GOD’S PROTECTION V.1-3
OUR REFUGE God is our refuge
A refuge is a place we can rely on, a position of security, a path of retreat where we find shelter and protection. We would prefer not to find ourself in a position danger. None of us want to be under threat where we’re facing the risk of loss. We loath being penetrated by vulnerability where we’re stripped and exposed. And where do we look when our zone of comfort is violated and we’re disrupted with multiple infringements?
God is our refuge. As menacing as its blunt reality is it is through our distresses and painful agonies that we prove the sufficiency of God for our deliverance as we call on Him.
OUR RESOURCE and strength,
Spurgeon wrote, “All other refuges are lies. All other strengths are weakness”. Our only true source is God. He is closer then the problems. He is nearer then the difficulty. How adequate is God in our inadequacy? We are defective, scanty, vulnerable and weak but God is our strength.
Luther said, “We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends us by His Word against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh and sin.”
“It is God, not the government or anyone or anything else, who is our chief help in time of trouble. Many have trusted in the government to help them only to find out that in stress the government’s help is unreliable at best. Many have trusted in insurance policies, friends, and investments for help only to learn that they often fail when needed the most”. Butler in The Analytical Bible Expositor
“Whenever disaster strikes and it seems that all hope is lost. Our only assurance is that God can handle, in His will, in His own good time and way, things which seem like total disasters to us”. John Phillips
OUR REMEDY a very present help in trouble.
The word for “trouble” is a tight spot, an experience that presses us from every angle and chokes us in with strangling repressive crushing. Where do we turn in our pain and emotional affixation? We turn to our very present help, GOD. How complex is the prayer we cry out? Please help, God save me, I need You now, and I need You constantly.
The words “very present help” indicates intensity or extremity. In other words, God’s help is exceeding or abundant.
Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power that works in us,
TO THE IRRATIONAL Therefore will not we fear,
TO THE IMPOSSIBLE
CONVULSIVE CATACLYSM though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea
CATASTROPHIC CALAMITY
FLOOD Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
QUAKE though the mountains shake with the swelling
thereof. Selah.
GOD’S PRESENCE V.4-7
UNENDING STREAM V.4 There is a river, the streams whereof
shall make glad the city of God,
UNEQUALED SPACE the holy place of the tabernacles of the
most High.
UNIQUE SETTING V.5 God is in the midst of her;
UNMATCHED SECURITY she shall not be moved:
UNPARALLELED SOLUTIONS God shall help her, and that right early.
IN DISORDER V.6 The heathen raged,
IN DISMAY the kingdoms were moved:
UNSURPASSED SPEECH he uttered his voice,
HEARTS ARE SHATTERED the earth melted.
HIS AURA IS SENSED The LORD of hosts is with us;
HIS ABILITY IS A SHELTER the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
GOD’S PEACE V.8-11
DESOLATION Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.
HE CEASES V.9 He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth
HE CRUSHES He breaks the bow,
HE CUTS and cuts the spear in sunder;
HE CREMATES he burns the chariot in the fire.
DISCERNMENT V.10
HE’S OUR STABILITY Be still,
HE’S OUR SECURITY and know that I am God:
HE’S OUR SIGNIFICANCE
IN HIS PROMOTION
PEOPLE I will be exalted among the heathen,
PLACES I will be exalted in the earth.
IN HIS PRESENCE V.11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
IN HIS PROTECTION the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
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