Psalm 18

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote in Sonnet 43,

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,

I love thee to the depth and breadth

and height my soul can reach.

 

Eighteen centuries before Browning, the poet David said,

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my lofty crag and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God, my rock, in whom I find refuge,

My shield, and my sure defender, my strong tower.

 

How does David love the Lord?  As many ways as the Lord loves him.

The Lord is his strength, lofty crag, fortress, deliverer, God, rock of shelter, shield, sure defender and strong tower.  God empowers us in the Holy Spirit to be fortresses, deliverers and defenders for those who need protection, deliverance, rescue and a place of safety.

Hymn 734:3 LSB,

You are my strength, my shield, my rock,

My fortress that with stands each shock,

My help, my life, my tower,

My battle sword, Almighty Lord-

Who can resist Your power?

Prayer:  Lord God, our stronghold and our salvation, give us such strength of love that we may reach out our neighbor without counting the cost, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ.