Taking Refuge

(written in the time of lock-down)

Psalm 57: 1

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

till the storms of destruction pass by”.

I’ve noticed that I’ve functioned a lot on autopilot recently. Like many others as we have been confined to our homes I have been in full-on practical mode – working out how to do the shopping, How will I work? How can we accommodate to being indoors? Then yesterday Psalm 57 was part of my reading scheme. We know that God is our refuge don’t we? I was interested here that David talks about his soul taking refuge and repeating I will take refuge. There is something more here than just a vague knowledge that God is our refuge.

When he wrote this Psalm David had fled from Saul and was in a cave. He was already in a refuge. Many of us have hunkered down in our homes but these are not our true refuge, like David we need to take refuge in God.

Below I have added a link to the  wonderful version of Everlasting Arms (Lean Hard) by Lou Fellingham. What does it mean to lean hard? It means that we have to disengage autopilot, stop focusing on what we can do and to  be with God to find his help.

Despite the fact that we are in lock-down I’ve noticed a flurry of activity on social media, of people organising community groups, advising people when and where to shop and providing resources for people in isolation. All these are good things. However I find that I can be busy doing as a way of trying to control what seems out of control or as a way of  covering up anxiety.

David had done the practical thing – he looked out for his own safety but he recognised that the safety he found is not his true refuge he still needed to take refuge in God. It’s intentional. It requires action. It involves a conscious decision. If asked I’m sure we would all say that God is our refuge and strength – a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1) David is taking advantage of that refuge in a personal way. Taking hold of the refuge he needs in his own unique  situation.

What situation are you in? Have you talked to God about it? Have you talked about the uncertainty is affecting you, what you are afraid of, your anxieties about your loved ones or yourself? Take time to talk to God, naming the things that you need refuge from. Take time to enjoy his presence. Let Him minister his peace to you.

Later in the Psalm David says, “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast…… I will sing praises to you among the nations”. When we have found our true refuge in God, we are steadfast. From that place we can be a refuge to others.

So ask yourself, where am I finding my refuge today?

“For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress,

the God who shows me steadfast love”. (Psalm 59:16-17)

 

Photo Credits

Photo by Ksenia Kudelkina on Unsplash

Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash