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The City of Zion Part 13
The Rock of Salvation
Introduction
This lesson was prepared in April of 2006, and it is part thirteen of a fourteen part series of the "City of Zion". These lessons can also be obtained on CDs or audio cassettes. The "Rock of Salvation" is addressed in this lesson, and this lesson will show how salvation is directly related to the subject of Zion. The term; "salvation" is the most important term in the minds of all believers, and indeed to believe in "salvation" is the basis of the Christian faith. But how many have ever truly pondered on just WHAT "salvation" is, or how it can be biblically explained? As believers, it becomes essential that we study and believe the meanings of certain original inspired words to understand what "salvation" is all about. But of course we are not able to comprehend fully just how far-reaching salvation will eventually be as a reality. We are only called to believe; not necessarily to understand or comprehend salvation FULLY. Be prepared to pleasantly be surprised in the matter of salvation to learn from scripture just how many "in Christ" will be made alive. Most Christians are aware of the scriptures that will be presented in this lesson, but the question is; are these certain scriptures believed by most Christians? Of course, all Christians have to confess that they believe all the words of God; but then on certain scriptures the comments generally go like this; "I know it says that, but it cannot mean that". My point is; yes the scriptures can and do mean what they are saying. But it is the original wording of certain scriptures that must be believed; not necessarily the translated wording. Therein lies the problem in understanding the matter of salvation; in which generally most believers are not aware of the original wording, and therefore will naturally believe the translated words that are found mainly in the KJ Bible. Please read this lesson very carefully…..
This will be part 13 of my continuing lessons on the subject and city of Zion, and today I want to talk about the rock of salvation. We have all heard the term; "rock of salvation", and as we know King David had very high praises for the God that he called the rock of my salvation. I started this series on the subject of Zion about a year ago; and as most of you know I am going from scripture to scripture in sequence where Zion is found, and I’m still in the book of Psalms. So I could say we have just scratched the surface of the some 150 times where Zion is found in the Bible. The heavenly city of Zion and Jerusalem is a spiritual subject, and can only be understood and spiritually discerned with spiritual minds. Spiritual truths can only be understood by the Spirit of God opening our minds, but an honest effort must be made to study the subject of Zion.
I personally do not comprehend the real, profound, and spiritual truth connected with what Zion is all about. All I am doing is carefully analyzing each scripture and I look at the meaning of certain words the best I can with the biblical tools that I have. As I examine each scripture where Zion is found I am able to spiritually connect other subjects with the subject of Zion, and we will see how the term; "rock of salvation" is associated with Zion.
Psalm 137:1-9 KJV By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [her cunning]. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it, even] to the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy [shall he be], that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9 Happy [shall he be], that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
This psalm is obviously written by some captive Israelites during the Babylonian captivity when God divorced the nation of Israel. It says "they wasted us", and the footnote says "they laid us in heaps"; which means an oppressor that wasted. It says these captive Israelites wept when they remembered Zion when they were wasted by their oppressors; the Babylonians. They remembered David when David was king of Israel; when David dwelled in Zion the city of David when he ruled Israel from Zion. These captive Israelites were mocked by their captors and asked for one of the songs of Zion that they used to sing. They remembered the songs they used to sing about Zion when David was in power.
Many Psalms were called songs of David that David wrote about the joy of Zion and for the joy of their salvation; which these captive Israelites remembered and were mocked by their captors. Their hearts simply were not up to sing the songs they remembered in Zion; as they said "how shall we sing in a strange land?" These captive Israelites reminded Jehovah that the children of Edom said of Jerusalem "to rase it rase it"; which means to make bare, to empty, pour out, or demolish. That is what happened to Jerusalem.
But these captive Israelites also knew of the future destruction of the daughter of Babylon. It says; "who art to be destroyed" or wasted. These captives knew they would be happy to reward Babylon, and "rewardeth" in the footnote says; "to recompense unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us". They were suffering in this captivity and they knew they would be happy to recompense and reward their captors by dashing their children against the stones. Dash means to scatter in pieces or to pulverize. In the original Hebrew the word "stones" is singular; it should not read stones, and most translations say stone or rock. It simply means the rock, or a lofty rock; and it could literally mean a fortress or a stronghold. The city of David where David dwelled was called Zion as we know, and Zion was a stronghold and fortress that David captured from the Jebusites. This is explained in 2 Samuel 5:7:
KJV Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same [is] the city of David.
Well, this "rock" that these captive Israelites referred to is the stronghold and fortress of Zion that these captives Israelites remembered. They understood from the songs of David about the future rule and power of Zion that will dash, scatter, and pulverize the children of Babylon. These captive Israelites remembered from the songs of David that the daughter of Babylon will be destroyed, wasted, scattered, and pulverized by the rock of Jesus Christ in a future rule from mount Zion when David’s tabernacle and rule of power would be set up. We all know that Jesus Christ is called the "rock" which is simply the stronghold and fortress of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the rock of salvation, but also a rock that will waste and pulverize His enemies, the fortress and stronghold of Zion that David will rule from after the return of Christ. David wrote many Psalms about the rock of salvation as we will see; and it has to do with the stronghold and fortress of mount Zion when David rules under Jesus Christ. The word "rock" in scripture means safety, protection, and strength. Rock means something very solid; it means a solid, firm, or immovable foundation. It is the solid foundation of the work of salvation through Jesus Christ.
I personally over the years when reading the Bible have just read over many scriptures and not really thought about what the scriptures are truly saying, and I’m sure that’s the case with most of you. That is why in the past year in my studies on the subject of Zion I have developed a habit of looking up certain words. We have to understand that our Bibles are simply "translations" of the word of God taken from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. That is why if we are sincere about the study of scripture we must look at the original words and use the Bible tools to understand the meaning of words. It is simply not wise to just completely trust the translators in how they translated the original words.
Now you might ask; is all this effort and study really necessary; isn’t our simply child-like faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ sufficient for salvation? I agree, that is the faith that saves, but the study into the words of God will earn rewards. All study does is to help us understand the words of God better, and it causes spiritual growth to where it becomes harder and harder for us to be deceived. That is the purpose of study, and that is how the Spirit of God leads and guides us eventually to all the truth. Study is good works just like any other good works of love and charity that will earn rewards, but works cannot earn salvation. Salvation was earned for us by the works of Jesus Christ as the rock of our salvation, and if we believe in faith on those works that Christ did for us we will be saved even if (I repeat) even if our works are burned up when they are tried by fire. This simple truth is explained in 1Corinthians 3:13-15:
KJV Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. {it shall be: Gr. it is} 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Now the question that we must ask; does this truly include every man, or does it only mean every believer? Are all works of the unbelievers also tried by fire? Notice it says it shall be revealed by fire. In the Greek the wording is; "it is being revealed by fire". Of course every believer’s works is being tried by fire NOW. It is present tense, because as we know, Jesus Christ baptizes believers by fire NOW during this evil age. Now I want to show just a couple of scriptures explaining salvation, because I feel it’s important since today we’re going to look into this subject called the rock of salvation.
Luke 3:16 KJV John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
The book of Acts explains this example several times of Jesus Christ baptizing with the Holy Spirit, but it is also with FIRE, and at that time only those that God called and added to the Church were baptized with God’s Spirit and with fire. But Paul said as we read 1Cor 3, every man’s work will be tried by that fire. Again I ask; does every man actually mean every man?
Mark 9:49 KJV For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Again, does everyone really mean everyone, or did Christ mean that just a few believers will be salted with fire. Salted with fire means the fire will season and preserve everyone. The people’s New Testament says this about the phrase; "salted with fire"; Fire is used in the Scripture to denote suffering, persecution, trial, distress of any kind. Salt is used to denote permanence, preservation from corruption. Every one, good and bad, must suffer. According to this commentary I find it very interesting that "preservation from corruption" is used.
Jesus Christ said everyone shall be salted with fire, and that fire not only will try and test all works, but it will also season and preserve from corruption everyone good and bad; which truly does include EVERYONE. Paul said in 1Cor. 3:15, every man’s work will be manifested. That truly does mean every man, and Christ also said everyone will be salted with fire. After all works, good or bad, are either rewarded or lost, then Paul plainly says; "but he himself shall be saved", and again that would include every man. Everyone is destined to be salted with fire to be preserved from corruption after every man suffers and all his works is tried by fire. That is how I personally understand these scriptures, and that is how I understand what Jesus Christ meant by everyone being salted with fire. No one born in the flesh will escape the trial and sufferings of the fire of God that will try, test, and prove all works of what sort it is; good or bad, and that fire will be used to also season and preserve from corruption everyone and every man for salvation.
Modern day Christianity has caused all of us to be mentally programmed in the concept that only a few saints will be chosen and selected for salvation. We were more or less made to believe that everyone and every man only means a few that happen to believe the gospel and have repented. True; the gospel must be believed and repentance must be real. But why not just believe what Jesus Christ and what the apostle Paul plainly said. All believers have something in common; all confess that they believe every scripture. Yet most believers will not believe 1Timothy 2:4-6 which plainly says:
KJV Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Modern Christianity generally does not believe that God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. The only comments believers have on this scripture go something like this: I know it says that but we know it cannot mean that God will have all men to be saved. They will say all men does not mean all men, it only means a few men; or only all believers, or the term "will have" only means it is God’s will, or it is His desire to save all men. As if to say salvation is in control of man and God is somehow not in control and helpless to save all men in spite of the fact that it is His desire and His will to do so.
Is salvation the work of God or is it the work of men? Modern Christianity believes that man has to choose to believe on Christ in order to be saved. Of course man has to choose, but what modern Christianity fails to explain is what CAUSES man to choose to believe the gospel. Salvation has to be the work of God and it is the Spirit of God that causes a change in the thinking of man; which in turn causes man to choose to repent and believe the gospel. When there is a change in the way man thinks, or when man questions certain doctrines that he has believed all his life; well the Spirit of God is causing that change of thinking. Modern Christianity also fails to explain that if the Spirit of God in not given; then man is UNABLE to be subject to the law of God; which is why he will not and cannot repent, and the gospel is foolishness to him.
Romans 8:6-9 KJV For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Man is left to his own natural unconverted mind IF he does not have the Spirit of God. If God does not call and give His Spirit to a carnally minded man he will stay in his unconverted carnal state of mind in enmity against God and he will only serve and mind his own flesh, simply because that is all he knows what to do. So the question we have to ask; how can man choose to believe the gospel and choose to obey God when he is not subject to the law of God neither indeed CAN BE, and therefore he is unable and cannot obey and please God?
Recently I gave a lesson on what is called the "natural man". It is part five on the series on the wrath of God. But I want to caution anyone hearing my lesson on the natural man that it might be offensive to anyone taken in by what modern day Christianity generally believes what they think is the "free will" of man. It would be best to rid your mind that man is somehow free to do as he wants apart from the free will of God. It would be best to believe that God has free will; not that man as free will.
The point we all should understand is that the issue is not that man is able to make choices. That is not the issue; the issue and question is; what causes man to make these choices? Christianity in general has ignored and stumbled on that question, and later I want to talk about what the Bible calls a certain stumbling stone. Also what is generally believed is that Jesus Christ as the rock of salvation will only save believers during this evil age. They generally are not aware that salvation is not limited only for this day and age.
Isaiah 49:8 KJV Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
It is a day of salvation that God helped thee; the "thee" being Israel. Notice it says God will preserve Israel, and to preserve means "salting" Israel with fire, and then giving Israel for a covenant to establish the earth to cause Israel to inherit the desolate heritages. This can only happen after Christ’s return and after the kingdom is established, as we all know. The point is, in this evil age is A day of salvation; it is not THE only day of salvation. Isaiah 49:8 is quoted in 2Corinthians 6:2:
KJV (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)
This is not quoting Isaiah 49:8 correctly. The original Greek in the CL translation, and also in several other translations of 2 Cor 6:2 reads like this; "now is A day". It is not THE day of salvation, and also it is AN acceptable time; not THE accepted time; which completely changes the context. This causes people to believe that this is the ONLY day and the ONLY accepted time that God, as the rock of salvation, will save believers. I want to tell you, this age is only the beginning of the work of salvation.
Quoting 1Timothy 2:4 again; God will have all men to be saved. How is it possible that God will have all men to be saved? Did you notice verse five of 1Timothy 2? The word "for" means because. God will have all men to be saved because there is one God and one mediator between God and men, and is Jesus Christ as the mediator only for a few men or for all men, and is Christ as the mediator effective for all men? Mediator means a go between, that is, a reconciler. Does Jesus Christ want to reconcile all men to God or only a few men? It says Jesus Christ give himself a ransom for all men; not just a few. But will the ransom fail in its effectiveness since it is obvious the ransom was only effective for a few in this evil age? But 1 Tim 2:6 says; in due time the ransom will the testified to all. We know the ransom was preached to perhaps billions in this age but obviously that preaching was not very effective since only a few believed in this age.
Testimony is more than just preaching. "Testified" means the witness of something evidential, and it was translated as witness in other scriptures. What does "in due time" biblically mean? The word "due" means pertaining to self, that is, one's own; by implication private or separate. The word "time" means an occasion, that is, a set or proper time. In other words; set or proper time means in its own strategic time periods. God will have all men to be saved when the evidence of Jesus Christ’s ransom will be witnessed to be effective in God’s own proper strategic time periods.
Is Jesus Christ the rock of salvation only for a few believers in this time, or is He the rock of salvation for all men in due time? Of course believers will acknowledge that Christ is the rock of salvation for all men, but only a few believe in that rock; so in their minds only a few will be saved. Again I ask; is salvation the work of God or is it dependent on the work and belief of man? I’m only asking questions; I am not telling you what to believe. Here is another scripture that modern Christianity will not believe.
1Corinthians 15:22-26 KJV For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.
All believers have to agree; yes, in Adam all die but then most are programmed to automatically believe that Christ will NOT make all alive. Most will interpret the "all being made alive" is limited only to those "in Christ". But that is not what Paul explained. Paul did NOT say all will be made alive that are "in Christ". It is reversed; "in Christ" shall all be made alive and I believe it is the same "all" that die in Adam. Notice it says "even so" which means all that die in Adam shall also be made alive. But of course it is only possible for all to be made alive through, by, and in Christ as Paul explained.
Modern Christianity generally ignores the divine plan when God will make every man alive according to God’s own private separate strategic periods of time. Paul says all will be made alive in their own order. The KJV says; "Christ the first fruits" (plural), but in the original Greek first fruit is singular. Christ was actually the wave sheaf of the fruit fruits of the spring harvest, and at Christ’s coming the first fruits of God’s spring harvest of souls will be made alive. Then at the end of the ages when Christ’s rule, authority, and power will no longer be needed, and when death the last enemy is destroyed, the rest of God’s final harvest of souls will be made alive.
Modern Christianity also does not believe Hebrews 8:11-12:
KJV And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Most believers are on the premise that only a few will know God, and that God will be merciful to only a few, and that God will not remember the sins and iniquities of only a few. Does the "least to the greatest" truly include all and everyone? I want to now quote several scriptures that talk about this rock of salvation, and we will later see what is called the rock of offence.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 KJV Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.
Moses published and wrote about the greatness and perfect work of God, that God’s ways are judgment; that He is a God of truth, just and right, and Moses called God; the Rock. Rock means a cliff or sharp rock, as compressed; figuratively it means a refuge. It was translated as strength, mighty, strong, or sharp. All the things Moses mentioned about God are compressed into a figurative rock; a mighty, strong, and sharp rock of strength as a refuge, and refuge means safety and protection. That is why God is called the rock of salvation; He is our truth, our justice, our strength, safety, and protection.
Deuteronomy 32:15-18 KJV But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with fatness]; then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods], with abominations provoked they him to anger. 17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. 18 Of the Rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Jeshurun means "upright one"; it’s a symbolic name for Israel describing Israel’s ideal character. It says; God is the rock of Jeshurun’s salvation, but when Israel is the upright one, describing Israel’s ideal character, then God will be the Rock of Israel’s salvation. But Israel was certainly not upright when they provoked God to jealousy with abominations, sacrificing to devils and to new gods because they simply were unmindful who begot them; they were unmindful where they come from. Beget means to show lineage through actual birth. Israel as Jeshurun was begotten by God as the upright one, but Israel waxed fat; and waxed fat means to shine, and "kicked" means to despise. Israel shined as the upright one but later despised God and did not know Him as the Rock of their salvation. They forgot that they were begotten by God to show their lineage, and also forgot that God formed them.
Isaiah 43:7 KJV [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
God created, formed, and made even everyone called by God’s name for God’s glory. I talked about this "creation, forming, and making" of a people called Israel in my last lesson on the Geneses creation.
Isaiah 43:21 KJV This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Here again God formed Israel for Himself. Why? To show forth the praise of God; and does it say they "might", or that "maybe" they will praise God? God said emphatically that they SHALL show forth His praise, which is why they were created, formed and made; as it says.
Isaiah 44:2 KJV Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
"Formed thee from the womb" also means "begotten thee"; to show lineage if you will. Again the term Jesurun is used showing Israel as the upright one describing the ideal character of Israel. Please understand, that is why they were created, formed, and made; even everyone called by God’s name.
By the way, I want to ask; have you ever thought as to what salvation truly is? I have often wondered how salvation can be explained. The word "salvation" spoken in Deut 32:15, as we read, is no. 3467 in Strong’s Concordance and it simply means deliverance. It also means aid, victory, or prosperity. It was translated most of the times of course simply as salvation, but also translated as deliverance, help, save, health, and welfare.
The salvation talked about in the New Testament is actually two Greek words; no. 4991 and no. 4982, and they simply mean rescue or safety; physically or morally, and also to deliver or protect; literally or figuratively. These two words were translated most of the times simply as salvation, save, or saved, but also translated as deliver, health, heal, preserve, do well, and be make whole. According to these meanings salvation is more than what we would call never-ending eternal life. Salvation can also affect our physical lives now by God helping us in our physical health, prosperity, and welfare. But generally the salvation that is biblically talked about the most is God saving and delivering our souls from suffering what is called the second death. But salvation can be for us NOW; it is a mental and spiritual healing caused by the Spirit of God. It is also the Spirit of God physically healing us and making us whole, and it is also spiritual protection and welfare.
James 5:15 KJV And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
"Save the sick" is no. 4982, and it simply means to heal or make whole the sick. God can save us and help us in many ways in this physical life, but for the most part salvation has to do with what is called eternal life. But in the original Greek it is called "aionian life" or life for the age. This aionian life will be lived in the coming age when the first fruits of the spring harvest of souls will be resurrected. Those not having aionion life will perish and be resurrected after the 1000 years to be judged by their works in the lake of fire and suffer their second death.
Revelation20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
I believe this is the time the rest of the harvest of the great fall harvest of souls will be made alive after death and Hades will be cast in the lake of fire; which is called the second death and death will be no more. Everyone will be made alive. David spoke many times of God being a rock.
2Samuel 22:1-4 KJV And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2 And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the LORD, [who is] worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
David used many words of praise to describe Jehovah; which David called "my rock". Zion, where David dwelled was called a fortress and stronghold. The word "refuge" is also used which has to do with "rock", as I explained before. As we will see, David praised Jehovah with many words that are all words traced to Zion and God as the rock. David again says in verse 32 of 2 Samuel 22:
KJV For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who [is] a rock, save our God? Verse 47 David again says: The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
David called the God of Israel "the Rock of Israel". David repeatedly called God a rock.
Psalm 18:2 KJV The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
Buckler means a shield or a protector, and high tower figuratively means refuge.
Psalm 31:2-3 KJV Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Again David spoke of fortress; which is directly linked to Zion where David dwelled.
Psalm 62:1-7 KJV Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him [cometh] my salvation. 2 He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall [shall ye be, and as] a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast [him] down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation [is] from him. 6 He only [is] my rock and my salvation: [he is] my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God.
There are other Psalms that David spoke very highly of God with emotion, and the words he used are directly linked to Zion as well as linked to God as the rock of his salvation. As I mentioned before, Jesus Christ is not only the rock of salvation but also called a "rock of offence".
Isaiah 8:14-15 KJV And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
What is this stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and why would many among both the houses of Israel stumble, fall, be broken, snared, and taken? Rock of offense simply means an obstacle.
Isaiah 28:16 KJV Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
It was God that laid this tried and precious stone in Zion as a sure foundation for salvation. In other words, it was laid for the people of Zion. But as we read in Isaiah 8:15 many of both of the houses of Judah and Israel stumbled at that precious corner stone. The apostle Paul explained why many of Israel stumbled at that rock of offense.
Romans 9:31-33 KJV But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
To believe on Christ is to believe in the works that Christ did to secure our salvation. Israel stumbled by following the works of the law. They believed that by the works of the law would come the correct faith. Under the old covenant Israel could have had the correct faith, but they stumbled at the law. Even today people stumble at the law. Christ became the law of righteousness, and the works that Christ did becomes our righteousness; it is not US doing the works of the law. That does not mean we have a license to sin, and sin is defined by the law. But when we sin 1John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God has to cleanse us; we are NOT cleansed by our own works of righteousness. God has to make us righteous by imputing to us the works that Jesus Christ did. That is the faith we must have; otherwise Christ becomes a rock of offense and we will stumble, be snared, and be broken. Many today stumble at the law believing that righteousness is attained by keeping the law of the Ten Commandments. They want to be righteousness but they stumble when they believe they can be righteous by their OWN works. The law never made anyone righteous. The law only reveals that we are sinners.
As we know, Paul said we are not under the law but under grace, and we know what most Christians mean when they say the law is done away. But its best to say; we are not under the penalty of the law if we are in Christ. Believers attain the law of righteousness by seeking to be made righteous by having faith in the works that Christ did for us. That is the faith that we will not be ashamed of; as explained. To attain righteousness by the works of the law is like saying Christ’s works were not sufficient. This is very serious and Christ indeed becomes an obstacle and a rock of offense.
1Peter 2:6-8 KJV Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Christ is a rock of offense, and notice; even to them that stumble at the word. When they stumble at the law they’re also stumbling at the word; which is to not believe certain scriptures, and when scripture is not believed, God will appoint them to stumble, as Peter explained. Christ is the solid rock of salvation for ALL in due time.
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