Year One, January 14

My God, My Rock, in Whom I Take Refuge1

Our last reading showed us Noah saved while the whole world drowned. Let us now think about the special protection the Lord gives to his own people. The psalmist sings about this so sweetly in:

  

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

When a soul is brought into sweet fellowship with God, through the blood of Jesus, its real dangers are all over. It is and must be, safe forever. Noah was protected the moment he entered the ark, and we are too, as soon as we are in Christ.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

What a picture of tenderness. Like the little birds, we hide underneath the wings of God.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Some dangers are obvious. Other evils are hidden. God’s people are protected from both. There are some false religions that would, if it were possible, mislead even the very elect. But the elect will not be fooled, because the Lord keeps them safe.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8 You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Noah saw the ungodly world destroyed. No doubt, this led him to be even more committed to praise God for the grace that had rescued him from the same sin and resulting destruction.

9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge--

10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone,

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Those who want to see us destroyed will be overthrown. Their power and cleverness will not bring about our defeat.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.”

We will experience trouble in this life. There is no getting away from that. But prayer is the answer every time! It will bring the right assistance for every danger. When we conquer the trials we meet, we honor the Lord who helps us through them. There is also honor given to believers who remain faithful during times of trouble.

16 “With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

God’s righteous saints may live many years or few, but how long we live is not what matters. The good we achieve and the fellowship with God we enjoy are what are most important.

As a family, let us thank God for protecting us from serious illness, from sudden death, and from fatal accidents. God has promised to be involved in our lives. The privilege of coming to God in prayer and the promise of being accepted by him when we do are two of the most precious things he has given us. If we are really God’s children, then a guard of angels is hovering over us right now. We may rest assured that whatever dangers are near us, we are kept safe under the wings of God. Therefore, as Christians, we should be very calm in difficult times, and show by our holy courage that we have a definite reason for our confidence.

Parents, keep this psalm in your hearts. Children and young people, treasure it in your memories. It is more precious “than gold, even much fine gold.”2

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I I Samuel 22:3

² Psalm 19:10