Is He Your Refuge?

Psalm 16:1-2

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’”

---

In a world presently paused, almost to a halt, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many (ourselves included) have sought refuge in the familiarity of our own residences. Socially distanced from work, recreation, friends, family, and worst of all for the Christian, the body of Christ gathered weekly around the proclamation of the gospel. Refuge is defined as shelter, protection as from danger or trouble; a place of shelter, protection, and safety. In Psalm 16, David seeks refuge not in the things of this world or even in a place, but in God alone! “For in you I take refuge.”

Dwell on that statement for a minute and ask yourself what has changed in the last five weeks if you are in Christ? I mean what has really changed? Has this pandemic perhaps revealed that your refuge has not been in Christ? Have you been worried, burdened, and busy making plans all to counter-balance the shifting sand of daily reports amidst this outbreak of COVID-19? Have you found yourself seeking refuge in things that are incapable of providing refuge but are in fact far worse; things that are depriving your soul of that which it needs the most – God himself? Have you squandered time? Have you hoped in false gospels? Has your faithlessness been revealed?

Friends, I submit to you that nothing has changed in our ability and invitation to find refuge in God alone. In the Lord’s kindness, has he brought to your attention idolatry of refuge in the things of this world during this season? If so, confess it, repent of it, and find your delight once more in the safe-keeping of our God who does not lose any who are his. Have you reflected on what you have done with the shift in your schedule individually? As a family? In your work habits? In your private devotions? In your idle time? Has it in fact become more like idol time? Has the lack of regular routine provided you more opportunities to feed your soul with the sweetness of the word of God or sadly revealed your desire to feed the flesh? Again, if in these last weeks or even last night you have found yourself doubting the goodness of God in this or thinking too highly of your own abilities, repent, confess, and run to your refuge – God. Run to his word and find comfort in his words and in the realities of the promises of God that are yours in Christ.

David proclaims to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” David does not utter these words for God’s benefit, for it was under the divine inspiration of God that he authored these words. No, David speaks this truth to himself, and by extension to all who find their refuge in God. He’s penning these words for his good, for our good, and ultimately for the exaltation and glory of God who is our refuge. This is an utterance of reverence and worship to God because he alone is able to provide what David’s soul needs – refuge!

We have no good apart from God. No lasting good that is; nothing that will not be revealed on that last day and prove to be imperishable. But in God through Christ we have every good thing; namely Christ himself and the promise of heaven that awaits. The truth is we don’t know what the result of this pandemic will be on our lives, schedules, our church, our city, our country, or our world. But this we do know – all who hope in God as their refuge through Christ have received already that which cannot be taken away from them. Heaven awaits. The freedom from sin awaits. The glory of God everlasting awaits. Conformity to the image and likeness of Christ awaits. Sinlessness awaits! This is the great hope we look forward to as we hope in Christ as his children as we find our refuge in him. So, Christian, what good has God seen fit to give you now that you are missing out on? We have named already the greatest good, Christ himself and the confident hope of heaven that awaits. But what else?

Brothers and sisters as we are apart from one another, I want you to know you are part of the good I have in Christ. My wife and children are part of the good I have in Christ. The ability to work from home in service to the Lord in my calling as a pastor is part of the good I have in Christ. My current health, present provision, spring, neighbors (even while socially distanced), zoom, singing, reading, serving, learning, repentance, confession, conviction, correction, rebuke, wisdom, encouragement, maturity (I pray), and so many others are all part of the good the Lord has given in Christ, my (our) refuge.

Do you need to stop and make a list? I trust yours will be longer, more exhaustive, different than mine as the Lord brings things to mind. But the commonality we have is the refuge. For he is our refuge. He is our God. And apart from him we have no good. What will you do this day to cultivate and lean into the good that God has provided you. Simply acknowledging is not sufficient, but it is a start. Build into those habits, those people, those good gifts God has provided for their benefit and your own; and for the glory of God.

The hymn, "Rock of Ages," captures it this way:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

Friends, our God is a refuge. Are you finding your safety in the steadfast, unmovable, and strong grip of the Lord’s saving faith? I pray you are; and I am praying you will. The rest of Psalm 16 is well worth your meditation. David finds refuge in God and confidence that no matter what befalls him, God is faithful and has David safely in his care.

---

~ written by Stephen Martin