When I read the “Lord is my Rock,” I tend to think of a piece of gravel, since those are the rocks I encounter most often. On a good day, I might think of a boulder. However, that’s not the meaning the term carries in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the idea of God being a rock was more like the rock that is the foundation for Masada, the ancient Israeli fortress. It looks like this:

For one, the rock that Masada was built on is huge. It completely dominates the area. Two, it’s completely separate from the surrounding hills, making it hard to attack. It’s not a common, everyday occurrence. It is breathtaking and secure simultaneously, and that is the concept tsuri is referencing.

So when you read a Psalm or hear a song about God our Rock, remember it is twofold. The peace that it elicits comes from both the safety He provides and breathtaking majesty of the mountains, for that is Yahweh Tsuri.