My Refuge Part 3

My Rock (2 Samuel 22) Pastor Marvin Barham, D. Min

2 Samuel 22 (Turn here with me.)

2 Samuel 22:2 ESV

He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

2 Samuel 22:3 ESV

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.

David said that he took refuge in his rock who was Adonai. What does that look like in real life?

The word “refuge” in Hebrew is חָסָה chasa meaning that which you seek to run to for protection and place your hope and trust in. David said his was in his rock who was Adonai, the Lord God Almighty. The Hebrew word used here is צוּר sur translated as strong mighty one. It’s root means the one who besieges, secures, overcomes, shuts in and shuts up your adversaries. He is the one who forms and fashions a fortress around you in the days of trouble.

2 Samuel 22:5–7 ESV

“For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.

Keep in mind, that at this point David has been anointed by the prophet and all that has come of it is spears being thrown at him by his king whom he faithfully served. He is no longer a shepherd nor is he a king. He is fleeing for his life from King Saul and his armies. And where does he flee, to the presence of the Lord God.

In verse 5-7 David speaks of the magnitude of his crisis, circumstances, and situation. He says “waves of death encompass him, destruction has assaulted him, he feels tangled up in pits of Hell with death staring him in the face. Have you been there yet saints? Yet, in the greatness of his distress, he was not hopeless nor helpless. He did not turn to anger at the Lord. He did not run to some godless relationship. He did not seek to cope through substances. He instead, He did not just cry out to God, He called upon His name. And from “God’s Temple” did God attend unto David’s voice.

David recognized that “He was God’s dwelling place. The Spirit of God dwelled within him through his praise and worship lifted as a sweet sacrificial offering.” David was not an empty temple, a dirty temple, or a perverted pagan temple. The Spirit of the Living God dwelled within him. God did have to respond from a tent or brick and mortar built by the hands of men. God responded from even beyond the created order.

2 Samuel 22:8 ESV

“Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

When you truly belong to the Lord Most High and His enemies become your enemies. You love what He loves and hate what He hates. When you call out in righteousness with clean hands and a pure heart in your distress, the anger of God is kindled at your defense. Out of His great love arises a defense like no other. It is like a momma bear when the lion seeks to destroy her young cub. God is like a devoted husband who is jealous for his beloved bride.

2 Samuel 22:9–10 ESV

Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.

When God heard David call upon His name, He did not dispatch angels. He did not delegate His response. No, He came down Himself and put darkness and death under His foot. This is exactly what God has done for you through Christ Jesus.

2 Samuel 22:11-19 (Read)

This is what it looks like when God steps into your situation. Listen to the words of the song entitle For Future Generations by 4HIM. It describes our day very much likes the day David was having and how we must stand firm in our faith for future generations. If they do not see us standing on the Rock, then where will they run for refuge in these days of demonic distress?

For Future Generations by 4Him:

“The signs are obvious, they are everywhere. All that we hear about is the gloom and despair. Too many would be prophets saying 'It's the end of it all' because mother earth can't take much more, the hammer's gonna fall. So nature has its needs, that's a lesson learned. But it appears to me there are greater concerns. Because we can save the planet thinking we will somehow survive. But father time is calling us. If we could find a way to preserve our faith so those who follow us see the price that was paid. Then maybe when they question what it's gonna take to survive, they'll find the strength to carry on In what we leave behind. So I won't bend and I won't break and I won't water down my faith. I won't compromise in a world of desperation. What has been I cannot change, but for tomorrow and today, I must be a light for future generations.”

2 Samuel 22:20-27 (Read)

In verse 21 David says that God dealt with him according to his righteousness or right standing with God and rewarded him according to the cleanliness of his choices. Ask yourself, can the wicked find refuge in the Lord without repentance? Can the rebellious heart find refuge in the presence of God without surrender? Can the prideful find refuge in God’s mercies without humility? How does one find refuge in the Lord? How does one make Him their rock? David asked the same questions.

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Psalm 24:5–6 ESV

He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

This last line is important to our study. The Hebrew word for “seek” is בָּקַשׁ baqas meaning to desire. And for “face” it is פָּנִים panim meaning presence. But it comes from the root word פָּנָה pana which means to turn away from everything else and turn oneself toward God. This is the definition of true repentance.

Which direction is your life facing right now? Would you say that your heart is fully towards Him and Him alone?

2 Samuel 22:28-33 (Read)

Indeed, I have seen the evidence of God’s goodness in my life. His word has proven true in my life again and again. Who indeed is like our God and who is a rock like our Lord? This God is my strong refuge. Have you allowed Him to make your way “blameless” (תָּמִים tamim - without spot, complete, repentant, upright, whole hearted with God, unimpaired - no longer damaged goods but made whole)?

What is impairing your relationship with God deep within you? Come to the Rock and lay it down.