April 8, 2021 -- Psalm 18:1 -- Seven words that'll change you

I love you, O LORD, my strength.

Psalm 18:1 English Standard Version

What a simple declaration, stuffed to bursting with meaning and implications. The word ‘love’ renders a Hebrew word of intimacy and intensity. Several translations put this into a declarative vow ‘I will love you’ that is, with the tenderness and emotion I feel now, I will continue to love You.

LORD—rendered in English all in capital letters indicates the covenant Name for God. Yesterday I heard a comedian note Christians should all be dog owners. Dog owners know something of how we should appeal to the Mighty One, our Master. A dog will beg for food. There is no point in going to the fridge at night and sneaking back to bed with food hoping the dog won’t notice. A human has approximately 6 million olfactory receptors in our noses, while dogs have up to 300 million. So the dog will always smell the food you have. The dog will beg, day and night. The dog will beg for food, for attention, for love, for a walk, for companionship, for you to rub their belly. The point the comedian makes is this: Christians could be a lot more intensive and intentional in their requests of God their Master. He is far more willing to give than believers are willing to ask. It is noted in scripture we do not have because we do not ask of God (James 4:2-3). David is prepared to love the LORD, and a good part of this is to acknowledge the LORD is the Source of every blessing.

The LORD is the strength, or protector of His people. What a glorious title that is! If you read the introduction to this Psalm you’ll see that this was composed when God rescued David from the hand of Saul. (Sure, go ahead and look it up. Yes, now. I’ll wait—I won’t tap my foot or impatiently look at my watch. Yes, pick up that bible!) The point is this: the LORD is always our protector. Sometimes we see it and are relieved and ready to dance with wonder and praise. But so often it is the case we won’t see and dive deeply into understanding the depths of our Protector’s deliverance until we reach the eternal shores and the glorious work of God will be revealed in unfolding spectacles of splendor as steady as the metronomic waves.

Dearly loved children of God, the greatest work of God our Savior, is His great deliverance given us in Christ. Our sins fall to the ground, powerless, because of our King and Deliverer. The Spirit of God applies this glorious victory to our hearts. With David we declare: I will love You, O LORD, my strength!

I love You, LORD, my Strength!

I will love You. Spirit of God, continually renew in me emotions and intellect, heart and the head, so that I will praise the LORD my Protector. Jesus, my Victory, move me to greater love and acts of obedience which flow from such intimate, thanks-filled love. Amen.

https://youtu.be/DANgNI6rqxI