We’re still looking at David’s psalm of praise in Second Samuel 22: “For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?” (verse 31, NLT).
“For who is God except the Lord?” David knew how many false gods were worshiped in his time and he wanted to make it perfectly clear that there was only One True God and He was the one David sought to live for and honor.
Today we see many religions and cults, but there are plenty of other gods among us that aren’t quite so obvious. Countless people worship Hollywood stars; rock stars; materialism in general; and on and on it goes. Some people even worship their families; their children; their grandchildren. If we’re not careful to consciously keep Jesus Christ our number one priority, it’s far too easy to move Him to a lesser place in our lives; and folks, any place besides first place is the wrong place.
“Who but our God is a solid rock?” David wanted people to know that his life had been built on a solid foundation – the One and Only True God.
When the Israelites were still wandering and grumbling their way through the wilderness, they came to Rephidim and “there was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1b). Moses cried out to the Lord for help and God told him: “‘I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.’ So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on” (Exodus 17:6).
Who was standing “on the rock” Moses was instructed to strike? The Lord.
Now look over in Numbers 20 and we see the Israelites this time in Kadesh, and – surprise, surprise – they’re grumbling and demanding that Moses and Aaron come up with a source of water. This time the Lord tells Moses, “As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water” (verse 8a).
But what did Moses do? Disgusted with the teeming mass of whiners he was saddled with, “he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. ‘Listen, you rebels!’ he shouted. ‘Must we bring you water from this rock?’ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out” (verses 10-11a).
While God had given Moses permission and instruction to “strike the rock” at Rephidim, He had specifically told Moses only to “speak to the rock” at Kadesh. Paul said of the Israelites “in the wilderness long ago… they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ” (I Corinthians 10:1b, 4b).
“The rock” that was struck represented Jesus Christ, the one who “was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isaiah 53:5a).
Throughout scripture we see previews of Christ in the imagery of “the rock.” You probably know the old hymn that says, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand.” David knew Him and praised Him. Do you?
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