Saturday, June 8, 2013
Psalm 46:1, 7 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
There is so much evil in the world. Satan is alive and well. Clearly we are no match for the powers of darkness. Even the millions of government and the wonders of technology cannot nullify the work of Satan in one homicidal heart. How can we say "we will not fear"? Because our confidence and our strength is not in ourselves. Not in our nation's armed forces or intelligence agencies. Not in our wealth or in our technologies. God does not guarantee that trouble will not come on those who trust in Him. He does promise that when trouble comes He will be the Rock that saves us, He will be the citadel that protects us, the tower that frustrates our enemies.
But the Lord is not only our escape from pressures and trials, our Refuge. He is Lord over them. He is not an escape from history; He is working out His saving purpose in history.
Israel of old was often tempted to look elsewhere for safety and protection to trust in human strength and alliances with foreign armies to look to Egyptian horses and chariots for deliverance, though God had promised to be their Defender and had in past times demonstrated His ability to come to the rescue with swiftness and power. In this psalm the LORD calls upon His people to put their confidence -- first of all and above all -- in Him.
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7 KJV).
And above all we remember the greatest rescue mission our God ever undertook on our behalf. For God actually loved this world of ours so much that He gave His one and only Son for us, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. And it was with a supremely willing heart that the Son of God, while we were still sinners, loved us and gave Himself for us. And from His grave back He came that we might be eternally certain that the LORD will ever be for us a mighty Fortress, a Bulwark never failing.
