Refuge

Psalm 62:5-8

Refuge

5 “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for our God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8 

What do you depend on everyday?  

Really. 

Let me try it another way.

What CAN you depend on? A little different. Okay. A lot different.  

What do we depend on – well, a whole bunch of things – people, money, stuff, substances, thinking, tradition, routines… Does any of this stuff work? Does depending on these kinds of things do what we need them to do?  

Maybe in the short-term.  

But I have to tell you that I have reached times in my life where all of those things listed above, became rather un-dependable. Some might call it the “end of the rope” – call it whatever you want, but it is interesting that things like people, money, stuff, substances, thinking, tradition, routines all seem so dependable until this point…this point where it seems like all is lost.  

And just when we have thought or are thinking that all is lost is when, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him… (5)” writes the Psalmist. “He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken (6).”  

In God alone. In Christ alone. This is where we can find someone to depend on. Like I said, I have reached times in my life, where all I had was God. When everything else I had depended on or valued or counted on, including me had been stripped away. It was just God and me, and not much of me. It was simultaneously the worst time and the best time of my life. Never have I felt so defeated; but I also have never felt so held and loved by God.  

“My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my might rock, my refuge (7).” He is a refuge; not just as a metaphor, but a real refuge – a place of safety and comfort in a storm.  “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for our God is our refuge (8).” It is also in these times when we pour out our hearts to him.  

Have you ever just poured out your heart to God? Silently, out loud or written on paper? It is that safe place, refuge, when you can pour it all out. The questions, the cries, the confusion, the wonder, the heartbreak, the hope and the call for help. All of it, just pouring out to him, spilling out everywhere, yet gathered and collected and heard by Him. 

My prayer for you today is that more and more you come to see God in Jesus Christ as your refuge, as your rock for your salvation – and your refuge in all times – the person to whom you can pour out your heart and completely trust in and depend on. 

Amen. 

Discussion Questions

1.      At this moment, what are you depending on to get through the day? Is it working for you?

2.      Have you ever been at the end of your rope? Are you there now? What did you depend on?

3.      What does refuge mean to you? Have you ever thought of God like this? Do you have some people in your life that serve as refuges?

4.       When was the last time you poured your heart out to God or anyone else? Is it time?

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Help

Psalm 46:1-3

Help 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” Psalm 46:1-3  

Raise your hand if you’ve had your share of earth changing, mountain-shaking, water-roaring and foaming, mountain-tumult-trembling times in 2007.  Maybe all this didn’t happen in 2007 but certainly we have all had years and/or seasons like that.  How did we or are we getting through it?

Sometimes when you and I look back, there appears to be no logical explanation as to how we survived the tumult and shaking. 

But I think I may have found a clue. 

Listen to this again, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… (Psalm 46:1).” First, as you may know, there are many words for “God” in the Old Testament. For example, Yahweh, which translates roughly as “I am” is thought of as God’s “name.” But the word used in Hebrew here in Psalm 46:1 could be considered “Big God” – it is “Elohim” and it is the same word used in Genesis when God is creating all things.  

So when we are talking about God being a “refuge and strength” we are talking about NFL lineman size or bodyguard strength.  

And speaking of refuge – the word for refuge in Psalm 46 has the meaning of shelter as well as “the person to whom one flees.” Where do we go when we need shelter or help? 

And how about this “very present help in trouble.” The word and meaning for present is “found, encountered and recognizable” according to a Bible resource.

So when we add very – “very found, very encountered, very recognizable” like you just stumble or crash into it – you can’t miss it. Help? The word in Psalm 46 for help means has the same root as “helper or help meet.” Sound familiar? You are correct…Genesis 2:18 in which God looks at Adam and says something like, “This guy shouldn’t be alone, he needs a helper or help meet.” Same root in Genesis 2:18 as in Psalm 46:1. 

So, we’ve got Psalm 46:1 telling us that when we are in trouble, when we the world is crashing down around us – God’s presence is awesome and huge like a shelter; it is as clear, visible and real as this screen in front of you; and it is as near and intimate as a spouse’s closeness. I want some of that!

And I have experienced it. It was that comforting and particular and intimate as Psalm 46:1 says – I will testify! I sometimes miss it, but I don’t think I want to volunteer to be in the position of the tumult and mountain trembling.

But the truth is you and I will be there again if we aren’t there already today. It just seems like we are much more aware of it when the mountains are shaking and the waves are roaring.  

How about you – want some very present help as well as a refuge and strength? And it is ours and it is real thanks to God being fully present in this world through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  

Amen.  

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever experienced God’s “very present help in trouble?” What was it like?
2. Are the mountains trembling in your world? What is going on?
3. How are you going to survive it?
4. How does this description of God sound? Does it confirm or seem different from your mind’s image of God? Why?

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