The Apostle Paul asked the question: “Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering, and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?” Paul testifies that the Lord is the Refuge, the Fortress of all those who find shelter in Him. He well understood, for he himself was many times persecuted, mistreated, and left for dead. But Paul had a place under God’s shelter and lived his appointed days proclaiming God’s faithfulness. He considered that his afflictions were means to prepare, produce and achieve an everlasting weight of glory (II Cor. 4:17). Moses, in Psalm 90 says this of the Lord: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place and our refuge in all generations.” Forty years roaming the desert, leading a rebellious nation to the Promised Land, he could express this truth like no one else. The Patriarchs of the Old Testament lived lives of complete dependence on God. David spent much of his young life running away from King Saul. He sought the Lord in his distress and confidently said: “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation- whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, in this will I be confident…For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:1,5). At the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah recalled the Lord’s faithfulness in the midst of his trouble: “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not; they are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness; the Lord is my portion, says my living being. Therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him (Lam. 3:22-24). Inner strength is not shown in the season of good life, but in the season of trouble. Many of us tend to doubt the Lord’s love and faithfulness and forsake Him in our difficult times. But for those who endure the hardship of life trusting in the Lord, they will say, “The Lord is my refuge, my fortress; He is my God; in Him I will trust.” The Prophet Micah excluded himself from the rest by saying: but as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me (Micah 7:7). In his prayer Habakkuk expresses that nothing will diminish his faith in God. “Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, the product of the olive fails and the field yields no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk and make progress upon my high places.” (Hab. 3:17-19) Today this would read, though I have no job and means to feed and supply for my family’s need, though the supermarkets are empty and my kitchen cupboards lacking food, I will praise the God of my salvation, my provider, for men should not live from bread alone, but from every word that proceed from the mouth of God. The suffering Job held fast to God even in his trials. He said, (God) knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold… (Job 23: 10,13-14). For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin, even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God, Whom I, even I, shall see for myself and on my side! And my yes shall behold Him, and not as a stranger! (Job 19: 25-27).
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom ad knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments! And how untraceable are His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, and who has understood His thoughts, or who has been His counselor? Or who has first given God anything that he might be paid back or that he could claim a recompense? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever! Amen (Rom. 11:33-36).
I will say of the Lord, He is my Shepherd. Therefore my needs are met. He holds me close to His heart and nothing can snatch me from Him. He guides and teaches me His ways and when I walk the dark valley, He will hold my hand and lead me to safety. In heaven He has prepared a place for me, where I will spend eternity gazing at His beauty in worship and gratitude. I will say of the Lord, He is my Savior. His blood shed as means of purchasing me forgave and cleansed me; He is my Lord and King. As David said, I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day will I bless You; great is the Lord and highly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever (Psalm 145: 1-3, 21).
What do you say of the Lord with your life and words?
THINK ABOUT IT!
Light from the Word 