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Psalm 18:2 – “The Lord is My Rock and My Refuge”
Dr. Glenn E. Schaeffer
Executive Assistant – Outreach
July 2013
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of
my salvation, my stronghold.”
(Psalm 18:2)
Opening Discussion: When you think of the common characteristics of a Lutheran woman what do you think of?
There are many common characteristics of Lutheran women that we might list, but there is one characteristic in particular I want to focus on in this study.
When I think of the typical Lutheran woman, I think of her as a CAVE WOMAN!
That’s right … a cave woman! (Pleaseremember that the two most important women in my life – my wife and my mother – are Lutheran women!!!)
So, you are probably wondering: “Why in the world would Dr. Schaeffer think of Lutheran women as Cave Women?!”
Please turn to Psalm 18 and read verses 1 and 2.
1. What images or ideas emerge in these verses?
Read the “Title section” of the psalm that serves as a preface to Psalm 18.
2. According to this “Title section” who wrote this psalm? What was the occasion?
3. Do you recall what served as David’s place of refuge … his stronghold when he was being hunted by Saul?
Please read 1 Samuel 22:1-5.
1. To what cave did David escape? What do we know about this cave? (See verses 1-2; 1 Samuel 24:22; 2 Samuel 5:17; 23:13)
2. Caves are not always the best place for people to inhabit when faced with trouble. Why? Read Joshua 10:16-27 and discuss.
When in trouble, people in the 21st century often seek refuge in “caves”! Many of these caves are dead-end caves! Instead of finding refuge and strength they become trapped in these caves … experiencing darkness and hopelessness.
Discuss:What are some of these caves to which many women flee … in which they find themselves trapped?
For David, the Cave of Adullam was how and where the Lord protected him and granted him refuge.
Discuss: Where can women, who are captive in caves of hopelessness, find refuge and strength? Where can you find refuge for sooner or later we all seek refuge in such caves? What is God’s practical, down-to-earth way of being their rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield and stronghold?
Aside from these “caves of refuge” there is one more “cave”that needs to be highlighted.
Is not a Lutheran woman or the local Lutheran congregation or Lutheran ladies’ group God’s “cave of Adullam” for many women? Are you not a cave woman?
Read my “slightly altered” version of 1 Peter 2:5, “Like living stones, you are being built into a spiritual cave.”
Throughout history troubled women … of all ages … grieving women, divorced women, guilt-ridden women, lonely women, harried women, depressed women, insecure women … have found refuge and strength … have experienced the love, forgiveness, hope and joy of God because they have been embraced by a cave woman … by one of you … been accepted/ministered to by a Lutheran congregation.
Discuss: Share with one another how you, or your congregation or ladies group has been a “cave of Adullam” for you!
Thank you for being “cave women!” … women of refuge and strength for other women (and men!) who are in search of God’s refuge and strength!
Never stop asking yourself (and discussing as a congregation):
“How can I be a cave woman … a refuge of strength for someone?”
“How can our congregation be a Cave of Adullam for the women of our church and of this community?”
How can I (our Lutheran ladies group) be more inviting, more compassionate, more loving and caring … nurturing the love and forgiveness of God in the lives of women in our congregations and communities?
Please read 1 Samuel 22:5. What is David instructed to do? What does David do?
One of the reasons to retreat to the cave is to rest, to be refreshed, and to be re-strengthened. This is so important! We need time to be refreshed by God’s Word andthe worship of our Lord!!!
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) wrote, “There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge: that is curiosity. There are others who desire to know in order that they themselves might be known: that is vanity. But there are some who seek knowledge in order to serve and edify others: that is love.”
Lutheran cave women need to get out of their cave(s)!The prophet’s exhortation, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land into which you live!”is for all of us!
Many women who find themselves trapped in caves won’t find their way to you, your church, your home Bible study group, or your local ladies group. The Lord sends you to find them … to be cave women … women of refuge and strength.
How are you a “cave woman” in your:
Home?
Church?
Community?
ABC District/World?
Conclusion: So, how do I picture the typical Lutheran woman? As acavewoman! Please, never stop being cave women … women of refuge for those who are in search of the Lord who is your Rock, your Cave, your Fortress,your Deliverer, your Shield, your Stronghold, your salvation.
Close in prayer.
Leader’s Notes
Opening Discussion:
- The diversity of the women who make up Lutheran women! Some are young and some are graying! Some are single, some are married; some are divorced and some are divorced and remarried. Some have children (lots of them!) and some have pets (lots of them!). Some are working woman and others are working on retirement! Some live in fishing villages, others live in mining towns, others live in metropolitan centers, others live on ranches and still others live in cabins surrounded by forest. Some speak English and others speak Korean, German, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, and so on!
- Dedication to the study of God’s Word and to the regular worship of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
- Supporters and encouragers their pastors and the ministry/outreach endeavours of their respective congregations.
- Passionate sharers of the Gospel of our Lord.
- Women who live their day-to-day life by the convictions they hold as Lutheran woman.
Turn to Psalm 18 and read verses 1-2: What images emerge in these verses?
“Rock” -- The Hebrew word translated in the NIV as “rock” often refers to a “cleft in a rock.”
“Fortress” – David is not thinking of a castle, but a cave!
“Refuge”means “to take refuge in” like “a person taking shelter from a rainstorm.”
The image of verse 2 is that of a person fleeing to a cleft in the rock or taking flight to a cave or cavern area in order to seek refuge from his enemy!
Read the Title section of Psalm 18.
The Title Section of Psalm 18 reads, “For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”
The Psalm was written by David when he was being attacked by his enemies who included King Saul.
Read 1 Samuel 22:1-5.
In 1 Samuel 22 we read that after spending some time in Gath acting like a madman, David “escaped to the cave of Adullam.” (1)
The cave of Adullam was such a fortified place of refuge that David’s brothers and his father’s household joined him there. In addition, about 400 fellow outlaws hid with David at the Cave of Adullam. It was to this cave that David often went to as a refuge in times of crisis. The rocks, the surrounding cliffs, the myriad of interconnecting caves afforded David protection, even deliverance in times of extreme peril, especially when he was being hunted by his enemies. It was for these reasons that this mighty warrior David would run with his tail between his legs in order to seek refuge at the cave of Adullam. Time and again, throughout David’s life, the Cave of Adullum is referenced as David’s stronghold (1 Sam. 24:22; 2 Sam. 5:17; 23:13). Many biblical scholars would saythat it was the Cave of Adullam that David had in his mind as he wrote,“The LORD is my [cleft in the] rock, my [cave] fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
The Cave of Adullam was God’s very practical and down to earth way of being David’s rock, cave, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, and stronghold!
Read Joshua 10:16-27 and discuss.
Caves are not always the best place for people to inhabit when faced with trouble. Why?
For example: in the book of Joshua we hear of five Amorite kings who fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. When it was discovered that these 5 kings were hiding in the cave, Joshua had the cave sealed and they were trapped. These kings were later brought out of the cave, executed, and their bodieswere thrown back in to cave which served as their burial site (Joshua 10:16-27).
Discuss:What are some of these caves to which many women flee … in which they find themselves trapped?
- The cave of loneliness. (Isolated from friends/passionless marriage)
- The cave of vanity – self-importance.
- The cave ofmaterialism.
- The cave of insecurities. (coping with cancer; old age/dying)
- The cave of pseudo-spirituality.
- The cave of guilt and shame. (What woman does not wrestle with her Old Eve?)
- The cave of grief. Listen to one Christian woman’s description of the cave of grief: “An invisible knife pierces my heart. Ever since my 59-year-old husband lost his valiant battle with colon cancer, I’ve waited for him to call, to hear his hearty laugh – but silence looms. I long to talk to him about our five children – but he is gone. My body aches to be held by him in the night, to have his deep voice pray over me or to hear him recite Wynken, Blynken and Nod, the nursery rhyme he often used to lull me to sleep – but I am alone under the covers. My counselor tells me to accept the reality of my husband’s death, to stop tormenting myself, I must accept that I will go to him in my mind.” (Focus on the Family: Canada, “Don’t Send a Sympathy Card”, July 2007, p. 18)
Discuss: Where can women, who are captive in caves of hopelessness, find refuge and strength? Where you find refuge?
When I have found myself trapped in one of those dead-end caves, I have been so thankful to God that He has provided me with “caves” of refuge. For me, those “caves” have been:
My Baptism – What an oasis! I can’t tell you how many times I have returned to the promises God made to me on June 18, 1961 when I was baptized in the name of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In my Baptism God not only washed away my sins, but he also promised that he would never leave me nor forsake me … no matter what cave I might find myself in! My baptism assures me that although I might have to suffer and endure various trials and tribulations, nothing can take away the inheritance the Lord has stored up for me in heaven. (1 Peter 1:3-9) These realities have given me strength … they have been my refuge and stronghold when I have found myself in dead-end caves.
The Word of God– One of the great things about the Word of God is that I can take it anywhere … no matter what cave I find myself in. Countless times, the Lord has spoken to me in his Word and assured me of his love, mercy, and forgiveness. His eternal promises have given me hope when I have been trapped in hopeless cave. Is it any wonder that the psalmist says of the person who trusts in the Word, “Blessed is the man [woman] … who delights in the law of the LORD and on his law meditates all day and night. [S]he is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”(Psalm 1)
Sanctuary/Worship/Hymnbook – When I was a parish pastor I used to love going into the sanctuary and spending time in prayer and singing hymns. The sanctuary was a “cave of refuge” for me. I would sing hymns from the Lutheran hymnal and the Lord would heal my wounds and bring peace to my troubled soul. You might not have the opportunity to spend time in your church sanctuary, but I’m sure many of you have found your own “cave” (e.g. car, room in the house) where you can spend time alone with the Lord reading the Bible and singing/reading those beautiful, faith-enriching hymns in our Lutheran hymnal.
Lord’s Supper: Oh, how the Lord’s Supper has been a “cave of Adullam” for me. When wearied by the world, my flesh and the devil, the Lord’s words, “Take eat … take drink … this is my Body and Blood given and shed for you for the remission of your sins” have been such a source of comfort and strength. Again and again, the Lord assures me that all my sins are forgiven! Despite, what the circumstances of my life might be the Lord assures me through the Lord’s Supper of his real presence … his unchanging love.
My baptism, the Word of God, the sanctuary/hymnal, and the Lord’s Supper are God’s practical, down-to-earth way of being my rock, cave, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield and stronghold. And why? Because they direct my eyes to the cross of Christ & his empty tomb!
The Cross of Christ assures me of God’s love and forgiveness. No matter what I done … no matter what is happening in my life, the cross of Christ assures me that reality.
There is an old riddle that asks, “What can be whiter than snow and deeper than the sea?” Answer:My sins, which Christ makes whiter than snow through his love which is far deeper than the sea. (Barbara Johnson, Mama, Get the Hammer! There’s a Fly on Papa’s Head!, p. 67)
The Cave of Jesus: Jesus, our Lord was laid in the cave of Joseph of Arimathea. We call Jesus’ cave a sepulcher. At first glace it would appear to be a “DEADENDCAVE”!The cave was even sealed and an armed guard placed before it. But this cave of death could not hold our Lord! On Easter Sunday morning our Lord Jesus burst forth from this cave! He has promised that all those who believe in him will also burst from their caves, even our caves of death! That is our Lord’s promise to us! We may find ourselves trapped in the darkest of all caves. There may not appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel, but as believers in Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, we know that there is a Light at the end of the tunnel. That light is none other than our Lord shining with all the brilliance of his glory as the Victorious One! There is always hope today and tomorrow when you know and believe in the One who triumphed over the grave!
Read 1 Samuel 22:5 and discuss:
What is David instructed to do? What does David do?
A prophet by the name of Gad who came to David at the Cave of Adullam and said, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” The text tells us, “So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.”
Discuss: How are you a “cave woman” in your:
Home… possibly as wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter. In so doing, you are a cave woman … a rock … a source of strength and refuge in your home.
Churches … (serve as altar guild, greeters, Sunday school teachers/helpers, VBS workers, trustees, choir members, etc.) In so doing, you are a cave woman … a rock … a source of strength and refuge in your church.
Communities … (workplace, citizenship, neighbourhood associations, volunteers at nursing homes, hospitals, Pregnancy Care Centers) In so doing, you are a cave woman … a rock of strength and refuge in your community.
World/ABC District … (Nicaragua, Ukraine, Thailand, Calgary, BC Mission boat, LAMP, LFL-C, etc. – as short/long-term missionaries, your prayers and mites) In so doing you are a cave woman/a cave society … a rock of strength and refuge for these missionaries, pastors, deacons/deaconesses, the people they serve and share God’s love with … mission organizations.
Close in Prayer