Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalms 62:8
For people swear an oath by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:16-20
God is unchangeable. God does NOT deceive or lie. It is us… who are like little children in our lack of understanding of the vast greatness, love, and complexity of our God. We know SO little and understand even less. God IS love. We CAN trust Him. But we need to have childlike faith in our Father who loves us more than we can know or understand. He is OUR refuge. When the times get dark and dangerous where are we to turn? We turn to our Heavenly Father who loves us beyond measure.
מַחֲסֶה this is the Hebrew word for refuge used in Psalm 62:8. It is pronounced makh-as-eh’. It literally and figuratively means shelter. It portrays a place or condition of safety, security, or shelter. It is used of literal hideaways from weather and enemies, but far more often of the Lord Himself as the sure refuge for His people.
How should you apply this attribute to your life? This is our assurance in suffering and when we are facing adversity. This should become part of our prayer language in intercession to train us to seek God first and always. It should become part of our evangelism telling others that He is the only real shelter rather than money, status, or government. And we should always point ourselves and others when needing counsel to Him and to His (God implanted) hope rather than our mere human coping strategies. We should renounce all substitute refuges and strategies we have made for ourselves, thinking they will ‘save’ us.
When you can see the storm on the horizon and it coming fast in your direction – we should be asking Him for His instruction, counsel, and wisdom. He is our HOPE and refuge. He will guide us in our day of trouble IF we are willing to listen to Him.
Where do you turn in a time of crisis? When all the logical odds are against you what do you do? Have you learned He is your refuge in that time? Do you have testimonies of personal experiences where God has been your refuge, healing, hope, and salvation? Has He ever given you His peace that is beyond understanding? Have you learned through difficult personal trials that He can be trusted?
God IS your refuge.
Father – we repent of our lack of faith in You. We turn our faces and hearts towards You. We SEEK You! Implant deep within us Your hope. We acknowledge, and declare, You alone are our refuge.
Selah. (ponder this in silence and reverence)