Song Story: My Deliverer
My Deliverer - Psalm 18
I faintly remember an argument that used to take place on the playgrounds of my elementary school: “My dad can beat up your dad!” To which the response would inevitably be, “NO, my dad can beat up your dad!” And on and on it went. What a silly argument that we made way back when. However, that silly argument rested upon the belief that our fathers were capable, strong, and would readily come to our rescue should we need them. I like that belief. And though I hope my son or daughter would think it senseless for their dad to get into a fight with another kid’s dad, I do hope that they have confidence that their dad is capable, strong, and would readily come to their rescue should they need me.
As their father, I deeply desire for my two children to know that I passionately want to defend them from their enemies and come to their rescue when they call. And I hope that I teach them, both with words and by example, that God our Father is one who really could beat up anyone else’s dad.
Psalm 18 portrays God as a formidable figure to His enemies. Written about how God has continually delivered David from times of very real danger, the psalmist has this to say in verse 6 about what happens when he cries for help:
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. - Psalm 18:6
What an incredible thing to know with confidence that God actually hears us when we cry for help. What blessed assurance to believe that my words and your words don’t evaporate into the ether or fall on deaf ears. Hallelujah, God hears! And if that wasn’t comforting enough, watch what happens next in Psalm 18:7-15:
[7] Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. [8] Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. [9] He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. [10] He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. [11] He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. [12] Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. [13] The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. [14] And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. [15] Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. (ESV)
Whoa. We used to have a small, 10lb Shih-Tzu. I couldn’t make that little dog shudder if I tried—not that I’d want to. God just looks at mountains (!) and they tremble. He flashes forth lightnings. That’s lighting, plural! This is a completely different scene from the elementary school-yard whose dad is toughest conversation. YET! This is exactly what God the Father is like when His children cry for help. And because of God’s love shown in Christ Jesus, when we are faced with the eternal grave and cry for help, He delivers us.
Grace Yeh helped write this song and sang it on the record. Would we say, because God hears and responds, that we will sing to the Lord we love for all our days!
Verse 1
I called to the Lord and He heard me.
I called and He heard my cry.
I was drowning and no one could save me.
I called and He saved my life.Pre-Chorus
I will sing,
For all my days.
Oh Lord, my strength, I love You.Chorus
You’re my rock, my shield
You’re my deliverer!
You’re my salvation,
You’re my deliverer!Verse 2
The noose of the grave had me,
Destruction on every side.
I called to the Lord and He heard me.
I called and He heard my cry.Bridge
The earth shook
The ground quaked
And the mountains trembled
The heights bowed
They fell down
When He heard my troubles