The Lord as our strength and song is a theme found throughout Scripture, but is specifically mentioned in Psalm 118:14, which says “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” This verse points to several key truths about God’s role in the life of the believer.
The Lord as Our Strength
To call the Lord our strength is to recognize that He is the source of power, might, and ability in our lives. As humans, we are finite, limited, and dependent creatures. But God is infinite, unlimited, and completely self-sufficient (Psalm 147:5). As the almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe, God has strength beyond measure (Job 9:4).
When we confess the Lord as our strength, we are acknowledging that any power or ability we have comes from Him. We cannot ultimately accomplish anything in our own finite power, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our weakness allows God’s strength to be manifested.
Relying on the Lord for strength means we do not trust in our own abilities but rely fully on Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Lord gives His children strength to follow Him faithfully (Psalm 28:7), to withstand temptation (Ephesians 6:10), and to serve Him with joy (Nehemiah 8:10).
The Lord as Our Song
Calling the Lord our song expresses the themes of joy, praise, and gratitude in our relationship with Him. The book of Psalms was Israel’s hymnbook, and the frequent command to “sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 96:1) echoes throughout its pages. When the Lord liberates us and provides for us, singing His praises is the natural response.
As our strength, the Lord is the source of our joy and the reason we sing. We do not praise our own works but His works on our behalf. “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3). Our singing flows from knowing that He is good, loving, faithful, and merciful.
Singing is also a way to remind ourselves of spiritual truths we can quickly forget in difficult times. “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself” (Psalm 89:1-2). Song helps us rehearse and remember the Lord’s faithful character.
As we walk through life’s valleys, singing to the Lord is an act of faith and trust, declaring spiritual realities that are not physically visible in the moment. Habakkuk resolved, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
The Lord as Our Salvation
Psalm 118 closes by connecting the Lord as our strength and song to salvation itself: “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14). Our strength is not in ourselves but in the God who saves us. Our song is of the One who delivered us from bondage through the blood of Christ.
The salvation provided by the Lord’s supreme strength gives us reason to sing joyful songs of thanksgiving and praise. This theme of salvation appears at pivotal moments in Israel’s history, such as after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21) and entering the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4). God manifests His strength by rescuing His people and fulfilling His promises.
Salvation is a multifaceted concept in Scripture, speaking of deliverance from enemies, forgiveness of sins, preservation from harm, victory in spiritual battles, inheritance of future promises, and glorification in eternity. In Christ, the Lord provides complete salvation in all its aspects and meanings. “The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations” (Psalm 98:2).
Understanding salvation as God’s work from beginning to end breeds deep gratitude in our hearts. We sing not because we are worthy but because He showed us mercy (Psalm 13:5). We sing not because of our strength but because of the greatness of His love (Psalm 138:2). Song flows naturally from those who have tasted the Lord’s salvation.
Applying These Truths
How do we practically live out the reality of the Lord as our strength, song, and salvation?
1. Rely fully on God’s strength to face each day and accomplish His will, rather than self-reliance. “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
2. Make praise and thanksgiving a regular part of life through worship, singing, prayer, and meditating on God’s acts. “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 9:1).
3. Remember daily that we are redeemed people who have been saved by God’s grace. “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy” (Psalm 28:6).
4. Allow God’s strength and salvation to overflow into love, service, and care for others. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22).
5. In times of hardship, consciously call to mind the Lord’s past faithfulness and express trust in His saving power. “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high” (Psalm 3:3).
6. Look to the future return of Christ and the completion of salvation in the new creation. “The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations” (Psalm 98:2).
7. Celebrate God’s plan of redemption unfolding through the church community. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).
Old Testament Foundations
The truth of God as our strength and salvation shapes many Old Testament passages. After crossing the Red Sea, Moses and Israel sang, “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2). Through God’s power alone, Israel was delivered from slavery.
Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving for her son Samuel echoes this theme: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:1-2). Hannah makes the Lord her strength, song, and salvation.
David frequently calls the Lord his rock, fortress, shield, stronghold, and rescuer (2 Samuel 22:2-3; Psalm 18:1-2). “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!” (2 Samuel 22:47). David endured many trials, but found strength, refuge, and deliverance in the Lord.
Isaiah spoke of a day when God’s people would sing songs of salvation in the promised land: “In that day you will say: ‘Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world'” (Isaiah 12:4-5).
New Testament Development
In the New Testament, the Lord remains the source of strength, song, and salvation. Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 echoes Hannah’s prayer in praising God her Savior. Zechariah’s song in Luke 1:68-69 also prophesies that Jesus will come “to rescue us from the hand of our enemies.” Salvation through Christ runs throughout Luke’s gospel.
In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas sing hymns of praise while imprisoned for preaching the gospel. Despite their circumstances, they still sing to the Lord and rely on His strength. The Lord responds by freeing them, showing that He is still their protection and deliverance.
Hebrews 2 applies the salvation theme to Christ: “In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered” (Hebrews 2:10). Jesus is the ultimate source of our salvation.
In Revelation, the saints gather around the throne to sing of their rescue through the crucified Lamb: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12). Their song glorifies the Lord who showed His strength by providing salvation.
Key Verses
Here are some key Bible verses about the Lord as our strength, song, and salvation:
– “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)
– “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)
– “I love you, Lord, my strength. 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 18:1-2)
– “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
– “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
– “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)
– “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” (Psalm 89:1)
Strength and Song Through the Ages
Throughout church history, believers have clung to the Lord as their strength and song during times of trial and persecution:
Early Church: Paul and Silas sang hymns of praise while in prison for preaching the gospel (Acts 16:25). The early church frequently faced persecution but found strength and hope in Christ.
Augustine: “God is our refuge and strength, a helper close at hand in times of distress” (Psalm 46:1). Augustine often meditated on the Psalms during times of personal struggle.
Reformation: Luther drew strength from Psalm 46 during his trials, saying “We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends his church and his word.”
John Newton: Though a former slave trader, Newton found forgiveness and strength in Christ, later writing the hymn “Amazing Grace.” The Lord as his salvation inspired his songs.
Corrie ten Boom: While held in a Nazi concentration camp, ten Boom taught her fellow prisoners to hope in God, saying “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
Persecuted Church: Christians facing persecution around the world today draw strength from God’s Word and sing songs of praise, even in prison. The Lord remains their strength and salvation.
Common Questions
Here are some common questions about the Lord as our strength, song, and salvation:
1. What if I don’t feel strong – can I still say the Lord is my strength? Yes! Our feelings don’t change the reality that God is our strength. We still acknowledge Him as our strength by faith, even when weak.
2. How can I make praise and singing a bigger part of my walk with God? Set aside time to listen to worship music, sing along to hymns, speak Psalms out loud, hum songs of praise throughout your day. Make praise part of your daily habits.
3. Doesn’t calling the Lord my salvation minimize my personal responsibility? No – salvation is a cooperation between God’s grace and our faith-filled obedience. As Augustine said, “Without God, we cannot; without us, God will not.”
4. If God is so strong, why do Christians face troubles and persecution? Our trials show the power of Christ at work in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Hardships are temporary, but salvation is eternal.
5. How can songs of praise help me endure suffering? Singing truth reminds us that God is still sovereign, loving, and faithful, even when circumstances seem bleak. Song fuels perseverance.
Conclusion
Psalm 118 remains profoundly true today – the Lord is still our strength, song, and salvation. By relying on His strength, singing His praises, and trusting in His salvation, we can live as joyful, faithful disciples no matter what difficulties come our way. The Lord who formed us still sustains us. The Lord who saved us still loves us. And the Lord who leads us still walks with us each step of the way. To Him alone we lift our voices in praise.
