common idea in ancient times that a king should be a shield for his people, and so our King is for us!

How is God our shield? Today’s reading urges us to pursue wisdom, which leads us to the fear of the Lord. He is the source of all wisdom and success. “He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones” (vv. 7-8).

In other words, to pursue wisdom is to find God, and to worship God is to possess wisdom. Wisdom is then our best shield against the temptations and dangers of life: “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wis-dom will save you from the ways of wicked men . . .” (vv. 11-12).

In addition to the usual military connotations of this metaphor, it can also suggest a mother bird shielding her young ones, as in Psalm 91:4: “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Is there a problem that’s been bothering or perplexing you recently? Write it into a sentence: “When I face _____ , the Lord is my shield.” Keep this sentence in mind throughout the day. When your thoughts dwell on the problem, say, “The Lord is my shield.” When someone reminds you of your difficulty, say, “The Lord is my shield.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 90:1-17
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. - Psalm 90:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
From the moment Dorothy lands in the magical kingdom of fairies and Munchkins called Oz, she wants to return home. She goes on a quest to kill a wicked witch not for glory or fame, but to be given an opportunity to go back home to Kansas.

Toward the end of the story, she clicks the heels of her ruby slippers together three times and repeats, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” When she opens her eyes, she’s back on the farm!

For us as well, “there’s no place like home,” especially once we understand that our true Dwelling Place is God Himself. This biblical metaphor suggests that God is our secure resting place, that our life dwells within His Life, and that He is the place where we belong (cf. Ps. 84:1-4, 10).

At the beginning of today’s reading, Moses sets up “dwelling place” as the main picture of his psalm. This word is sometimes translated “refuge” or “shelter,” but usually means simply “home” or “habitation.”

In what way is God a Dwelling Place? Human beings are sinful and mortal, but God is righteous and eternal. There-fore, our hope lies in taking refuge within His love and compassion (vv. 13-17).

The implicit background for this passage is the years of desert wandering following Israel’s Exodus from Egypt. That’s why it reflects such a strong sense of God’s wrath. But that’s also why the metaphor of God as Dwelling Place is so poignant. Moses and Israel had no home other than God! Under the circumstances, to begin the psalm as he did is a strong statement of faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Moses started with a picture of God as Israel’s dwelling place, and used it to frame a psalm built on the nation’s specific circumstances at the time. You could do the same thing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 62
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. - 2 Samuel 22:2-3a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Historian Roland Bainton writes that Martin Luther composed the well-known hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” during a time of deep depression. Yet, reflecting upon Psalm 46, Luther was moved to pen one of the most enduring proclamations of Christian confidence in the unshakable nature of God.

While Luther may have composed this hymn while in a medieval fortress, the psalmist probably had in mind a thick-walled, stone city, located high upon a hill. David, the author of Psalm 62, was well acquainted with such fortress cities. With first-hand knowledge of the protection that strong, high walls offered, he created a powerful image of the reality of God’s strength. But as secure as a stone fortress was, David knew that God alone was the true protection for his soul (v. 2).

Many times throughout his life, David faced powerful enemies who wanted him to fall (vv. 3-4). At such times, he turned to the only possible source of hope–God. Notice how many images David used in order to convey his confidence in God. God was his rock, his salvation, his fortress, and his refuge (vv. 6–7).

By describing God as a rock, David used another metaphor to describe God’s strength and solidity. Rocks in ancient Israel often provided hiding places, or refuge, in the harsh wilderness. We know that David was forced to flee to the desert more than once in his life. So, again drawing upon his own experience, David knew that the greatest possible refuge was none other that God Himself. No wonder he urged the people to “Trust in him at all times” (v. .

The rest of Psalm 62 offers a sobering picture of those who refuse to make God their fortress. Instead, these individuals trust in extortion or stolen goods (v. 10). But David knew that God, his refuge, justly rewarded righteous behavior and punished evil (v. 12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Unlike Martin Luther or King David, you probably don’t live in a strong fortress! To understand the power of this imagery, consider checking out a book on ancient fortresses or medieval castles from your library and listing elements in these structures that offered protection and strength. For example, high walls protected from enemy assaults and fire. A hill location enabled enemies to be detected early. Think about specific ways in which God protects and strengthens your soul like these fortresses protected their inhabitants.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 32:1-14
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. - Exodus 19:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Throughout history, the eagle has been a frequent symbol of strength and dignity. In the United States, in addition to being the national bird, it is also the central element of the presidential seal.

The eagle is also used in the Bible to portray strength and power. In today’s passage, Moses uses the imagery of an eagle to describe God’s tender care and protection of His people. This passage comes at the end of what may be considered Moses’ farewell address to the people just before they enter the Promised Land. After restating the Law, together with its stipulations, curses and blessings, Deuteronomy records Moses’ final “sermon.” The format of poetry undoubtedly increased the impact of Moses’ words.

Beginning with an exhortation to remember his teaching (v. 2), Moses then broke into praise of God’s faithfulness, especially in light of the people’s frequent unfaithfulness (v. 5). In fact the whole “song” is an account of God’s redemptive deeds by bringing the people out of Egypt and sustaining them in the wilderness.

The conviction that God was leading His people into the land that He had promised was woven into the very fabric of Israelite life. Although the people were not yet in the Promised Land, the promise of God’s gift had been handed down for generations and Moses exhorted the people to once again explain this coming inheritance to the next generation (vv. 7–8).

The centuries prior to the promise’s fulfillment were marked by His constant care. Not only had He faithfully multiplied His people during their four hundred years in Egypt, but He also tenderly nurtured and protected them in their forty years in the wilderness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As today’s passage indicates, eagles are remarkable birds. Some have wing-spans of over seven feet! They have amazing eyesight and powerful beaks and talons.