Psalm 62:3-6 - How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
It's probably safe to say that most of us, at one time or another, have felt battered and attacked like "a leaning wall, a tottering fence." We may feel under attack by illness, grief, or guilt, by difficult circumstances or—as at the time of this writing—the fear, isolation, and restrictions of a worldwide pandemic. The psalmist David was attacked by enemies who sought his downfall. They were deceitful, taking pleasure in falsehood. When David was leaning and ready to fall, he knew there was only one safe place to be. God alone was his Rock and his Fortress. In God, the psalmist had a place to hide and a place to stand firm in hope.
When the world around us fails to supply the hope we long to have and we cannot find within ourselves the strength we need, when we are leaning and ready to fall, we have a safe place to stand. Jesus Christ is our Rock and our Fortress. Jesus knows what it is to be under attack. He was once battered like a tottering fence. His enemies rejected Him as their Messiah, and their only plan was "to thrust him down from his high position." They took "pleasure in falsehood," seeking to trap Jesus with His own words in order to bring accusations against Him. Finally, and successfully, they plotted His death. Jesus endured rejection, betrayal, condemnation, and death. Through it all, the Savior did not threaten or revile the enemies who battered Him but instead laid down His life to atone for their sins, for our sins, for the sins of the world. Like the psalmist, His ancestor David, Jesus endured in hope, looking to His Heavenly Father, "entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23b). Jesus was brought down into death for the sake of our salvation and, on the first Easter morning, hope was fulfilled—for Him and for us!—as God raised Him up from the grave.
Our Lord and Savior has been raised to the highest position at the right hand of the Father. To Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus tells us, "In the world you will have tribulation." There will be times when we are attacked by enemies, especially the evil foe, Satan. We may often feel broken down, like a leaning wall or a tottering fence. But Jesus continues with words of comfort, "But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). He is our Rock, our Fortress, and our Salvation. He is the safe place to stand, a place where we cannot be shaken.
THE PRAYER: Jesus, You are my Rock, my Salvation, and my Fortress. I place my hope in You alone. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. What seems to get you down the most?
2. How did Jesus deal with those who mistreated Him? What does He want us to do for our enemies?
3. How do you handle it when someone acts falsely toward you?
Today's Bible Readings: Job 25-27 Matthew 12:24-50
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