Let the Thanks Come Out #4

 

To you, O Lord, I call;
    my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
    I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

(Psalm 28)

Funny thing about rocks: They don't move very fast, and sometimes they don't talk very much. The Rock is one of David's favorite word pictures for the faithfulness of God. He spent a lot of time around rocks, in the deep hill country, hiding from Saul and the Philistines, waiting - waiting for God to finally bring him safely to his promised place as King. But he always knew it was coming. Waiting on the Rock to move can be hard, because we are so restricted by time, but He is not.  But the Lord does hear; He does give strength; He does protect. He is worthy of our song of thanksgiving, even in the time of waiting.