Set Upon A Rock

The journey of God’s church through the wilderness is a path of much strife, affliction, adversities and sorrows. The great King of Zion has said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The poet of this psalm has also experienced this.

We are not certain as to the circumstances in David’s life to which this psalm is related. Some expositors say it refers to Saul’s persecution, or to the time when he fought with the Philistines and was in danger of being killed by a giant if Abishai had not delivered him (2 Sam. 21:15-17). However, the terms are too general for us to say exactly the occasion when it was written.

Nevertheless it is evident that this psalm relates to a season of darkness, when, seeing the power of his enemies, David’s faith and courage were shaken. Also the fears of his friends were very likely not concealed from him. To silence these fears and to encourage himself, David declares his resources to be in Jehovah — “the Lord is my light.” Light is an emblem of joy, and the Lord has promised, “Light is sown for the righteous”; “He is my light and my salvation,” or safety. And because the Lord is able and willing to deliver, David may add, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

In this way David declares that God is his only comfort and confidence in all danger. The nearness of God is most precious to him, and he therefore mentions his hearty desire to be in the house of God. “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” Oh, blessed desire wrought by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of fallen sinners! David does not desire the victory over his enemies, or peace and rest, but his highest wish is to experience the nearness of God and to receive the revelation of His beauty. Although he was in a time of trouble, he knew, ‘The Lord shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle.” Incomprehensible wonder that corrupt, filthy sinners may dwell with God again and may experience His tender mercies and love!

The time will come that the Lord will lift him up. He will exalt him out of his troubles, above the arrows of his enemies, and will set him up upon a rock. This was a safe, unshakable place, for a rock is firm and will not be moved. Therefore the only safe hiding-place for hell-worthy sinners, yesus Christ, is often mentioned in the Scripture as a Rock. He is the only Rock of salvation. He is the Man who “shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest” (Is. 32:2).

Moses, when seeking the revelation of God’s glory, received the divine message, “Thou canst not see My face, for there shall no man see Me and live.” That must be learned by sinners who by grace seek His communion. From our side there is no way, and no sinner can stand before Him; no human being will be able to bear the full revelation of His glory.

But then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me.” There is a place for those who have left their place with God and have chosen a place among God’s enemies, who with the prodigal son have left the father’s house. There is a place, purchased with a precious price, by Him who took the place in a manger in a stable in deep humiliation. There is a place by Him who was willing to take a place in Nazareth, who was willing to appear before the earthly judge, who took His place upon the cross, who descended into hell and was buried in a sepulchre, a place of shame. Oh, blessed Savior, who in a way of bitter suffering purchased a place by God, in the house of the Father, for a rebellious people!

There is a people on earth who are taught by the Spirit and who have learned to acknowledge that it would be righteous if their place would be in hell, in eternal damnation, separated from God, under His wrath, with the devils and all God’s enemies. Oh, what a terrible judgment to be cast away into that place of eternal darkness! For His people the veil is rent and there is access to the Father; the heavens are opened, and God says, “Behold, there is a place by Me.”

The only safe hiding-place for hell-worthy sinners, Jesus Christ, is often mentioned in the Scripture as a Rock.

The place is...a rock. Moses stood upon the rock; the Lord put him in a cleft of the rock, and there he will see something of God’s glory. There the Lord will show him His mercy and grace. What a blessed place, that Rock Jesus Christ, for wearied and heavyladen sinners who have learned to see that all other refuges are insufficient, that outside of Him there is only death, but who have also seen by divine revelation that in Him is life. Then they may see that the enemies are put to shame, that in this Rock they are lifted up above all the arrows, above their adversaries.

In Psalm 40 we also read of that experience. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay.” It was completely cut off from his side, but He brought me up. Christ descended into that horrible pit, into that miry clay, but therefore He will set their feet upon a rock and establish their goings. This is God’s work—to deliver from the power of Satan, to forgive sins graciously, to execute judgment and justice, and to set the feet of lost sinners upon a rock. Then He establishes their goings.

They may then hear, “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed.” That is not the testimony of men, but of the Lord that hath mercy on them. Then, upon that rock, He will put a new song in their mouth, even praise unto their Cod. That is what David beheld in the temple, that was what he was longing to see, and that which he would desire in God’s house. This also is his expectation in the midst of troubles, and he may lift up his head and see, “He shall hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.” Therefore he will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy, and he will sing yes, he will sing praises unto the Lord.

Surely, here on earth he will remain one of those poor and afflicted people whom the Lord will leave in the midst of this world, but he also may trust in the Name of the Lord. Their strife is sometimes heavy, the waves of afflictions and difficulties are sometimes high, and he says, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” The exercise of that faith is a gift of God, unexpected and incomprehensible. He lifts them up; He shows them the goodness of the Lord. Therefore he may also say, “Wait on the Lord,” mourning, afflicted people, helpless, poor and needy sheep of the Good Shepherd’s flock, “be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

What are you hoping on, my fellow traveller? What is your expectation, my dear young friend? You have read about the happiness, the safety, the blessed future of God’s church militant, showing His faithful care over His poor, but highly privileged people. How poor we are if we still miss that and are travelling through the wilderness of this world without hope and without true joy and expectation! Oh, that hiding place is still open, and He calls you — also you, my young friend: My son, My daughter, give Me thine heart.

Blessed are they that put their trust in Him. ?

Rev. C Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen