In my morning devotionals, I have been slowly savoring the psalms. This morning I enjoyed the taste of Psalm 18 until I stumbled at the phrase “the horn of salvation.” mmm, I wonder what that means? I have learned if a word or phrase tickles my spirit to laugh and learn its message.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18: 2 (NIV)
I found that expression in two other locations in my NIV Study Bible.
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.
The horn of salvation describes God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New. The Luke reading is where Zechariah is praising God as our Redeemer and Savior. All the verses tell us of an important attribute of God.
Several commentaries opened the meaning of this phrase. I thought that it might be a horn like in a trumpet, but most writers say it refers to the horn of a bull or an ox or a goat that the animal uses as a mean of defense or as a weapon. Horn symbolizes strength and protection, as this is the source of strength for many animals.
In the Bible the horns from animals was used as a trumpet blown to show victory in battle. In this light, God is our song of strength, protection and victory.
In reading about horns, I remembered a scene in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Lucy is given a horn and told,
“When you put this horn to your lips; and blow it, then, wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you.”
Throughout the story when all seemed lost, they remembered the horn.
Good reminder for us too: Remember the horn.
The Horn of Salvation.
The Strength and Protector who will never let us down.
Remember the horn!
What is your favorite image/symbol of God?
I think my favorite image is when God sYs “He will cover us with His wings.”
When I was young , I heard a story abiut a mother hen on her nest that I will never forget. ( you probably know it) There was a fire in the barn and mother hen was on her nest. Her chicks were just beginning to hatch and she knew there was no way they would have the strength to follow her to safety. Their only hope was for her to protect them as long as she could and hope for the fire to be put out. She lay her body over the egfs and chicks and extended her wings. When the fire was over, the farmer was surveying the damage and fiund the mother hen still in her box, not having survived the fire.
“Stupid chicken” , the farmer said and pushed the hen over with his foot. To his amazement, a nest full of fluffy yellow chicks began to chirp with their first glimpse of sunlight. The farmer couldnt believe his eyes and wept instantly realizing the sacrifice the mother had made.
When I heard this story, I couldnt miss how the Lord extends His saving love over me, to the point of sacrificing His life. I think of the mercy seat with the cheribum extending their wings over the sacrificial blood…. and the empty tomb with the angels watching where He had been laid. …. and yet He promises to even cover me with His wings…. whom shall I fear?
I love that story!. I remember a former pastor preaching on a hen being an odd image of God yet when he shared this story, it become a powerful one and one of my favorites. I hadn’t remember it for quite a while so thank you for stirring that image up for me. Amazing God we have!! Hope you have a wonderful week full of blessings!
The lamb. That there could be so much power in such a meek animal is just so representative of the upside down kingdom of God. I remember being at a petting zoo and encountering a sheep and seeing how meek they really are. If you walk toward one it simply backs up. It doesn’t seem scared, just uninterested in conflict. It is the most marvellous thing. They are fairly large animals but completely without offense.
Lamb is a great image to hold. So meaningful too.
I so enjoyed learning something new today, Jean. I will remember the horn from here on out. Blessings!
The phrase really hit me, Martha and I didn’t fully understand it. One of those Christianese phrases that people say without stopping to think about. Today I stopped to look things up. Blessing on you too