My Fortress

Tuscany’s landscape is dotted with places of refuge, man-made fortresses that were designed to protect their owners from their enemies. On the level looking up, they create a desire — I want to go there, but unless a person has have driven the mountain roads in Italy, most have no idea of the adventure involved in fleeing to one of those fortresses. Some of them are at unbelievable altitudes which is one drawback to going. The other is that none of them can protect anyone from the consequences of sin.

The ‘gospel’ in the Old Testament is about faith in Almighty God — who is my Fortress . . .

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.” 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. 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. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:1–16)

Taking refuge in God as a fortress is also illustrated in the law concerning man-slaughter. Those who killed someone accidentally or without realizing it could flee to a God-appointed city of refuge. This was his only option to escape an “avenger of blood” just as Jesus Christ is the only option of escape for sinners from the wrath of God.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Church attendance or membership could not do it. Putting money in the plate could not do it, nor baptism, nor any other actions I can do. Salvation is obtained only by fleeing to Christ, just as there was no place of mercy, peace, safety or rest for the manslayer until he ran through the gates into one of those cities of refuge.

As today’s devotional reading also says, it was not enough to know where the city was located, how large is was, or how to get there. The sinner must enter the city to be safe. After that, he must confess what he’d done and the city would protect him. He was acquitted and cleansed when the high priest died, just as a Christian is cleansed from all sin by the blood of Christ, who died in our place.

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14)

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Jesus, each day I look for a Word from You. Today, the gospel message is it — a gentle reminder that in You I am not only safe from God’s wrath, but also from my biggest enemy — sin. As I think about You as my refuge, I also realize in You I have been lifted to a high and lofty place. Because of You, I enjoy and am thankful for Your amazing protection and care. Thank You, thank You, thank You.

Don’t measure faith, measure God

Numbers 13:1–33

John 18:25–19:16

Psalm 13:1–6

When the Israel finally got to the edge of the land God promised them, Moses sent some of them to spy out the land of Canaan. He said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” (Numbers 13:17–20)

They went, saw the land and brought back a branch of grapes so heavy it took two men to carry it. However, they didn’t like what else they saw. One of them, Caleb, quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” (Numbers 13:30–33)

Joshua and Caleb were ready to take Canaan. The other spies were not. I’m thinking, whose God is bigger?

The NT reading describes the trial of Jesus, or rather one of them. He met with Pilate. Pilate finds no fault in Him and wanted to release Him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus . . . .” (John 19:12–16)

In those days, the people worshiped their Caesar as a god. How foolish. Again, I am thinking whose God is bigger? Their god Caesar would eventually die, but he would never walk out of the grave three days later. Whose God is bigger?

I sometimes think of this question when my faith seems weak. They remind me that this isn’t about the size of my faith, nor the size of my problems. When I feel overwhelmed, I’m need to remember the size of my God.

With the psalmist it was his enemy that made him feel weak and afraid . . .

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalm 13:3–6) I love how he answered this question even as he prayed.

Now and then I sing, “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I . . . .” realizing that no matter my problem, my God is bigger, more powerful, than anything that threatens. He is my strong tower, my refuge and strength. He sustained Jesus in His worst hour. He will sustain me with my puny problems.

Losing to Win

One news channel focused all day on the incredible devastation in Calgary, Canmore, High River and surrounding areas. Most of High River is under water. Some were rescued from flood waters with helicopters and boats. I received word about 6:30 pm last night that my family is safe. 

As I wrote those words, my sister called. They were taken from their home (with her husband’s dialysis equipment) in a large front-end loader to a fire truck. The truck took them to a boat and the boat took them to a jeep and then to higher ground. Their house already had a foot and a half of water in the basement, but they were rescued. Today, they are saying…

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7)

Today’s devotional reading focuses on the significance of God being the God of Jacob. His experience is our experience. He was a sinner, even a schemer from the get-go, but God had other plans. In great patience, He worked in this man’s life until that well-known wrestling match when God met with him and crippled him. With strong crying and tears he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Genesis 32:26). 

This is easily misinterpreted, as if Jacob wrestled with God and overcame him. However, this voice was choked with sorrow. Jacob was beaten and crippled. His stubborn heart finally went down beneath the pressure of God’s mysterious power. Yet this man won when he was beaten. Jacob triumphed when he yielded. God never left him alone until by crippling him, He broke his resistance and changed him forever.

I’ve been conscious of my weakness, of the evil within that baffles, beats, and spoils me. I’ve fought with God and know that we only win that battle by losing it.

I would not be shocked if many caught in this horrendous flood went through that experience. The God that controls life and breath, the wind and the rain, not only wrestles with their resistance, but this “God of Jacob” deeply intends that He also becomes their refuge.

Jacob’s pillow was a hard, unsympathetic stone. Sometimes God uses tough situations to get our attention. In Jacob’s case, God opened the heavens so that His hosts taught this man that the One who is with him is more than anything that came against him.

God also puts His hands on our lives. He may defeat and wound us, but the wounding is only for a deeper healing. May all that are under His hand this week find that He also is their stronghold, their salvation.

My sister said they are with friends in a large farmhouse. Four other families are there too. Their hostess has a table that seats twenty and could not understand why people kept bringing them food all last week, but she now is feeding a host. The hand of God provided before the need arose!

God’s people know how the God of Jacob wrestles and wins. We also know that in the winning, we lose — and yet by the losing we win for in yielding to Him, He becomes our fortress and our strength. By His grace, we learn to trust Him because He never gives up until we do.

Even the homeless can have a Home

In my life, I’ve moved twenty-eight times. If averaged out, that means a move every two and a half years. I’ve heard said that it actually takes that two and a half years to recover from a move. Will I ever catch up? Or do I need to?

Home is a wonderful word and a real treasure for those who have one. My husband and I deeply enjoy our current home and as we consider downsizing, we have decided that this is the place to stay. We can downsize our ‘stuff’ instead. However, both of us have another home. For me, this other dwelling place has been mine for about forty years. It is not a ‘vacation’ home or a second property, but far more permanent . . . 

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.” (Psalm 91:1–2)

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms . . . (Deuteronomy 33:27)

The words ‘dwelling place’ in the Deuteronomy verse can be translated “mansion,” or “abiding place.” This metaphor presents the blessed thought that God is my abode, my home. In fact, the New Testament speaks of me being “in Christ” which is another way to say that no matter where I am, Christ lives in me and I am told to abide in Him.

How sweet this metaphor. No matter where I have lived, home is a precious place. It is where I’ve felt safe, been able to rest and relax, been the most comfortable and the happiest. This is where I do my most enjoyable work, and spend time with those dearest to me.

The same is true of my refuge in God. He is my spiritual dwelling place. Because I abide in Him, I am secure and “fear no evil.” He is my shelter and retreat, my abiding refuge and safe place. In Him I find rest and comfort from the trials, struggles and conflicts of life. When I am caught up by life’s burdens, He says,

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)

As I abide in Him, I am not afraid of being misunderstood by others. Also, I can talk freely with Him, telling all of my concerns, even things no one else knows. He honors me, even says that “when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Not only that, as I abide in Him, He tells me His secrets as He said to His disciples, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. . . .” (Matthew 13:11).

My home is delightful, yet as I abide in Christ I have a joy that surpasses all other delights. In His presence is fullness of joy. He grants me strength for daily burdens and grace to tackle all challenges. One look at the face of Jesus Christ and I am eager to serve Him with all my heart. As I abide in Him, I want to invite others to join me in this refuge and in the wonder of His care.

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Lord, You are my dwelling place. In You, I live and move and have my being. I cannot imagine life apart from the sanctity of Your incredible love and care. Your mercy is my mansion. Your grace enables me to dwell in You and with You. I have a wood and stucco home here, but in You, I have a fortress, an eternal dwelling place, a perfect home. Thank You for wrapping and protecting me in Yourself.

God — my portion

After a lifetime of very little caffeine because I do not like colas nor the taste of coffee, I tried Vanilla Coke® when it first came out and liked it. The next thing I knew, I was in the ER with a racing heart. I didn’t make the connection until two weeks later when I drank another bottle of vanilla coke with the same results.

The doctor diagnosed this an A-fib. However, I’ve been relatively symptom-free as long as I avoid caffeine and the rich chocolate found in desserts like lava cake. Since I had a childhood disease that affected my heart (a leaky valve), this A-fib thing added more concern about the health of my heart. It also increased my love for what the psalmist says in Psalm 73:26. Here it is in context:

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:24–26)

The psalmist knew the guidance and care of God. He knew his eternal destination promised by God. He knew that God was his sole desire on earth, and even when his body declined, God would be there for Him, his strength and his inheritance for all time and eternity.

Spurgeon uses these verses to emphasize that God does guide His people. He gave us all the instruction we need in written form in His Word. Whenever I need to know the mind of God (which is most of the time), the Bible spells it out for me. Scripture can be difficult to understand at times, but the Holy Spirit has a way of opening it up for me and giving me what is needed for each day, even for each problem or situation. My part is to read it, study it and remember what it says.

God also gave us His Word in human form. Jesus, the Word made flesh who lived among us. Whenever I need to know the heart of God and how He does things, I can look to Jesus and see God perfectly represented in a way that even a little child can understand. Hebrews 1:3 says, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. . . .”

While others may think that the promises of God are about the next life only, the psalmist also knew that this is a limited view of God. He wrote, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8)

God will take me to glory, but He is also here for me in every problem and challenge of life, big or small, significant or trivial, He is my refuge and my strength. He takes care of my heart and helps me find misplaced car keys. He answers my prayers for safety in danger and guides me through the grocery aisles. He hears and forgives when I confess serious sins and those little lapses that no one notices except me — and His Spirit.

Others might say not to “bother God” with the trivia of life. Why then does the psalmist bid me to “trust in Him at all times”? Who do I have in heaven or on earth that cares about the “all times” including each and every moment of life? Only God. 

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Father, You invite me to pour out my heart to You. Sometimes this is for big issues, like the fears that go with a heart racing at more than 175 beats a minute when I’m lying in bed, but it is also for the frustrations of daily living. I feel weak and You are my strength. I feel unsure and You guide me. I am sad and You cheer me. I need grace to care for others and You give it. The key is knowing that trivia does not bother You. Instead, when I ask for help in the little things, I am declaring that You are God of my life — all of it — and that I need You all the time — my help and my refuge. Amen.

To Live is Christ — my Refuge

The idea of a refuge puts mental pictures in my head. I see a rabbit trembling inside a small hole after escaping from a predator. I see a child hiding in a closet from a bully sibling. I see a soldier deep inside a bunker, and a bruised and beaten woman in a shelter, and a family in a high place during a flood. The Bible says God is my rock, my salvation, my defense, and my refuge.

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (Psalm 62:5–7, ESV)

Most of my hiding happens after the fact. Something has happened and I run to the Lord, looking for His protection and comfort. I might feel like that rabbit who narrowly missed being another animal’s lunch, trembling because of a close call.

A few times, God has been my refuge right in the thick of things, before I run for cover. While I cannot make public one of those battles, I can say that at times He seems to appear before me. He becomes so real that my fears give way to awe.

These verses are important because they not only describe how God takes care of His children, but they give the one thing that I need to do when the pressures of life become intolerable. To experience God as my refuge, I must wait silently and not be moved.

Silence is one thing; lack of movement is different. The Hebrew word means slipping, falling, tottering, but the implication for me is that I cannot try to fix things or fight things by myself. That is, if God is going to save me, I need to let Him, not moving until He gives direction.

A story tells of a man who fell off the edge of a cliff. He managed to grab hold of a tree root on the way down. He began to yell, “Help. Help. Is there somebody up there? Please help me. Is there somebody up there?”

Finally a voice answered. “This is God. I can help you.” The man breathed a sigh of relief. Then the voice said, “I can help, but first you have to let go of that tree root.”

The man hesitated, then said, “Help, is there somebody else up there?”

Relying on God during the tough times means letting go of my own ‘control’ in a situation. Even in those troublesome spots when I feel like I have very little going for me, I don’t want to let go of the tree root. After years of experience, I’m still learning that my resources might seem okay, but His are far better. Besides delaying His deliverance, my own ideas usually get me in deeper trouble. Opening my mouth will do it, but moving in my own strength with my own ideas will do it too.

My soul must learn to wait silently. This means no decisions unless He speaks, no words unless He gives them, and no bright ideas unless they are from His Spirit. When my soul can stay still, my body can too. It is in that place that I experience God as my refuge and my hiding place.

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