Dear Sister,
In this letter, I would like to share with you a few thoughts from Psalm 144:
Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer;
My shield and He in whom I take refuge.
—Psalm 144:1–2
This psalm contains David’s testimony of what God is in his life. We often read powerful declarations of praise like this one in our Bibles, and we borrow them for our own prayers and worship songs. David, however, didn't copy these statements about God from a prayer book. Each expression was a personal testimony of how he experienced God when he was in trouble and cried out to Him for help.
My rock: After David killed Goliath and Saul became envious of him, David’s peaceful life was over. His whole world turned upside down, and there was not a place in Israel where he could stay in safety. Because of constant danger to his life and that of his family, he even had to relocate his parents outside the borders of Israel.
In all this turmoil, David found someone he could rely on, count on for help and completely trust in—and that was his God. He experienced Him as his unmovable rock in an ocean of trouble, confusion and uncertainty.
My trainer: When David went out to fight Goliath, he wasn't an experienced soldier who could handle sword and spear. He was a shepherd boy with a sling, some stones and faith that God would give his enemy into his hand.
Even later on, when David became a mighty warrior, he attributed all his success to God and not to any captain of Saul’s army who taught him the basics of warfare. He said: “For by Thee I can run upon a troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29).
My lovingkindness: David loved God and had a humble and teachable heart. Even when he sinned, he always humbled himself before God. That’s why God could shower him with His grace and lovingkindness and call him a man after His own heart.
This is how much David valued God’s love and compassion toward him: “Thy lovingkindness is better than life” (Psalm 63:3).
My fortress, my stronghold: Think about how many years King Saul hunted for David to kill him. David was constantly on the run and had to hide in caves and in the wilderness. He didn't have a fortress with towers and a high wall to protect him inside and keep Saul out. But he experienced how God became his fortress and stronghold and kept him safe. Saul with all his army could not penetrate God’s protection around David.
My deliverer: More than once David was betrayed, surrounded by enemies or outnumbered in battle. Yet each time, God delivered him and those who belonged to him.
My shield: David had many close encounters where he could have easily been killed, such as when Saul threw a spear at him while he was playing the harp. At those times, he experienced God as his shield, which no enemy weapon could penetrate.
My refuge: Being a fugitive, where could David have gone for protection and help? People were afraid to give him a place to stay, because Saul had even killed a priest and 85 of his relatives for giving David supplies. God became David’s place of refuge and defense when he was in danger, discouraged or weary.
What is our personal testimony about God? It’s wonderful to know Jesus as our Savior, but the Bible says He wants to be so much more in our lives. Do we know Him yet as our strength, comfort, wisdom, peace or any of the names we just looked at?
Like David, each time we walk through a time of difficulty or blessing in our lives, we should be able to add one more name of God that testifies, in praise, what He has become to us.
My dear sister, I hope these thoughts from Psalm 144 will encourage you to get to know Jesus in a much more personal way.
May the Lord bless you and fill you with His joy.
Your sister in Christ,
Gisela
