Psa. 18:2 π Psa. 89:26
A man found himself in the center of a very large lake, struggling to keep afloat. Even though he was an excellent swimmer, his indecision as to which shore was the closest left him treading water and, minute by minute, losing strength. As the wind increased in intensity it caused waves to bury his body at times. Soon the agony of fatigue caused him to cease his struggle to swim. However, this inactivity only prompted his body to sink deeper under the waves. A sense of utter futility encompassed him, and as the water level was often above his eyes as he bobbed, his sight distorted as he looked the water and foam into the oblivion in the sky. From time to time only an arm was visible, from the elbow up, then only a wrist, and then only his fingers as he was pitched about, almost devoid of control.
Once he had a glimpse of the shore line when his eyeballs went momentarily above the water level. His eyes saw the beauty of sand beaches, green trees and flowering bushes, but void of strength and incapable of bringing his flounderings toward any straight line of motion, he could only continue going in circles.
He had the talent to swim, the know-how of water currents, knowledge of all swimming strokes…but could not produce any of these skills to save himself. His last bit of strength left him and, in spite of his talents and skills, he was a captive of the water and devoid of the desire to struggle any further, and so he just gave up. What a feeling of relief as he sank beneath a large wave: a startling bump on his hand revealed a rock that projected only a short distance above the water, and what a feeling of security surged through him as he hugged the rock. He hung onto the rock very firmly as strength ebbed back into his body, and finally swam in lazy circles around the rock, yet always within reach of the rock. The security of this rock became so precious to him that even the colorful shore line had no appeal; as the water calmed, he realized the rest and peace he had longed for all his life would always keep him near the rock.
“You are my Father, my God and the rock of My salvation.” ( Psa. 89:26 )
“The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress…” ( Psa. 18:2; top )
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