Wednesday 21 November 2007
- Bible Book:
- Psalms
"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 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... For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone". (v.1-3, 11-12)
Background
The Christian life is not all plain sailing. It is a journeythat encompasses mountain tops and valleys, peaks and troughs andthe brightest of days and the darkest of nights. However,Christians do not travel alone, but have their Lord to accompanythem.
We often use the term 'walk with the Lord' to describe ourdeveloping relationship with God as we grow as believers.Unfortunately, being human means that we invariably turn to theLord in times of difficulty. The psalmist in today's reading is noexception and describes God as his 'refuge and fortress' in timesof trouble.
Although God is all around us, there are times when God seems faraway. This is especially the case when we are tired from 'life'sjourney' and desperately in need of the haven and rest that thepsalmist speaks of with such confidence. It is at this moment thatsome are tempted to wander off the 'beaten track' or turnback.
At times like this it is important to remember that the Lord will'never leave us nor forsake us' regardless of our circumstances andin verse 11 we see the full extent of God's divineassistance.
Ironically, Satan used these verses in an attempt to wrong-footJesus while he was undergoing his desert testing. Jesus dismissedthe devil's trickery as 'putting the Lord God to the test'. LikeJesus, we must believe that God is with us when we are being testedand has the capacity to turn the driest of deserts into an oasisbecause of his presence.
To Ponder
Is God no-where or now-here when you face acrisis?
Where have you gone to find God when you havefaced times of trouble? Where else do you think you can go?