'refuge' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” vs. 7 Psalm 46 The psalmist had a strong sense of God’s closeness–to put it in theological terms, he was aware of the immanence of God. To put it even more plainly, God was real to him, palpable and near, capable of being perceived by his senses. When there was danger or trouble of any kind, the psalmist was confident that God would protect him. Some…
Daily Devotions
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.” vss. 1-2 Psalm 46:1-6 There are some in these latter days who do believe that climate is changing, but that humans have little if anything to do with it. They point to earth’s history and insist that the changes we see now are just a part of the…
Daily Devotions
As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.” vs. 27 Luke 8:26-31 Many of the homeless who can be seen in the streets of our cities suffer with various forms of mental illness. Some find refuge in shelters but many simply wander, looking for food and begging, and often being a…
Daily Devotions
See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” vss. 12-13 Revelation 22:12-14 From the beginning, Christian believers realized that there was a huge discrepancy between the peaceable kingdom promised by Jesus and the actual realities of life. And while they could in their faith communities experience the joy that came with loving and serving, they…
Daily Devotions
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1 Psalm 46:1-5 When Martin Luther wrote and posted the 95 Theses in 1517 he had no idea what the outcome might be. He knew they were provocative and a challenge for the papacy, but he didn’t realize how earth-shattering they would be. In the ensuing tumult he found comfort in the scriptures, particularly some of the psalms. In fact Psalm 46 became the basis for his…
Daily Devotions
Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.” vss. 3-4 Psalm 71:1-14 The psalmist had a strong desire for peace and tranquility in his life, and so do we. Our dream is to have meaningful work, loving families, good friends, retire early, and then live contentedly and happily…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 46:6-11 … “The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” vss. 6-7 We don’t know exactly when the psalmist composed this hymn, but we can guess from what is said that it must have been a time of considerable unrest, perhaps in its way not too different from what we’re experiencing. We can certainly resonate with his…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 46:1-5 … “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1 In the 1520’s as Martin Luther was facing increased resistance to his reformation writings and the forces of the Empire were poised to eliminate the fledgling Lutheran movement, he found great comfort in the words of Psalm 46. In fact it became the inspiration for his greatest song, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” a tune sometimes called “The Battle Hymn of the…
Daily Devotions
Isaiah 25:1-5 … “For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.” vs. 4 Isaiah has nothing but praise and thanks for God, saying “I will exalt you; for you have done wonderful things,” and this time he doesn’t have in mind great victories in battle or economic gain for the nobility. On this occasion, perhaps after famine or forced migration,…
Daily Devotions: August 21, 2019
August 21, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 71:1-6 … “Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.” vs. 6 What a blessing it is to have a life-long connection with God and be aware of it! Most of us know that we were born and that we have mothers, but not so many know God as the sustainer and protector of their lives. The Psalmist…
Daily Devotions: February 20, 2019
February 20, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 37:39-40 …“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.” vs. 39 The psalmist believed that the world contained both wicked and righteous people and it was pretty easy to tell the difference between the two. Most of us have made similar observations. Even though we have theological reasons for saying that all are sinners, in our hearts we agree with the…
Daily Devotions: June 11 , 2018
June 11, 2018 Ezekiel 17:22-24…“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.” vs. 22 Ezekiel writes from Babylon at a time of crisis and turmoil in Jerusalem. The expected military help from Egypt had not arrived and the last Davidic…