2: Mighty to Save
Memory Verse: Psalm 18:2-3: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Extra Verses: Psalm 71:3; Psalm 62:2; Psalm 94:22; Exodus 33:22; _______________; ___________________; ____________________; _____________________
Devotion: So now that you’ve chosen a rock, what are you going to do with it? Some people keep a rock in their pocket and rub it as part of a nervous habit. It gives them something to do with their hands. Those rocks are typically called worry rocks because the person worries (keeps touching and rubbing) them. Some people have a rock collection with the rocks labeled and put in a case. It makes a nice display and can be interesting to look at. Some people hide their house key under a large rock in their front yard. But now that most people know that, it’s not a very good place to hide a house key. Some people make rock gardens. Think about how little you’d have to water! Some people collect lots of rocks and build a rock wall. It helps if the rocks are flat. Some people chip their rocks into an arrowhead and use them with a bow and arrow.
These last two uses have to do with protection from the enemy. When you build a wall or a stone building, it becomes a place of defense or safety. When you have an arrowhead for the end of your arrow, you are much more equipped for defending yourself against the enemy.
And speaking of being much more equipped for defending yourself against the enemy, there’s an interesting word in the Hebrew: yarah. Yarah means “teach,” as in Isaiah 2:3 . . . “and he will teach us his ways.”. . . But the word also means “to cast, to shoot, to pour, to erect, establish, to shed water, to irrigate, to wet, to give water.” It has in its definition the idea of shooting arrows, sending rain, or teaching, and the idea of aiming or controlling.
When we learn from the Rock who is also the Word, we learn those things that can make us wiser than our enemies (Psalm 119:98). He teaches us how to go the right way, the way which avoids pitfalls and dangers. When we ask, He directs our steps. How much more able we are to defend ourselves against the wiles of the Devil when we allow his teaching, his arrow, to go straight to our heart!
Not only is God’s teaching profitable for making us wise, it also equips us to fulfill the dominion mandate given in both Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19-20. We are supposed to go forth and be ambassadors of Christ wherever He send us.
But, if we’re out and engaged in the culture, how can we benefit from the defense that is also our God - our fortress, our high tower? It’s actually very cool - because 1 Corinthians 10:4 talks about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness - being followed by the Rock, who was Christ. Our Defense, our Fortress, our Rock is not limited to one place. He goes with us. How very comforting to know when we’re out, doing the work He’s given us to do, that He’s right there as our Fortress and Defender and Rock.
Music: A Mighty Fortress, God of Angel Armies
Did You Know?
Hebrew words:
* tsuwr or tsur: #6697 - cliff, sharp rock, boulder, figuratively: refuge
examples: Ex 4:25,Deut 8:15, Judges 6:21, Psalm 18:46, Psalm 62:2, Isaiah 8:14
* cela: #5553 - to be lofty, craggy rock, figuratively: fortress, stronghold
examples: 2 Samuel 22:2, Psalm 31:3, Psalm 40:2, Amos 6:12
* challamiysh: #2496 - hardness, flint, flinty rock
examples: Job 28:9
* eben: #68 - to build, a stone
examples: Gen 11:3, Gen 29:2-3, Gen 49:24, Ex 24:12, Lev 20:26, Jos 24:26-27,
1 Sam 17:49, Joshua 4:8
*tseror: #6872 - kernel, particle, least grain, small stone
examples: 2 Sam 17:13
Greek words:
* petra: #4073 - a mass of rock
examples: Matt 7:24, Mark 15:46, Luke 8:6, 1 Cor 10:4, 1 Peter 2:8
Extending the Lesson Through Journaling . . .
Memory Verse: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:2-3 (NIV)
On the lines below, write either the memory verse in from the NIV, the ESV, or your favorite Bible translation.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Have you ever seen a fortress? How would you compare a physical fortress with our LORD?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
David wrote the words to Psalm 18 when the LORD delivered him from his enemies, including Saul. In fact, David sang these words to the LORD! Do you ever feel like singing praises to the LORD after He has delivered you from your enemies? In one of Paul’s epistles, he tells the church at Ephesus to be strong in the Lord. Draw and label what Paul instructed the Ephesians to put on.
In your own words, explain the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Extending the Lesson through Music . . .
A Mighty Fortress (lyrics)
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe -
His craft and pow’r are great, And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing.
Were not the right man on our side, The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He -
Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us.
The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him -
His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure:
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly pow’rs, No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro’ Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also -
The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.
Exploring "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
*Luther wrote this text sometime between 1527 and 1529 as a paraphrase of Psalm 46, though stanza four comes directly from Luther’s own persecution experience. The most commonly used English version is a translation by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853.
*The text is full of battle imagery; this hymn was written during a time when Christians were fighting to defend their faith. However, this text also needs to be understood in terms of a spiritual struggle against the powers of darkness. Whether we believe in very real, physical demons and tempters, or less concrete forces, we are in the midst of a very real war between good and evil. That sounds very dramatic and almost cliché, but it is important to remember.
*Luther reminds us that we can’t simply sit back and watch as horrible things unfold in our world, but that we must join the battle, knowing that God is on our side, and that we fight for a side that has, in a sense, already won.
*The original tune Luther used was “a secure and jubilant textual dance that trips up the foe.” However, the tune we’re all used to mistakenly turned Luther’s energetic paradox (a fortress moves and fights for us) into immobile stasis.”
*The scripture references for “A Mighty Fortress is our God” are Psalm 46 and 1 Peter 5:8. Why? Where do you see those references in this hymn?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
God of Angel Armies (lyrics)
You hear me when I call, You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night, it cannot hide the light. Whom shall I fear?
You crush the enemy underneath my feet;
You are my sword and shield, though troubles linger still. Whom shall I fear?
I know who goes before me; I know who stands behind:
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The one who reigns forever; He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
My strength is in Your name, for You alone can save.
You will deliver me; Yours is the victory.
Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
I know who goes before me; I know who stands behind:
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The one who reigns forever; He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I'm holding on to Your promises
You are faithful. You are faithful. (repeat) You are faithful.
I know who goes before me; I know who stands behind:
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The one who reigns forever; He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies is always by my side. (repeat)
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
Exploring "God of Angel Armies"
Chris Tomlin wrote his song, “God of Angel Armies,” after a friend of his told him that his wife had woken up one night in a state of fear. Apparently she could not really say what made her so afraid that night. Choose three verses of the song and explain how they apply to your life and/or your understanding of the Bible.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
The text of this song is based on Psalm 27:1. Look it up and write it down.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The name of God, Jehovah Saboath, is usually translated in English as the LORD of hosts. This name designates God as the creator and leader of the angel armies of heaven. Read these verses;explain the event where we see Jehovah Saboath:
1 Samuel 17:45 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Joshua 5:13-15 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Amos 4:13 ___________________________________________________
Isaiah 28:5-6 _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The term Jehovah Saboath is found 62 times in Isaiah, 77 times in Jeremiah, 14 times in Haggai, 53 times in Zechariah, and 24 times in Malachi. It depicts God as the Mightiest Warrior or all-powerful King of Israel. Although it has military overtones, it points directly to Jehovah’s rulership over the whole universe.
In Summary . . .
In a few words, write a summary of this lesson, or the main points you will remember.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Memory Verse: Psalm 18:2-3: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Extra Verses: Psalm 71:3; Psalm 62:2; Psalm 94:22; Exodus 33:22; _______________; ___________________; ____________________; _____________________
Devotion: So now that you’ve chosen a rock, what are you going to do with it? Some people keep a rock in their pocket and rub it as part of a nervous habit. It gives them something to do with their hands. Those rocks are typically called worry rocks because the person worries (keeps touching and rubbing) them. Some people have a rock collection with the rocks labeled and put in a case. It makes a nice display and can be interesting to look at. Some people hide their house key under a large rock in their front yard. But now that most people know that, it’s not a very good place to hide a house key. Some people make rock gardens. Think about how little you’d have to water! Some people collect lots of rocks and build a rock wall. It helps if the rocks are flat. Some people chip their rocks into an arrowhead and use them with a bow and arrow.
These last two uses have to do with protection from the enemy. When you build a wall or a stone building, it becomes a place of defense or safety. When you have an arrowhead for the end of your arrow, you are much more equipped for defending yourself against the enemy.
And speaking of being much more equipped for defending yourself against the enemy, there’s an interesting word in the Hebrew: yarah. Yarah means “teach,” as in Isaiah 2:3 . . . “and he will teach us his ways.”. . . But the word also means “to cast, to shoot, to pour, to erect, establish, to shed water, to irrigate, to wet, to give water.” It has in its definition the idea of shooting arrows, sending rain, or teaching, and the idea of aiming or controlling.
When we learn from the Rock who is also the Word, we learn those things that can make us wiser than our enemies (Psalm 119:98). He teaches us how to go the right way, the way which avoids pitfalls and dangers. When we ask, He directs our steps. How much more able we are to defend ourselves against the wiles of the Devil when we allow his teaching, his arrow, to go straight to our heart!
Not only is God’s teaching profitable for making us wise, it also equips us to fulfill the dominion mandate given in both Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19-20. We are supposed to go forth and be ambassadors of Christ wherever He send us.
But, if we’re out and engaged in the culture, how can we benefit from the defense that is also our God - our fortress, our high tower? It’s actually very cool - because 1 Corinthians 10:4 talks about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness - being followed by the Rock, who was Christ. Our Defense, our Fortress, our Rock is not limited to one place. He goes with us. How very comforting to know when we’re out, doing the work He’s given us to do, that He’s right there as our Fortress and Defender and Rock.
Music: A Mighty Fortress, God of Angel Armies
Did You Know?
Hebrew words:
* tsuwr or tsur: #6697 - cliff, sharp rock, boulder, figuratively: refuge
examples: Ex 4:25,Deut 8:15, Judges 6:21, Psalm 18:46, Psalm 62:2, Isaiah 8:14
* cela: #5553 - to be lofty, craggy rock, figuratively: fortress, stronghold
examples: 2 Samuel 22:2, Psalm 31:3, Psalm 40:2, Amos 6:12
* challamiysh: #2496 - hardness, flint, flinty rock
examples: Job 28:9
* eben: #68 - to build, a stone
examples: Gen 11:3, Gen 29:2-3, Gen 49:24, Ex 24:12, Lev 20:26, Jos 24:26-27,
1 Sam 17:49, Joshua 4:8
*tseror: #6872 - kernel, particle, least grain, small stone
examples: 2 Sam 17:13
Greek words:
* petra: #4073 - a mass of rock
examples: Matt 7:24, Mark 15:46, Luke 8:6, 1 Cor 10:4, 1 Peter 2:8
Extending the Lesson Through Journaling . . .
Memory Verse: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:2-3 (NIV)
On the lines below, write either the memory verse in from the NIV, the ESV, or your favorite Bible translation.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Have you ever seen a fortress? How would you compare a physical fortress with our LORD?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
David wrote the words to Psalm 18 when the LORD delivered him from his enemies, including Saul. In fact, David sang these words to the LORD! Do you ever feel like singing praises to the LORD after He has delivered you from your enemies? In one of Paul’s epistles, he tells the church at Ephesus to be strong in the Lord. Draw and label what Paul instructed the Ephesians to put on.
In your own words, explain the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Extending the Lesson through Music . . .
A Mighty Fortress (lyrics)
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe -
His craft and pow’r are great, And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing.
Were not the right man on our side, The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He -
Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us.
The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him -
His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure:
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly pow’rs, No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro’ Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also -
The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.
Exploring "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
*Luther wrote this text sometime between 1527 and 1529 as a paraphrase of Psalm 46, though stanza four comes directly from Luther’s own persecution experience. The most commonly used English version is a translation by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853.
*The text is full of battle imagery; this hymn was written during a time when Christians were fighting to defend their faith. However, this text also needs to be understood in terms of a spiritual struggle against the powers of darkness. Whether we believe in very real, physical demons and tempters, or less concrete forces, we are in the midst of a very real war between good and evil. That sounds very dramatic and almost cliché, but it is important to remember.
*Luther reminds us that we can’t simply sit back and watch as horrible things unfold in our world, but that we must join the battle, knowing that God is on our side, and that we fight for a side that has, in a sense, already won.
*The original tune Luther used was “a secure and jubilant textual dance that trips up the foe.” However, the tune we’re all used to mistakenly turned Luther’s energetic paradox (a fortress moves and fights for us) into immobile stasis.”
*The scripture references for “A Mighty Fortress is our God” are Psalm 46 and 1 Peter 5:8. Why? Where do you see those references in this hymn?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
God of Angel Armies (lyrics)
You hear me when I call, You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night, it cannot hide the light. Whom shall I fear?
You crush the enemy underneath my feet;
You are my sword and shield, though troubles linger still. Whom shall I fear?
I know who goes before me; I know who stands behind:
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The one who reigns forever; He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
My strength is in Your name, for You alone can save.
You will deliver me; Yours is the victory.
Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
I know who goes before me; I know who stands behind:
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The one who reigns forever; He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I'm holding on to Your promises
You are faithful. You are faithful. (repeat) You are faithful.
I know who goes before me; I know who stands behind:
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The one who reigns forever; He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies is always by my side. (repeat)
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
Exploring "God of Angel Armies"
Chris Tomlin wrote his song, “God of Angel Armies,” after a friend of his told him that his wife had woken up one night in a state of fear. Apparently she could not really say what made her so afraid that night. Choose three verses of the song and explain how they apply to your life and/or your understanding of the Bible.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
The text of this song is based on Psalm 27:1. Look it up and write it down.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The name of God, Jehovah Saboath, is usually translated in English as the LORD of hosts. This name designates God as the creator and leader of the angel armies of heaven. Read these verses;explain the event where we see Jehovah Saboath:
1 Samuel 17:45 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Joshua 5:13-15 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Amos 4:13 ___________________________________________________
Isaiah 28:5-6 _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The term Jehovah Saboath is found 62 times in Isaiah, 77 times in Jeremiah, 14 times in Haggai, 53 times in Zechariah, and 24 times in Malachi. It depicts God as the Mightiest Warrior or all-powerful King of Israel. Although it has military overtones, it points directly to Jehovah’s rulership over the whole universe.
In Summary . . .
In a few words, write a summary of this lesson, or the main points you will remember.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________