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I chose this text because when I think of the word rock I think of Ben Knight. I’m saddened that I didn’t have the opportunity to know Ben that as well as I would have liked to. But what I did know of Ben is that he exuded a quiet strength.

Ben was a faithful deacon at our church. He didn’t talk much at our meetings but when he did everyone listened. His words were significant and they carried with him a weight.

Ben was servant hearted. When we were trying to move from Aurora and had work to do on our kitchen Ben was one of the first ones there to help. I felt bad as an 81 year old Ben, because his mower busted a belt, insisted on push mowing our yard. That was the kind of hardworking man that Ben was.

And I couldn’t help but notice that when I was in the hospital with Ben as he passed into eternity at his feet were woodchips and in his hair was sawdust. Ben lived a full life and was working up to the very moment of his death.

Everyone who knew Ben Knight was blessed to know him. He indeed was a rock. And I think of this for Esta how Ben has been her rock—he has been this I know for the entire family.

But I picked this text because our hope this morning is not that Ben was a good man—that indeed he was. Our hope isn’t that Ben was a hardworker—that he was. Or that Ben was kind. Our hope isn’t that Ben was such a rock.

Our hope is found in the fact that all of these qualities of Ben flowed out of God almighty. Ben exemplified the fruit of the Spirit. Ben modeled what a man changed by Jesus Christ looks like.

And that’s why I picked this text. Because Ben’s hope was firmly fixed upon Jesus Christ—the rock of our salvation. This is good news because as Christ was always a rock for Ben he too is a rock for you and I to trust in this morning.

v1…The Lord is our strength. The word here for “strength” is one which means “that which enables someone to do something.” So what it means that the Lord is our strength is that He enables us to do that which he calls us to do. I was talking with Anthony and he was telling me about Ben’s growing up and more about his story. Anthony had noted how Ben exemplified the fruit of the Spirit but it was such a miracle because Ben never had this modeled for him. This verse tells us how that’s possible. The Lord was always Ben’s strength. He was what enabled him to be the rock-like husband and father and friend and faithful disciple of Jesus that he was. And the Lord too is our strength.

v2…David goes on to list all these words that really describes God as being our immovable source of strength and help. my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. All these words imply that life is going to be stormy and dangerous and perilous and heart-breaking at times but God is a safe place. Picture going into a cave in the middle of a fierce storm. Outside it’s raging—you aren’t safe out there—but here you are safe.

Escaping Escapism p100

God was Ben’s rock. And his qualities are all a reflection of Jesus. And so let us today trust in Christ as our rock.

v3 call upon the Lord and saved from enemies. This was the foundation of Ben’s life. This is why was so precious to him.

my deliverer

All of these metaphors are essentially pointing to the same thing.

v3 call upon the Lord and saved from enemies

And there is no doubt that all of us here today would have loved more time with Ben. There is no doubt that we would not be grieving this morning if he were here. But if he could come back for one brief moment, I believe I know what he would tell us. Having seen what he has seen and experienced what he is experiencing, he would tell us: Be certain that you know Jesus. Put your faith and trust in Jesus and him alone, he is the only one that can pardon you and the only one that we can hope in. Do not leave this life without knowing the One who is Life Himself.

my rock in whom i take refuge

And there is no doubt that all of us here today would have loved more time with Ben. There is no doubt that we would not be grieving this morning if he were here. But if he could come back for one brief moment, I believe I know what he would tell us. Having seen what he has seen and experienced what he is experiencing, he would tell us: Be certain that you know Jesus. Put your faith and trust in Jesus and him alone, he is the only one that can pardon you and the only one that we can hope in. Do not leave this life without knowing the One who is Life Himself.

I want to turn again to .

Ben loved these verses. So what do we do with them on a day like today? What do we do with our prayers when we first found out that Ben was rushed to the hospital? What do we do with our prayers for healing? Did God not come through on his promise to “rescue” Ben or to “Protect” Ben?

Of course not. In fact he answered them more deeply than we what we were even praying. Today Ben is ultimately healed. He is completely protected. He is dwelling with the Most High. All of these promises are true.

Having now seen what he has seen and heard the things that she has heard—he would certainly tell us that what really matters is Jesus. He would let us know that our present suffering does pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us.

14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

my shield and the horn of my salvation

I believe that he would very passionately let us know that is true. Having now seen what she has seen and heard the things that she has heard—she would certainly tell us that what really matters is Jesus. She would let us know that our present suffering does pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us.

my stronghold

Ben would say to those of us that are believers—it’s worth it. Keep pressing on, keep trusting Jesus, every ounce of pain and suffering is worth it. It only makes Christ all the more sweeter. And to those here that may not be trusting in Christ—I am confident that Ben would encourage you to trust in Jesus alone. He is all that really matters.

Ben left a legacy. May the Lord be our strength as we work to fill the void that this man left. And may we glorify God knowing that as Ben was our rock he was but a shadow of Christ who is the Rock. May we rest upon God our rock and cry out to him in this day of sadness and may we honor Christ Jesus as we honor Ben Knight.

Death does not get the final answer here this morning. Jesus does. Build your life upon the rock who is Christ and storms—like death—will not have the last word. Christ will. That was true for Ben and it’s true for us. Ben is not grieving today. Ben is rejoicing with Christ. May he be our hope as well.