Psalm 62:7

NASB	NLT	VOICE
7 My salvation and my glory rest on God; The rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.	7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.	7 My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God; the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God.

Today’s devotional will be a word study focusing on the four “my’s”: salvation, glory, strength, and refuge.

“My salvation” is the Hebrew noun yesha’ (yeh-shah). This word is often used in the context of God rescuing his people safely from physical danger, enemies, or spiritual peril. It emphasizes that God is actively doing this as our savior and protector. It shows how powerful and faithful God is to us to rescue us from our times of stress. This concept was central to the relationship between God and the Israelites, for they viewed him as their ultimate source of protection.

God is our ultimate source of rescue. It could be the mundane sources of stress that we run into day-in and day-out. It could be the sinful desires that creep into our hearts and urge us with temptation. God is there with us at all times to give us a way out of the chao and anxieties of life, leading us to find strength in him and wisdom and faith that we can survive whatever comes our way.

“My glory/honor” is the Hebrew noun kabowd (kah-bohd). It describes the weightiness or significance of someone or something in respect to their reputation, wealth, or splendor. Focusing on God, it shows his majesty and manifestation of His divine characteristics. The Hebrew Bible reflect the concept of glory in their cultural values. The Israelites understood God’s glory as both a visible manifestation (think of the fire and cloud in the Exodus story) and an intrinsic attribute of His nature.

God should be a heavy focus on our lives. When we think of the work God did throughout the Bible, the sacrifice he made through Jesus, and the ultimate provision that he can provide – we are in awe of what God can do for us. God will do the same things for us that he promised for the Israelites. We learn a lot about God’s character in the Exodus story, in the ministry of Jesus, and the response of the churches that Paul writes to. We can learn from them and apply those teachings to our world today.

“My strength” is the Hebrew noun oz (oze). It can refer to either physical power or moral fortitude. It can also refer to a place of protection. It symbolizes God’s strength as a source of security. In the Old Testament it often refers to God’s omnipotence. The concept of ‘oz was key to the Israelites understand of God as a fighter and protector. God provides a source for courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

Has there ever been a time when you found a second wind do something that felt scary or felt out of character from how you normally act? It could have been a situation that allowed you to speak up in an uncomfortable situation or a time when you had to do something that terrified you. God stepped in with a source of courage and strength that you never had. It’s a sign that God will never leave you and will, again, give you the strength and courage to do anything and everything that he calls you to do.

“My refuge” is the Hebrew noun machaceh (mah-khah-seh). It refers to a place of refuge or a shelter. It can also convey the idea of safety, protection, and trust from God over his people. The Israelites believed in this heavily, shown through the covenant made between God and Israel. In that relationship, God promised to be their protector and deliverer.

Let me counter this with another question: Has there ever been a time when you got through something you never thought you would? Was it a time you wanted to give up and just succumb to what was going on around you or a time when you were ready to end your existence here on earth? God was able to protect you from immense harm and protect you from a place that would been detrimental from where you could have bene. This isn’t me saying that God only protects those who believe in him, but God uses a scary situation to show that he’s there to protect us and keep us safe.

Next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #193