June 18, 2023
Text: Psalm 46
Theme: Psalm-things Never Change – The Lord is My Refuge!
Pastor Daniel Slaughter
Where do you go to find refuge? In the middle of trouble, adversities, hardships, where do you run too to find refuge? Most people will run somewhere, its just a matter of where. David Tripp author of the book Dangerous calling says, “You will run somewhere for rest, comfort, peace, encouragement, wisdom, healing, and strength.” You might run to other people hoping they can be your savior. You may run to entertainment and binge watch Netflix to numb your troubles. Maybe you run to a substance to mask the pain. Maybe the temptation is with food or sex to find pleasure instead of pain. Or maybe its something constructive like running, or lifting, or reading to forget your troubles.
I am going to be bold and say that these things can’t provide the refuge that you seek. If you place your hope in them it will lead to disappointment and will add to the troubles that you may be experiencing. There is only one place to go to that can give you the refuge that you seek, that you really need. There is only one person that power and authority to rule over everything around you. There is only one person who is constantly with you. There is only one person that can give you the grace that you need to face what you are facing. That person is God. Do you run to him? Psalm things never change, God is our Refuge and Strength!
Psalm 46 is just this beautiful psalm for times of trouble in our lives. He points the reader to these big calamities that might happen. Whether it’s the earth dissolving or the unmovable mountain falling into the sea or even dangers that the sea can bring. We might think in the middle of a tornado, a hurricane, earthquake. These forces are so big and monstrous that if we are caught in the middle of it there is nothing we could do to stop it. If I was caught in the middle of it and there was no where for me to go… I would be terrified! Yet the psalmists proclaims “we will not fear.”
I don’t know about you but I am not necessarily scared of these big natural disasters that strike the world because I am not in the middle of them, because I don’t experience them. But the things that cause me to be afraid are much smaller in comparison. The things I seek refuge from aren’t as big or dangerous as a natural disaster but they cause fear and worry and anxiety. I think that is the is psalmists point. If we don’t have to be afraid of these big things in our lives then we don’t have to be afraid of other things because God is our refuge.
So when do you find yourself as the psalmist says, “in times of trouble”? What are those times that causes your palms to sweat and heart to race? What are those situations that you seek escape from? What causes you distress, heartache, pain, guilt that you just want to flee from? There is so much stuff that happens to us that we want to seek an escape a refuge from and it ranges from what stage you are in life. A teen getting picked on and thinking she is not pretty enough. A college student overwhelmed with classes and work and debt. The over worked father trying to balance family time with work and chores and the guilt in not being able to do it all. The death of your father, mother, or spouse.
Life at times is just hard, isn’t? And it is during those times that we want to find a refuge, a place of safety. Away from the pain the hurt and the sorrow. And it is during those times of trouble and fear that Satan will come and tempt you with an “escape” a false sense of refuge. Those things I mentioned in the introduction, people, entertainment, substance abuse, temptation in finding pleasure in something, food, shopping, sex, escaping in a book or act the gym and if we place our hope or refuge in those things its will lead to disappointment because it can never give what we truly need… a refuge during times of trouble and not simply an escape from it.
“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who can always be found in times of trouble. That is why we will not fear when the earth dissolves and when the mountains tumble into the heart of the sea.” God is our helper in times of trouble. We don’t have to be afraid because God is our refuge. We don’t have to be afraid from God comes in judgment, because believers rest securely in the hadn’t of God.
How do we know that God is our refuge who will never fail us? Why should we turn to God in time of our distress? It is because God is the one who has the power and rule and authority to do something. And he promises protection for his church…for you.
In the midst of troubles and calamities the psalmist points our attention to the city of God and what God does for her, “There is a river—its streams bring joy to the city of God, to the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in her. She will not fall God will help her at daybreak.” There is a sudden shift in the psalm. Shift from the shores of roaring restless seas to the bank of a quiet river in the city of God. The heavens and the earth can be shaken but God’s holy city cannot be disturbed.
The city of God is his church especially the church at peace in heaven. In the middle of our hardships, struggles, sorrow, anxieties the psalmist points us to what God does for his church for you. He points you to a place where God’s people will dwell in complete security. That place is for you. We also begin to experience the fulfillment of these verses already in this life. God preserves his city, the church which you are a part of from destruction. He preserves your faith through his Word until he takes you from this world filled with troubles and sin to rest securely in heaven. That’s why being in his word, studying his word, hearing his word is so important.
How do we know that no matter what trial or tribulation we face, that even if the earth is falling down all around us, how do we know that city of God will stand? The Psalmist points us to God’s Power and authority. “Nations are in turmoil. Kingdoms fall. God raises his voice. The earth melts.” Later on he says, “Come look at the works of the LORD. What a wasteland he has made of the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He shatters the bow. He cuts up the spear. He burns the carts with fire.” Nothing can stand up against God. Nothing in this sinful world can hold a candle to him. The devil our sinful nature was defeated on that cross. Death itself can’t separate us from our God! God used his power and authority for you and me. To come and die, and rise, to forgive so that we can join him in the city of God. If “The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is a fortress for us” then what is there to fear? What is there to worry?
The psalmist says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” When troubles and sorrows come, when nations…everything in this world is in turmoil around you, find your refuge in the LORD of armies who promises to be with you. When everything seems to be falling down, be still…because you know who your God is. A God of love who planned and worked out your salvation. A God of Grace seen in a sacrifice on a cross. A God who is in, with, and for you at all times. God is your Refuge and Strength! Amen.