06 Psalm 91 You are my refuge

Psalm 91 Study 6 You are my Refuge We read in Psalm 91:2, "I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."" (GW) The Psalmist says of the Lord, 'You are my refuge' and we will in this study try to comprehend what it meant to him then, and what is means to us today. People find refuge in many things today. Some have taken refuge in money, others in their possessions, some in their talents, but the Psalmist declared that the Lord was his refuge. The meaning for the word refuge is, 'a state of being safe or sheltered from the pursuit of danger or difficulty'. The Psalmist when surrounded by peril was confident to say that the Lord alone was His refuge and His fortress. We are at this present time, challenged with the danger of a pandemic, and that is why we too have been asked to take refuge in the confines of our homes. What kind of refuge do we find in God? 1. An Eternal Refuge We read in Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; He cries out, 'Destroy them!'"(NLT) When we take refuge in God, He becomes our eternal refuge. This is not a temporary hideout. For instance the houses we live in could be our own or rented, but they are still interim, for we may choose to move house, or sell the house for various reasons. However when God is our refuge it we have entered into a place of safety that is permanent and eternal. This revelation comes to those who have tasted God's goodness, and have come to understand who He really is. Though the Psalms were written about a thousand years before Jesus came, there are prophesies that were foretold that found fulfilment in Jesus. The Psalms, therefore are the anointed words of God that are relevant to us even today. When there are some natural disasters like floods, the government steps in to create temporary shelters to protect those who reside in low lying areas. These are temporary places of safety. So also every place of shelter on this earth is only momentary for God alone can be an eternal security for us. What happens when God is our eternal refuge? We read in Deuteronomy 33:28, "Israel shall dwell in safety, and alone." (DRB) To those who are wondering what this verse means, let me explain it this way. This verse makes more sense to us in our present prevailing situation. During this pandemic that we are challenged with, many families are in anxiety as their parents, children or loved ones are in some other part of the country or the world, and they are unable to help them in any way. Instead of worrying, if we have made God our eternal refuge, we can rest assured that God will take care of those who are dear to us. The word of God assures us through the testimony of the Psalmist in Psalm 37:25, "I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." (ESV) We must trust God completely, and commit our family members into God's hands for God has promised us from Deuteronomy 33:28 that they will surely dwell in safety though they are all alone. We also read in Deuteronomy 33:29, "You are blessed, Israel! Who is like you, a nation saved by the LORD? He is a shield that helps you and a sword that wins your victories." (GW) * A special people Just like the people of Israel, the Lord reassures us that we are a blessed people. When the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea by God's mighty intervention, they burst forth into songs of praise and sang to the Lord saying, 'Who is like unto Thee?' Here however, the word of God inspires the people of God to know and believe that there is none like unto them. For those of us who have made this eternal God our refuge, the one without beginning or end, we too are blessed to be a special people, chosen by God, and kept safe by Him. * God is our shield and a sword God is also our shield and a sword who will win victories for us. Generally a person who went to war in days gone by always carried a shield. The police department still uses these shields when they are in the midst of a riot. These shields are basically to protect them from being attacked by any weaponry that the attackers may use. If a human shield can give such protection, how much greater is the security that God gives to us, when He goes ahead of us as a shield. Even if by chance the enemy should advance and get close, the Lord reassures us that He also the sword who will help us win our battles, to come forth victorious. * We are saved by the Lord The verse also mentions that Israel is a nation that is saved by the Lord. Maybe there are those who are perplexed by all that is happening around us, and you are not even sure is they are truly saved. If we have received the assurance of salvation that Jesus offers, we will fear nothing for Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."(NKJV), will be our motto in life. God has ordained our day of birth, and the day of death. Therefore, we have confidence that if we were to die, we will be found in His presence, for we are dwelling daily in the shadow of His wings. How can one be saved? For those who are still unsure and desire to be saved the word of God explains it this way. We read in Romans 10:9, "If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved." (GW) Since we are being constantly bombarded with information and images of the adverse effects of this pandemic, most people are looking for ways to save themselves from this calamity. However, the bible talks about hell, which is a place of eternal torment for those who reject the salvation that Jesus offers. The afflictions on this earth are temporary, but the agony in hell will be unending. To receive this gift of salvation, we don't need to do penance or undertake a pilgrimage, but all we are to do is to call on the name of the Lord Jesus, who has paid with His life for our salvation. In order to be saved, we must acknowledge with our mouth that Jesus is the Lord, Almighty and ruler of our lives, and believe that God the Father raised Jesus back to life. 2. A refuge in times of trouble We read in Psalm 9:9, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." (Webster) This is the experience of the Psalmist that the Lord is a refuge to the ones who are oppressed, and a refuge in times of trouble. We are living in trying times when many people have lost their livelihood. There are so many who are perplexed as to how they will tide through these difficult times. Many have invested in businesses with hope of good returns, which have come to a standstill or seem to be crumbling. Let us be assured that we can run to the Lord, to find refuge in Him in the midst of all our trials and hardships. The widow who was helpless We read in 1 Kings 17:12, "She answered, "By the living LORD your God I swear that I don't have any bread. All I have is a handful of flour in a bowl and a bit of olive oil in a jar. I came here to gather some firewood to take back home and prepare what little I have for my son and me. That will be our last meal, and then we will starve to death."" (GNB) Here was a woman who was destitute, with no husband, a young son to feed and a severe famine in the land. All that was in her hands was a handful of flour and very little oil. The widow decided that this would be her last meal, after which she and her son would have to await death from starvation. She was a woman who knew the Lord, had faith in Him, but she was in dire straits and had nothing to hope in. Some of us may have this feeling that this widow had and have a sense that we too are shut in from all sides. Thing may be available but we may not have the needed resources to purchase them. Even in the most crushing circumstances, may we never give up, and even for a moment think that death is the only way out. The Lord has created us, and kept each one of us here on earth for a specific purpose. We have a God who is able to tide us over all these tumultuous times that we are challenged with. God's word of comfort to this widow We read in 1 Kings 17:13, "Then Elijah told her, "Don't be afraid." (GW) The first words of the prophet Elijah to this widow was 'Don't be afraid'. God seemed to know and understand her deep-seated emotions, and so He had to reassure her through His prophet that there was nothing to fear. Peter the disciple of Jesus was always impetuous. When he saw Jesus walking on the water, he asked that he too should walk on water like Jesus did. Jesus beckoned him to come, and Peter walked steadily on water, just like Jesus as long as he had his eyes fixed on Him. The moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus to look at the stormy sea, he began to drown, because fear replaced faith. Jesus lifted Peter up and asked him, in Matthew 14:31, "You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?" (GW) There are so many who are gripped with fear of this pandemic. The constant barrage of information from the media has made many lose their peace of mind. We should be informed about things that are happening around us, but if we are constantly filling our minds with only this negative information, we will soon be totally agitated. We must allow the word of God to take control of our lives, and bind these fears on the basis of God's word. We must be cautious but never forget that God is in control, and He alone can help us overcome all our fears. This is a golden opportunity for us to read God's word, and listen to it as much as possible. Let us also make use of this time to share with our children from God's word about the wonders God performed, and all the good things that He has done for us in our personal lives, for we may not get such times again. God's provision until the calamity passed We read in 1 Kings 17:14, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Until the LORD sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil."" (GW) The Lord set a time for the widow and guaranteed her that the jar of flour will not be empty, and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the Lord sent rain on the land. It was as though the Lord was saying to her, until things return to normal, you are under my care, and I will be your provider. This was not Elijah's words to her, but the word of the Lord Himself spoken to the widow. The Lord promises us today that there is protection in the midst of all these calamities. He also assures us the He will be our provider and will take care of all our needs. All that we need to do is to hold on to the word of God and cling on to Him with complete trust, knowing that He will never fail us. We will conclude by reminding ourselves from Psalm 91:2, "I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."" (GW). Yes, let us look to the Lord only, and confess that He alone is our refuge and fortress. May we be reminded every day from Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is my refuge, and His everlasting arms are under me. He drives out the enemy before me;" (NLT)