Daily Devotional Thought--From the Old Testament

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

From today's Old Testament reading:

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

"We have a strong city;
he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
Open the gates,
that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:1-4)

Here in Texas, a man's (or a woman's) truck can be a sign of his (or her) toughness. Truck-maker, Chevrolet, utilized American songwriter Bob Seger's well-known song "Like a Rock," to market Chevrolet Silverado as the best-selling, longest lasting truck on the road. I can still remember the commercials.

Like a rock...I was strong as I could be.
Like a rock...nothing ever got to me.

Truth is, we long for a rock because we know we aren't very strong, no matter what image we attempt to portray.
Truth is, we desire to have the protection of a solid rock because lots of things get to us.
Truth is, we aren't at all like a rock--apart from Christ.

Which is why we can joyfully sing the song of Judah in our text. For people who long for the protection of something stronger them themselves, Jesus Christ is strong rock on which we can stand tall.

If Advent is doing its job, we are looking for a rock outside of ourselves, and what good news it is to know that Jesus Christ is that rock--the very foundation of our confession--the source of salvation, and the protection of those who are week and weary.

Truth is, in Christ the solid Rock, we are strong indeed, and the trials of this world can not penetrate us. For our Rock is a Mighty Fortress! Amen.