October 20

My Strength and My Song 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 118:5-21 | Jeremiah 35:1-36:32 | I Timothy 5:1-25 | Proverbs 25:25-27

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalms 118:5-21

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalms 118:14 NIV).

The Psalmist describes his situation: he feels overwhelmed, surrounded, pushed back and about to fall. Have you ever been there?

In his anguish he cries out to God. He calls Him “my helper” (6), “my strength and my song” (14).

He is “my helper.” Where there is no other place to turn, he is there and he promises to help. When I am aware of His presence, I have no reason to fear. “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (5) With God as my helper, I can anticipate a triumphant victory (7).

He is “my strength.” It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man, or to trust in Princes (8). He is the one who can “set us free” (5), “save us” (14) and help us through those times when everything seems against us. “His right hand is lifted high; His right hand has done mighty things” (16).

He is “my song.” For the Psalmist, the Lord’s intervention brought songs of joy and victory (15). God’s answer to his prayer—his intervention—caused Him to overflow with shouting and singing. He rejoices in the Lord, and the Lord is his reason for singing—the Lord has become “his song.”

What is your situation today? Remember that the LORD with you. He is your helper. He is your strength. He is your song. He has become your salvation!

Lord, when life feels overwhelming remind me that you are there as my helper, my strength, and my song. Deliver me from my troubles and put a song in my heart. Amen.