Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 18:3(2) – Part 9
Psalm 18:3 Adonai is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in Him I take refuge, my shield, (and) my horn of salvation, my stronghold.
“My stronghold!” Today we study the last word in Psalm 18, verse 3(2), “Misgavi,” meaning “my stronghold.” It is a word that appears almost 40 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, at least 14 of them are in the Psalms. It is easy to see why I believe that 80% of the Hebrew Scriptures can be understood through no more than 200 words/concepts that communicate the basic principles of the kingdom of God. A few of them have already appeared in our subject verse.
There is a section of Second Samuel, chapter 22 which to mirrors our subject verse. And why wouldn’t it? For starters, lets look at the two introductions side by side.
Psalm 18:1 For the music director: a psalm of David the servant of Adonai. He chanted the words of this song to Adonai on the day Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2Samuel 22:1 David spoke to Adonai the words of this song in the day that Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
Very similar, isn’t it? Now consider how the next verses compared in the two passages. Please reread Psalm 18:3 above, and then the following…
2Samuel 22:2 He said: “Adonai is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. 3 My God is my rock, in Him I take refuge, my shield, my horn of salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior—You save me from violence.
In Hebrew, the concept of a stronghold (Misgav) is connected to a high place that is fortified. Several modern Hebrew words formed from the Shoresh “Shagav” (Shin-Gimel-Bet) are connected to the concept of “make strong, exalt, grow strong and tall, to strengthen and to fortify.”
Significantly, the word appears in this verse, but not where we might expect. Proverbs 18:10 The Name of Adonai is a strong tower. The righteous one runs into it and is set safely up high. We might expect the “strong tower” would be a “Misgav” but it is a “Mig’dal” instead (like Mary from Migdal). Our word, “Nis’gav,” is translated as “(we will be) safely up high.”
Give thanks to the Lord… for His promise to us is that we will be exalted and kept safe. Finally for today, we’ll find this word again in Psalm 20… Psalm 20:2 May Adonai answer you in the day of trouble! May the Name of the God of Jacob set you up securely on high. Amen! Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
8 Elul Wednesday 11-Sep-24
Deuteronomy 23:7-23:23[8-24] Joel 1 2 Chronicles 2 John 17 Hebrews 8