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Psalm 18:30-31  As for God, his way is perfect:  The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.  For who is God besides the LORD?  And who is the Rock except our God?

The rubric at the beginning of many of the Psalms contains the words ‘of David’.  The Hebrew prefix translated in this way can have various meanings: it can indicate the Psalm was written by David, that it is written about David, that it refers to a particular situation involving David, that it makes reference to David, and so on.  

The rubric at the beginning of Psalm 18 is more specific: it says it is a song David sang when the LORD delivered him from all his enemies. and in particular from King Saul who was mercilessly pursuing him.  It therefore tells us of the absolute, unshakeable confidence Israel’s next, and greatest ever, King had in the LORD, his God.

I find it especially comforting and inspiring because he not only found this confidence to be completely well-founded and trustworthy in his own experience, but he claims it is equally so for all who take refuge in this Sovereign, Covenant-keeping God – which includes me!  Therefore, as a too-often anxious believer, I love Psalm 18!  I am glad to be reassured of the confidence I can have in the absolute perfection of the way of the LORD, and I see in this special title, ‘the LORD’, a foreshadowing of the One who was yet to come – the Lord Jesus Christ, who would seal the Covenant with the shedding of his own precious blood for me on the Cross.

It means that whatever stange, perplexing and incomprehensible (and yes, uncomfortable) twists God’s providence might have in the outworking of my earthly pilgrimage, I can know and trust that from God’s all-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful position and perspective his way is ‘perfect’ for me.  The Hebrew word translated ‘perfect’ refers to what is ‘complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact’.  What a wonderful comfort this is when the going is tough!  It also means that I can look on God’s revelation of himself, his word – both his Written Word (the Bible) and his Living Word (Jesus) are ‘flawless’ – the Hebrew word refers to what is tried, tested, and proven true.

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the One-and-Only God, so what better or firmer hope can we imagine or have?  “The Lord’s our Rock, in him we hide, a Shelter in the time of storm; secure whatever ill betide, a Shelter in the time of storm. O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land; O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a Shelter in the time of storm.  A shade by day, defense by night, a Shelter in the time of storm; no fears alarm, no foes afright, a Shelter in the time of storm. O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land; O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a Shelter in the time of storm.  The raging storms may round us beat, a Shelter in the time of storm; we’ll never leave our safe Retreat, a Shelter in the time of storm.  O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land; O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a Shelter in the time of storm” (Vernon Charlesworth). 

Yes, the Rock of Ages, cleft for me!

– Bruce Christian