Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 17
Friday


WHEN
THE GROUND
SHAKES

READ:
Psalm 18:1-6
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In my distress, I called
upon the LORD.
__Psalm 18:6
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Several days after a devastating earthquake in the San Francisco earthquake in the San Francisco area, a young boy was seen rocking and swaying on the school play-ground. His principal asked him if he was okay, and the boy nodded yes and said, "I am moving like the earth, so if there's another earthquake I won't feel it." He wanted to prepare himself for another shaking of the ground.

Sometimes after a trauma, we brace ourselves for what might be coming next. If we've had a phone call that brought bad news, every time the phone rings we feel panicky and wonder, What has happened now?

The "ground was shaking" for the psalmist David after King Saul tried to kill him (1 Sam. 19:10). He ran and hid. He thought death was next and told his friend Jonathan, "There is but a step between me and death" (20:3). He wrote, "The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid" (Ps. 18:4).

David cried to the Lord in his distress (v.6) and found that He was a stabilizer, One he could trust would always be with him. He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;... my stronghold" (v.2). The Lord will be that for us also when the ground shakes under us. __Anne Cetas
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````````````````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. __Chalesworth``````````
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To survive the storms of life,
be anchored to the Rock of Ages

*****************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 18:1-6**********

1 I will love You, O LORD,
my strength. 2 The LORD is
my rock and my fortress
and my deliverer; my God,
my strength, in whom I will
trust; my shield and the
horn of my salvation, my
stronghold. 3 I will call
upon the LORD, who is
worthy to be praised; so
shall I be saved from my
enemies. 4 The pangs of death
surrounded me, and the
floods of ungodliness made
me afraid. 5 The sorrows of
Sheol surrounded me; the
snares of death confronted
me. 6 In my distress I called
upon the LORD, and cried
out to my God; He heard
my voice from His temple,
and my cry came before
Him, even to His ears.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Psalm 18:2 contains a wonderful string of word pictures, David
seems to relive God's providential protection in past conflicts. The
Lord is compared to a "rock" __a stronghold that in ancient times
was top security. (A high place kept someone out of the enemy's
reach.). He also describes God as the "Horn of my salvation" __the
symbol of conquering strength. As a defensive safeguard, the term
"shield" is used of his Savior. In all of this it is clear that God is the
ultimate protection. Yet His help must be accessed through faith and
dependence on Him. __DENNIS FISHER