Get A Piece of the RockBy Rev. Dr. Russell M. MorrowText: Psalms 61
This Psalm of David was set in the background of David's trouble as King of Israel. King David is in big trouble,
- He is in exile from Jerusalem in defense of his kingdom.
- His nation was divided.
- And his son Absalom was killed by his soldiers.
All this was the result of family problems based on
David's sin with Bathsheba that seemingly put a curse on his family,
specifically his children.
So, he prays to God:
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the
end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to
the rock that is higher than I, for thou hast been a shelter for me, and a
strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will
trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
This passage reminded me of the Prudential Life
Insurance Company and their famous logo of The Rock of Gibraltar in Southern
Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. Are you old enough to remember the jingle they
used in their commercial years ago? "Get a piece of the rock?"
Prudential Life Insurance Company used this imagery in
their advertisement to tell people that their company would be a strong and
dependable foundation on which they could stand in times of crisis and
catastrophe.
The Rock of Gibraltar is no doubt used by Prudential
Life Insurance because of its history as a strategic fortress used by the
British Navy during World War II and by NATO ever since. The Rock of Gibraltar
represents security to NATO allies.
Today's message of Hope, Deliverance, and Victory isn't
anything new. But I offer it as a source of encouragement and a gift of grace
to share with others in distress when their road gets rough, their going is
tough, and their hills are rugged to climb.
Today's message of hope, deliverance & victory is
that Jesus, His life, death, resurrection, and his teachings are our solid rock
on which we can stand in times of earthly trouble and spiritual warfare. That's
why I find significant meaning and encouragement in the testimony of Robert
Critchley, who penned these words:
- My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
- When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
- His oath, His covenant, and His blood support me in the 'whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock I stand. All
other ground is sinking sand.
Perhaps Robert Critchley was responding to what Jesus
said in Matthew 7, verses 24-29, at the end of the sermon on the mount, when
Jesus spoke about two foundations.
"Therefore, everyone who listens to these
messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his
house on a rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the
rock.
"Everyone who keeps on hearing these messages
of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his
house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, the winds blew and battered that
house, and it collapsed—and its collapse was total."
When Jesus finished saying all these things, the
crowds were utterly amazed at his teaching because he taught them like
someone with authority and not their scribes.
My sisters and brothers, ensure you have your share
of the Rock Christ Jesus.
