Capital R Rock vs. Little R Rock

Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves.

What a picturesque way to express the vast difference between the godly and the ungodly!  We who are the family of God have a Rock (capital “r”) that is our refuge; one who fights for His people, who guides them, who protects them, who guards them, who delivers them, who answers their prayers (all these characteristics are found in Psalm 91). 

In comparison, the ungodly have a rock (little “r) upon which to rely.  In this version (the ESV), the verse says that the enemies of God and His children have only themselves upon which to rely.  In other versions that phrase talks about the fact that those enemies are judging for themselves or conceding that yes, indeed, the Rock of the children of God is more reliable, better, and stronger than they are.    

We must always remember in humility that the ungodly who surround us are trying to rely on their own wisdom and power because that is all they have while we, on the other hand, have a Rock (capital “r”) upon which to rely.  In these days of frustration with government at all levels, this is such a powerful reminder to me to be humble in my response to decisions and actions taken by politicians and other leaders when I do not agree with them.  This does not mean that I compromise the way of truth but rather that I recognize that there are many leaders who are "by themselves" because they have only a little-r-rock to rely on.