“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:2 NKJV)
We live in times where I believe we need divine protection more now than ever before. Do you see the need? If you do, let not your heart be troubled about this, but stand firm in your protection in Jesus.
We see again in verse two different names of God that reveal who He is. Let’s have a look:
The Hebrew word for “LORD” is Yahweh that refers to God who is self-existent, always present with His people. Yahweh is our holy God with a holy purpose for His people.
The descriptive names of God as refuge and fortress remind us of God’s promises that He will watch over us and keep us safe.
In the Old Testament God dwelt with His people in a tent in the wilderness and later in the temple in Jerusalem. In the New Testament it is revealed that God does not merely dwell with His people, but within His people through the presence of His Holy Spirit.
The Bible often refers to God Himself as our dwelling place or in Hebrew Moan. Closely linked to this imagery is the idea of God as our Refuge (Machseh) which means a shelter from storms and danger. It pictures God as the One to whom we can run for safety and security. We find this same imagery in Israel’s Cities of Refuge where people who accidentally killed someone could flee for protection (See previous post on Jesus revealed in the Cities of Refuge).
God is also compared to a fortress (Metsuda) and to a strong tower (Migdal-oz) where God serves as a hiding place or safety tower where we can run to Him and find comfort in His protective arms.
I once read a story that took place in 1998 where a tornado roared through Birmingham, Alabama. One girl and her twin sister were attending a youth group at church when the tornado struck their town. As the tornado hit the church, they began to sing, “Jesus loves Me”. Terrified, they yelled for their father who was the associate pastor who ran towards them; dropped to his knees and covered them with his body. The tornado ripped the church building apart. After the storm subsided, everyone came from their hiding place. All seventy of those at the church survived. Everything for miles had been flattened by the tornado, except for the exact part of the church where the girls and the other members of the church had taken refuge.
This story creates a vivid picture of what it means to find refuge in God – first the protective gesture of the father, shielding the girls’ bodies with his own and the protective walls of the hallway, which was the only part of the church still standing after the storm.
The last name we see here of God is “My God” and the Hebrew word is Elohim. This is the first name used for God in the Bible, He is the one who began it all, the Creator of everything. He is the One who made you – wonderfully and in His image. He crafted you with the finest detail. In Him we declare our trust, how can He not protect us, the ultimate beings of His creative works?
The next time you feel threatened by danger, circumstances or a person, run to God as your refuge and fortress. Call on His name and you will be safe.
Maretha Retief