“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).
The LORD is:
- My rock
- My fortress
- My deliverer
- My refuge
- My shield
- My horn of my salvation
- My stronghold
What does “the horn of my salvation” mean?
To help us understand this Old Testament phrase, it is helpful to look at the usage of “horn” in Old Testament sacrifices.
In Exodus 27:2, we are told, “Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.”
The horns were placed on the four corners of the altar to represent God’s strength to save. The brass overlay was required so that the horn could withstand the fire of the burnt sacrifices while supporting the altar.
When the psalmist says that God is the horn of salvation, the psalmist tells us that God is the one who is able to support the sacrifice that atones for our sin, and that God is the one who is able to withstand the fires that makes the sacrifice of Jesus effective.
God is our rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, the horn of our salvation, and our stronghold. God is all that!!!
Here’s what this means for us at a practical level. God being our rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn, and stronghold does not mean Christ-followers are shielded from the trials and tribulations of life. Instead, it means that the trials and tribulations cannot steal from Christ-followers the joy and the peace of all that God offers us in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Suffering, pain, trials, and tribulations do not cancel out God’s salvation, peace, and joy. The beauty of the salvation, peace, and joy that God offers us through Jesus means that no amount of suffering can cancel out joy.
That’s the reason why we can face death, disease, loss, and storms of this life and still have peace. The devastation and the loss is still there. It still stings. But it cannot steal joy and peace.
That is good news!
Praxis: Faith in Action 