6 Hurl bolts of lightning, and scatter them.
Shoot your arrows, and throw them into confusion.
7 Stretch out your hands from above.
Snatch me, and rescue me from raging waters and from foreigners' hands.
8 Their mouths speak lies.
Their right hands take false pledges.
9 O Elohim, I will sing a new song to you.
I will sing a psalm to you on a ten-stringed harp.
10 You are the one who gives victory to kings.
You are the one who snatches your servant David away from a deadly sword.
11 Snatch me, and rescue me from foreigners' hands.
Their mouths speak lies.
Their right hands take false pledges.
12 May our sons be like full-grown, young plants.
May our daughters be like stately columns that adorn the corners of a palace.
13 May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops.
May our sheep give birth to thousands of lambs, tens of thousands in our fields.
14 May our cattle have many calves.a May no one break in, and may no one be dragged out.
May there be no cries of distress in our streets.
15 Blessed are the people who have these blessings!
Blessed are the people whose Elohim is Yahweh !
YAHWEH TSUR.
THE LORD MY ROCK.
TWhat better word than rock to represent God's permanence, protection, and enduring faithfulness? Rocks provided shade, shelter, and safety in the wilderness and were used to construct altars, temples, houses, and city walls. Heaps of stones were also used to commemorate important events in Israel's history. God's commandments, given to Moses, were etched on stone so that all generations would learn his law. The word rock epitomizes his enduring faithfulness.
The Hebrew noun tsur is often translated "rock" or "stone," while petra is the Greek word for rock. To worship Yahweh Tsur (yah-WEH tsu-REE) is to echo Hannah's great prayer of praise: "There is no Tsur like our Elohim"(1 Samuel 2:2).
The New Testament identifies Jesus as the spiritual rockthat accompanied the Israelites during their long journey through the desert. He is also the stone the builders rejected but that has become the cornerstone of God's church.
Praying to Yahweh Tsur A friend of mine who suffers from a chronic illness hit a low point the other day in which she battled suicidal thoughts. She felt so low, in fact, that she found herself lying on the living room floor, weeping. When her husband returned home, he put his arms around her and just held her, assuring her it would be all right, that this low time would pass. Hardly able to believe him, she clung to him anyway. In a few hours, the gloom lifted, and she felt stronger and more energetic, able to resume her life again.
My friend describes her husband as someone whose emotions are invariably stable. None of the ups and downs that characterize her life. Instead of being sucked into the vortex of her depression and despair, he pulled her out and helped her regain perspective.
I like to think of God this way. Like a strong, sensitive husband, he is our rock, the one who steadies us in the midst of life's difficulties. When we fall into a quicksand of fear or anxiety, we can call on Yahweh Tsur to pull us out and place our feet once again on solid ground. This title for God makes me think of the old hymn that applies this image to Christ: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.a When everything around us is but sinking sand, we can rely on a God whom Scripture calls the LORD My Rock.
Yahweh Tsur, LORD My Rock, I turn to you in the midst of frustration and fear, when difficulties threaten to drag me down. Be my rock of refuge, a shelter from the storms of life. Plant my feet firmly on the solid ground of your faithfulness.
Promises Associated with the Name YAHWEH TSUR.
With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you. Trust Yahweh always, because Yah, Yahweh alone, is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4) My soul waits calmly for Elohim alone. My salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my savior-my stronghold. I cannot be severely shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2) Come, let's sing joyfully to Yahweh. Let's shout happily to the rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1)
Psalm 145b A song of praise by David.
1 I will highly praise you, my Elohim , the Melek .
I will bless your name forever and ever.
2 I will bless you every day.
I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 Yahweh is great, and he should be highly praised.
His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation will praise your deeds to the next.
Each generation will talk about your mighty acts.
5 I will think about the glorious honor of your majesty and the miraculous things you have done.
6 People will talk about the power of your terrifying deeds, and I will tell about your greatness.
7 They will announce what they remember of your great goodness, and they will joyfully sing about your righteousness.
8 Yahweh is merciful, compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive.
9 Yahweh is good to everyone and has compassion for everything that he has made.
10 Everything that you have made will give thanks to you, O Yahweh, and your faithful ones will praise you.
11 Everyone will talk about the glory of your kingdom and will tell the descendants of Adam about your might 12 in order to make known your mighty deeds and the glorious honor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
Your empire endures throughout every generation.
14 Yahweh supports everyone who falls.
He straightens the backs of those who are bent over.
15 The eyes of all creatures look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand, and you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 Yahweh is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does.
18 Yahweh is near to everyone who prays to him, to every faithful person who prays to him.
19 He fills the needs of those who fear him.
He hears their cries for help and saves them.
20 Yahweh protects everyone who loves him, but he will destroy all wicked people.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh , and all living creatures will praise his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 146 1 Hallelujah!
Praise Yahweh, my soul!
2 I want to praise Yahweh throughout my life.
I want to make music to praise my Elohim as long as I live.
3 Do not trust influential people, mortals who cannot help you.
4 When they breathe their last breath, they return to the ground.
On that day their plans come to an end.
5 Blessed are those who receive help from the El of Jacob.
Their hope rests on Yahweh their Elohim, 6 who made heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them.
Yahweh remains faithful forever.
7 He brings about justice for those who are oppressed.
He gives food to those who are hungry.
Yahweh sets prisoners free.
8 Yahweh gives sight to blind people.
Yahweh straightens the backs of those who are bent over.
Yahweh loves righteous people.
9 Yahweh protects foreigners.
Yahweh gives relief to orphans and widows.
But he keeps wicked people from reaching their goal.
10 Yahweh rules as king forever.
Zion, your Elohim rules throughout every generation.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 147 1 Hallelujah!
It is good to sing psalms to our Elohim.
It is pleasant to sing his praise beautifully.
2 Yahweh is the builder of Jerusalem.
He is the one who gathers the outcasts of Israel together.
3 He is the Rophe of the brokenhearted.
He is the one who bandages their wounds.
4 He determines the number of stars.