When the storms of life rage around us, you and I have a place where we can go to get warm and dry and safe. We have a refuge, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today. The definition of what refuge means is, “A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.” Let’s soak this in today.
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Transcription:
When the storms of life rage around us, you and I have a place where we can go to get warm and dry and safe. We have a refuge, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today. Hi, I’m Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. It’s Friday, so you know what that means. It is time for Joy Bombs in the Psalms, and today we’re going to be focused on one Psalm, Psalm 91 because it is chalk full of promises from God. But I promise to cover five specific promises from God this week, and we need day five to do that, right? So today, you and I are pitching a tent on this wonderful idea that our Lord is our refuge. Now, I looked up that word because we talk about taking refuge somewhere or in this case, in someone. So, here’s what refuge means, “A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.”
Let’s just pause here a moment and soak that definition up because it’s really good news. Right now, the world is more chaotic and evil and broken than I’ve ever experienced in my lifetime, and so we have all of these horrific news stories swirling all around us. It sort of feels like we’re on the brink of another world war. But you and I can have peaceful hearts in the middle of the storms that rage around us because God is our refuge. I love Proverbs 18:10. Listen to this.
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
You see, when we feel afraid, when we feel uncertain, when we look at the world, we get upset. I mean, are you with me? Corrie Ten Boom, one of my heroines, she and her family sheltered the precious Jewish people in World War ii. She said, “When you and I look at the world, we get distressed. When we look within, we get depressed.” But she says, “When we look at God, we find rest.” God is our shelter, our rest and our refuge, our safe place. So without further ado, come on, join me Now in Psalm 91,
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
You got to be standing close to somebody to be in their shadow, right? Such a good reminder to stay close to Jesus. Verse two,
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
I don’t know about you, but how tender is our God, that he allows the psalmist to make such a sweet, soft comparison? He will cover you. I imagine that those feathers refer to his love, his comfort. Again, our God who made the universe who is so powerful and ginormous, he calls himself The Comforter. Oh, that just wraps around my heart. I hope it does yours too. Verse five now,
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
Here we go. Here’s a promise.
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
Are you soaking up the promises? Oh, it’s just wonderful. It’s like sitting in a frothy, bubbly, hot tub and just feeling so content and so loved. Verse 15,
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
Remember, one day this week you and I talked about how God is Immanuel, another of his names. It means God is with us. Verse 16 now.
“I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
God is your rest. He is your shelter. He is your refuge and oh my… do we need a refuge for our hearts and minds in times like these. I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes. You might’ve seen this on a magnet or a mug, something like that. And I don’t know who originally said it, but listen to this as we close out our week together:
“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”
We know that the Holy Spirit is within us. The spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us. We talk about that often here on this podcast. We can have peace inside when everything outside is crumbling and wobbling and shattering because Christ is with us. Christ is in us. He’s our refuge. Say it, “Lord, you’re my refuge. You’re my hiding place.” In one of the other Psalms, I don’t know which one it says, he surrounds us with songs of deliverance.
Oh Lord, we love you so much. I just feel led to pray here. Father, in the name of Jesus, we come to you right now. Thank you for being our shelter and refuge and rest and strength. And thank you for being present with us in these times. Thank you that evil will not have the last say. You have the last say, and we look forward to that day and you’re coming. We say right now my friend who’s listening and I come, Lord Jesus, come. Bring us home. But in the meantime, we treasure your peace. We cherish your presence. I love you, Lord. We love you so. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Until next time, oh, you’re so loved.
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