The Fortress of the Lord

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 31:1-24

 

Psalm 31:3

For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.

(NKJV)

 

In the time of David, cities had walls providing a fortress of protection from enemies attacking the city. Walls would not provide much protection for a city today because of aerial attacks. However, when David wrote Psalm 31, he would have envisioned the Lord as a fortress or wall of protection around him. From the context of this perspective, let us now look at this psalm and envision the Lord as our fortress of protection against all enemies and adversities that may come against us.

 

David begins the psalm by declaring his trust in the Lord for deliverance according to the righteousness of the Lord (Psalm 31:1). David then asks the Lord to hear him and be his speedy deliverer, providing a rock of refuge and a fortress of defense to save him (Psalm 31:2). David declares the Lord as his rock and fortress and asks Him to lead him and guide him, delivering him from the net his enemies have laid for him (Psalm 31:3-4). David commits his spirit to the Lord who has redeemed him as the Lord of Truth (Psalm 31:5). David hates those trusting in useless idols and places his trust in the Lord (Psalm 31:6). David’s trust is based on the Lord considering his trouble, knowing his soul was in adversities (Psalm 31:7). The Lord has not handed David over to his enemies but set his feet in a wide place (Psalm 31:8).

 

David then asks for mercy from the Lord because he is in trouble with his eye, soul, and body wasting away in grief (Psalm 31:9). David has experienced a life of grief with his strength failing and bones wasting away (Psalm 31:10). David is a reproach to his enemies, repulsive to acquaintances, and forgotten like a dead man, a broken vessel (Psalm 31:11-12). David hears the slander of many who scheme to take away his life (Psalm 31:13).

 

However, despite all of this, David still trusts in the Lord as God, with his times in the hands of God, trusting God to deliver him from the enemies who persecute him (Psalm 31:14-15). David asks for the face of the Lord to shine on him for His mercy’s sake and not to allow him to be ashamed but instead for his enemies to be ashamed and silent in the grave (Psalm 31:16-17). Let lying lips be silenced who speak against the righteous (Psalm 31:18). David praises the goodness of the Lord laid up for those who fear Him and place their trust in Him in the presence of men (Psalm 31:19). The Lord shall hide those who fear and trust Him in His presence and in a secret pavilion from the strife of tongues (Psalm 31:20).

 

Blessed be the Lord who has shown marvelous kindness in a strong city (Psalm 31:21). In haste, David said he was cut off from the Lord but now knows the Lord heard him when he cried out to Him (Psalm 31:22). David concludes by telling all the saints to love the Lord and to be of good courage because the Lord will strengthen the heart of those who hope in Him (Psalm 31:23-24).

 

David faced many adversities in his life, but through them all, he trusted the Lord as his fortress of protection from His enemies. David faced adversity as a young boy, facing the giant Goliath with five stones and a slingshot when Goliath who had a sword (1 Samuel 17:45-51). David survived the death threats of King Saul, even resisting the temptation to kill him when it was presented to him (1 Samuel 19, 24). David even faced treason by his own son (2 Samuel 15:1-12). While we do not know when this psalm was written, it is possible that it was written late in David’s life after facing these adversities. It is not important when this psalm was written, just that it shows the heart of David, trusting God as his fortress through it all.

 

None of us is immune from adversities in life, with Jesus even promising they would come (John 16:33). David provides an example of one who trusts in the Lord through all of life’s adversities. Adversities come at us in many forms. It may be health adversities, financial adversities, or even threats of harm or death. The Lord promises healing from health adversities (1 Peter 2:24) and a new body upon our death (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). He promises to provide for all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He promises protection when threatened (1 Corinthians 15:55). The 2 Corinthians 5:21important thing is to trust in the Lord as our fortress in all adversities.

 

The greatest adversity all face is separation from God by sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23). The good news of the Gospel is Jesus who knew no sin took our punishment for sin upon himself on the cross providing a fortress from sin by his shed blood (2 Corinthians 5:21). All one must do to enter this fortress is confess their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10;9-10). If you are reading this and have not done so, I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Your sins are now forgiven, and Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I invite you to find a local church that teaches the truth from the Bible, the word of God, so your new relationship with God can flourish. May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.