Christ – The Rock
-Introduction
-Psalm 18 (2 Samuel 22)
-Regarding this Psalm, Matthew Henry noted: “It is an admirable composition. The
poetry is very fine, the images are bold, the expressions lofty, and every word is
proper and significant; but the piety far exceeds the poetry. Holy faith, and love, and
joy, and praise, and hope, are here lively, active, and upon the wing.” (Electronic
Database. © 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)
-For today’s lesson, notice verses 1-3. Here we find references to God’s strength and
images representative of power, deliverance, protection and refuge. In particular, notice
David’s words, “The Lord is my rock.”
-The word “rock” occurs 24 times in the book of Psalms (KJV), 30 times in the ESV.
-Within these you’ll find quite a few references to God as a rock. You’ll find the
concept of being set upon a rock. And, you’ll find references to water being brought
forth from the rock – Ps 78:20, 105:41, 114:8
-Water From the Rock
-Ex. 17:1-7, Num. 20:2-13 (Deut 8:15)
-1 Cor. 10:1-6
-vs 4 – “the Rock was Christ”
-Let’s address this idea in two ways:
1. Type/Anti-type & Example
-Heb. 10:1, Rom. 15:4, 1 Cor. 10:6, 11
-Many things/people/events found in the O.T. were a types – figures something/
somebody that would come later, the anti-type.
-i.e. Melchizedek (Gen. 14) and Jesus as High Priest (Heb. 7)
-I discovered a quote that I like but I don’t know who said it: “God in the types of
the last dispensation was teaching His children their letters. In this dispensation
He is teaching them to put the letters together, and they find that the letters,
arrange them as they will, spell Christ, and nothing but Christ.”
-Just as the people in the wilderness needed physical water for their survival, we need
the spiritual water that Jesus provides for our survival – our spiritual survival.
-John 4:10, John 7:37, Rev. 22:17
2. The Presence of Jesus
-Consider again 1 Corinthians 10:4 – “they drank from the spiritual Rock that
followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”
-You’ll find a variety of ideas regarding the reference to the Rock following the
people – i.e. the literal concept of a physical rock actually following them, a flowing
stream of water that followed them, etc.
-Yet, here’s what I think we can take from this – Jesus was there.
-Ex. 13:21-22 – This seems to be a reference to Jesus – His leadership and guidance,
His protection and His provision for the people.
-Think about this: Jesus could peer through the coming centuries of time and “see
where the road was leading” – to the Cross of Calvary. Yet, He guided, protected
and provided for the people as they made their way toward the promised land.
-Jesus has provided us with perfect leadership. He has provided a perfect example
that we can look to and try to follow – 1 Pet. 2:21. We have His teachings (doctrine)
that we are to abide under (2 John 9-11).
-Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus we can have protection from sin and the consequences
that sin brings about – (Rom. 6:17-18).
-As Lord, Christ, Savior and High Priest, Jesus continues to provide for us. He
intercedes on our behalf. Through Him, we have access to the Father. All spiritual
blessings are “in Christ” (Eph 1:3).
-Summary and Invitation
-Psalm 18:1-3
-Aren’t you glad that we can say those same words today in the same trusting confidence
displayed by David! Aren’t you glad that we can offer up those words with the same
thanksgiving felt in the heart of David.
-What a privilege it is to worship and serve the God of heaven. What a privilege it is to
have Jesus as a Savior – the Rock is Christ.
-When David reflected upon the greatness of God, His strength, His power, His love, His
protection, His deliverance and His provisions, notice what He said, “For this I will praise
you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.”
-Let us also sing to our God in heaven in heartfelt worship – songs which reference the
Rock – There Stands a Rock, We Have An Anchor, Rock of Ages, The Rock that is
Higher Than I.
-Invitation