Introduction

Hello, dear church family. What a joy it is to gather here together, united in spirit and in purpose, to bask in the warm embrace of our Savior's love. As we gather in this sacred space, let's take a moment to pause, to breathe, and to prepare our hearts for the wondrous truths we're about to encounter in God's Word. It's in these times of shared worship, of shared communion with our Lord, that we find the strength and solace to face whatever life throws our way.

And life does have its way of throwing us curveballs, doesn't it? We've all been there, haven't we? We've all faced trials and tribulations, we've all wrestled with doubts and fears. But in those moments, in the midst of the storm, where do we find our refuge? Where do we find our strength?

The answer, dear friends, is as beautiful as it is simple. We find our strength in our Savior. We find our refuge in the Lord.

Let's turn now to Psalm 18, verses 6 through 19. Here, the Psalmist writes:

"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."

What a powerful image of the Lord's strength and protection! It's a reminder, as the great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart."

Indeed, our God is a God of supreme strength, a shielding sanctuary, a secure salvation.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, as we gather here today, we are in awe of Your strength and Your love. Open our hearts and our minds to Your Word. Help us to see You as our refuge, our strength, our salvation. Guide us and protect us, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Supreme Strength of the Savior

When we consider the might of our Savior, we are drawn to the image of a fortress, a stronghold that stands unshaken amidst the fiercest storms. This is the picture painted for us in Psalm 18. The Psalmist speaks of the earth trembling and quaking, of mountains shaking, and yet, in the midst of this chaos and upheaval, the Lord is depicted as a steadfast refuge. It's an image that resonates deeply with us, particularly when we find ourselves in the throes of life's storms.

The strength of our Savior is not just physical or even metaphorical. It's a spiritual strength that surpasses our understanding. It's a strength that can reach down into the deepest valleys of our despair and lift us up. It's a strength that can part the heavens and come down to our rescue. It's a strength that can confront our most powerful enemies and scatter them like dust.

This strength is not distant or detached. It's a strength that is intimately involved in our lives. It's a strength that hears our cries, that responds to our distress, that takes hold of us when we are sinking. It's a strength that is not indifferent to our plight but is moved by our cries. It's a strength that rescues us not because it has to, but because it delights in us.

The Psalmist speaks of the Lord's strength as being like a consuming fire. This is not a destructive fire, but a purifying one. It's a fire that burns away our fears, our doubts, our sins. It's a fire that refines us, that makes us pure and holy. It's a fire that illuminates our path, that guides us through the darkness.

The strength of our Savior is also depicted as a soaring eagle. This is a strength that lifts us up, that carries us on its wings. It's a strength that enables us to rise above our circumstances, to see things from a higher perspective. It's a strength that gives us the courage to soar, to dream, to hope.

In the midst of life's storms, we can take comfort in the supreme strength of our Savior. We can rest in the assurance that He is our refuge, our strength, our salvation. We can trust in His ability to rescue us, to lift us up, to carry us through. We can rely on His strength, not our own. And in doing so, we can find peace in the midst of chaos, hope in the midst of despair, and strength in the midst of weakness.

Shielding Sanctuary of the Supreme

As we continue to reflect on the divine strength of our Lord, we find ourselves drawn to the image of Him as a shielding sanctuary. This image is not a mere metaphor, but a profound truth that resonates throughout the scriptures. Let's take a closer look at this idea, starting with the Psalmist's words in Psalm 18:2, "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."

The Psalmist's words paint a vivid picture of God as a sanctuary, a place of refuge and protection. This image of God as a shielding sanctuary is not just about physical protection, but also about spiritual protection. God is our refuge in times of spiritual attack, our shield against the fiery darts of the enemy. He is our fortress, our stronghold, our place of safety in the midst of life's storms.

But this image of God as a shielding sanctuary is not just about protection, it's also about presence. In the sanctuary of God's presence, we find peace, comfort, and rest. We find a place where we can lay down our burdens, where we can find rest for our weary souls. In the sanctuary of God's presence, we find a place of communion, a place where we can draw near to God and experience His love and grace in a deep and personal way.

As we continue to reflect on this image of God as a shielding sanctuary, let's turn our attention to the original language of the Psalm. The Hebrew word for "sanctuary" in Psalm 18:2 is "misgav", which means a high place, a place of refuge, a secure height. This word is used throughout the Old Testament to describe God as a place of refuge and protection. For example, in Psalm 46:1, the Psalmist declares, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." The word "refuge" in this verse is the same Hebrew word "misgav".

In Psalm 62:7, the Psalmist proclaims, "My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge." Again, the word "refuge" in this verse is the same Hebrew word "misgav". These verses, along with many others, paint a consistent picture of God as a shielding sanctuary, a place of refuge and protection.

As we continue to reflect on this image of God as a shielding sanctuary, let's consider two additional aspects. First, God as a sanctuary is not just about protection and presence, it's also about provision. In the sanctuary of God's presence, we find all that we need. God is our provider, our sustainer, our source of life. He provides for our physical needs, our emotional needs, and our spiritual needs. He is the bread of life, the living water, the source of all good things.

Second, God as a sanctuary is not just about protection, presence, and provision, it's also about power. In the sanctuary of God's presence, we find the power to overcome sin, the power to endure hardship, the power to live a life that is pleasing to God. God's power is made perfect in our weakness, and in His sanctuary, we find the strength to face whatever life throws our way.

Salvation Secured by the Supreme

As we turn our hearts and minds to the final point of our discussion, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a truth so powerful, so transformative, that it has the potential to change our lives in the most profound ways ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO