Under His Wings You Will Find Refuge
As with many others I know, the last few years have personally been some of the most difficult of my life. The business I had worked tirelessly for 8 years to build fell apart. The future I had envisioned for myself abruptly crashed down around me. I needed to care for my parents during some very difficult and ongoing health issues. Honestly, every facet of the life I had been working to build for the last decade had fallen into shambles. As one friend jokingly said, “we need you to move away from the book of Job and on to one of the happier books of the Bible.”
But God (Psalm 73:26).
While my earthly life has been taken down to the studs, I spiritually and mentally am ok - and that is a confusing sight to those of the world. But it is 100% due to my God and the refuge we find in Him. Let’s spend some time for a few moments walking through Psalm 91:1-12 together.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (vs 1).
The language we see here in Psalm 91 is not fluffy but foundational to our very way of life. This refuge and fortress is where we are to live and abide. In the shelter and the shadow of the Almighty and Most High God. The Creator of the universe. THIS is who we are taking refuge in. Whose house we are sleeping in.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (vs 2).
Like the author, we must choose to trust in God and to allow Him to be our refuge and our fortress.
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday (vs 3-6).
Does this mean that we will not face hardships and tragedies in our lives? Absolutely not. But this does mean, we know where we will find refuge and shelter when they do, and therefore, we will not fear these things. God protects His people with tenderness and affection - like a hen gathers her chickens under wings (Matt. 23:37). Like the hen, He not only protects us, but calls us under that protection when He sees us in danger. Not only keeps us safe, but cherishes us and keeps us warm.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone (vs 7-12).
These verses always bring to mind one of my favorite stories in the Bible from 2 Kings. The King of Aram was angry that the King of Israel always seemed to know his next steps. So he demanded to know how. One of his officers told the King, it is because of Elisha the prophet. So the King had them locate Elisha and send horses and chariots and a strong force there. It says they went by night and surrounded the city. The next morning, Elisha’s servant woke up and saw they were surrounded on all sides:
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:16-17).
Just because we can’t always physically see God’s protection, He and His angels are there protecting us with a force beyond anything we can imagine. We need to take comfort in this. I believe this is the peace of God which surpasses all understanding which will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).
We are never promised a life here on earth without tragedy and hardship. In fact, I don’t know that I can name one person we read of in the Bible who didn’t face something in their life. But I do know that the refuge we find in our God is one of the greatest blessings we have in this life.
I’ll leave you with a few other verses on the subject for you to keep on hand for when life is particularly difficult.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress (Psalm 46).
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple (Psalm 27:1-4).
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe (Prov. 18:10),
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears (Psalm 18:2-6).