The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith

Metaphors of God’s Strength From the Psalms

Romans 15:13 reads “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

When we talk about God as Almighty and the Holy Spirit as having power, as in this verse, we don’t always think in terms of how that affects us. God being the God of hope that He is, fills us with “all joy and peace in believing”. But what does that look like in practical terms, in boots-on-the-ground everyday life?

Throughout Scripture there are metaphors of God’s strength, exercised on our behalf, that reflect protection and places of refuge and shelter. Here is a listing of some that are found in the Psalms:

Reference	Metaphor
Psalm 38:22, 62:2	My Salvation
Psalm 42:9, 62:2	My Rock
Psalm 94:22	Rock of Refuge
Psalm 95:1	Rock of my Salvation
Psalm 46:1, 7	Our Refuge/Strength/a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 59:16	My Refuge
Psalm 71:7, 91:9-10	Strong Refuge
Psalm 46:7, 59:16, 62:2, 94:22	My/Our Defense
Psalm 48:14	Our Guide even unto death
Psalm 71:7	My Strong Habitation, whereunto I may continually resort/my Rock/my Fortress.
Psalm 61:3	Shelter/Strong Tower
Psalm 19:14 (78:35)	My Strength/Redeemer
Psalm 84:9, 11	Our Shield/a Sun and Shield
Psalm 115:9-11	He is their Help and their Shield.
Psalm 94:17	My Help
Psalm 95:6	Our Maker (with a vested interest in us)
Psalm 118:14	My Strength/Song/Salvation.
Psalm 144:1-2	My Strength/My Goodness/My Fortress/My High Tower/My Deliverer/My Shield

He waits with open arms to receive, comfort, and defend us in our daily spiritual warfare. You trusted Him for salvation through Jesus Christ; trust Him for this, too. He has promised.

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