In Psalm 71:3 David importunes God: “Be to me a rock of habitation, to which I may continually come.” What is this “rock of habitation” David refers to?

The word the NAS translates “habitation” here in Hebrew, (ESV reads “refuge”) is the Hebrew word “maon”, meaning “dwelling place.” (BDB) That same word is used in Psalm 91:9, where it says: “For you have made … The Most High your DWELLING PLACE.” God was a “safe dwelling place” for David in the midst of his enemies.

Despite all the problems David faced, in fact BECAUSE of them, he would continually go the Lord as his “rock of habitation.” We might envision that as being like a safe “home base” in a game of tag. There may be hostile opponents all around, but whenever you feel in danger, you know you can go to the “home base” and be safe. David says here that God is like that for us. Whenever we are surrounded by enemies, or problems of any kind, we may come to Him as David did, “touch home base” and find a refuge and place of peace and safety.

And the great blessing of it is that there is no limit to it: David says “I may CONTINUALLY come” to find refuge in Him. May God give us the grace to begin every day by “touching home base” — and then to continue to turn to Him all through the day whenever we are are in fear or doubt. May we “continually” run to the “safe home base” we have in Him!