God’s Safe Refuge

October 17, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 46:1 – 7
Lesson Passage: Psalm 46:1 – 7

refuge: shelter or protection from danger or distress; a means of resort for help in difficulty

When one walks in God’s favor, there is consolation in knowing that he is always there to assist in whatever the need may be. Surely, this psalm must have provided consolation for Israel for thousands of years. Israel’s history is one that shows a constant physical threat of annihilation by her enemies. Much of the history of national Israel shows her with rather difficult to defend borders because she does not occupy the original territory of the covenant which was outlined with naturally protected borders consisting of mountain ranges, deserts, vast seas, and bluffs at the Jordan River’s edge. In the absence of natural physical protection and enemies surrounding her, Israel’s security had to be dependent on the protection of God. The psalmist sets forth in this psalm the declaration that Israel’s protection is far superior to that of her enemies. God is Israel’s protection and protector. Israel does not have to send for God. He is always there in their midst and he is available to help them. The descendants of Korah offered their fellow countrymen reassuring words in the form of prophetic poetry. Although their enemies were many and visible, their helper, the Lord, was not physically visible but he was infinitely more powerful. No matter what happened physically—whether a shaking of the earth or raging of the seas—Israel could remain still and steadfast because her God had everything under control. Furthermore, God always provide for the place or city where he places his name. Eden was fruitful and well irrigated even before there was rain because of the rivers that flowed through it. For where a river flows, there is no need or dependence on seasonal rains. The river sustains the land where it flows. Likewise, New Jerusalem is sustained by a river that flows through her midst. This can very well be seen as the presence of the Spirit of God in the midst of the city. For the Holy Spirit does indeed refresh and make fruitful those he chooses to flow through. Where the Spirit of God flows, there is a continuous presence of God’s blessings; there is no need for God to rain down blessings from heaven when his Spirit is present to provide personal delivery. God shelters his children from the storms of life. Why stress out when God is available? Jesus said come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This sounds like a prescription for stress relief. If we take away that which is impossible to us, we can handle the possible. For those who are children of God, he handles that we cannot handle. In recent history, a hymnologist stated it another way: have you any rivers that you feel are uncrossable? Have you any mountains that you cannot tunnel through? God specializes in things that are impossible and he will do what no other power can do. God is our refuge.

Robert C. Hudson
October 6, 2010

God’s Perfect Law

October 10, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 19
Lesson Passage: Psalm 19:7 – 14

What is it about God’s law that it so captivates us? For one thing, it is perfect. Until the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, man had not witnessed physical perfection in something. Man observes beauty, harmony, and balance in many occurrences throughout nature. But, no matter how beautiful, harmonious, or balanced a thing may be, the critic can always discover imperfection in it upon closer inspection. God’s law is not so. God’s law is perfect and it shows contrast with man’s inner nature. No matter how closely one may inspect or examine God’s law, all you will find is perfection. God’s law is a reflection of his holiness. How it affects us is easily experienced yet difficult to comprehend. God’s law instigates conversion in us. In other words, when we come into the knowledge of God’s law, we are convicted by it because we see that we have fallen short and our desire to be made complete motivates us to turn from our ways and turn to God in repentance. Besides God’s law, there is nothing else that will create a stir in us to cause such a life-changing reaction. The law of God is indeed a spiritual mirror that man looks into. The more perfect the mirror is, the truer will be the reflection it provides. The mirror does not add or detract from an object. It only reflects an image of what is before it. God’s law is a perfect mirror. Even those who are considered simple are made wise through the word of God. God’s word can give joy, fear, warnings, and the promise of reward for obedience. (If all of this is manifest through knowing and receiving just the word of God, how could we possibly bear to be in the very presence of God’s glory? We can barely contain ourselves as we examine his law; surely the presence of his glory or shining greatness would be unbearable to the natural or carnal man.) Our human limitations cause us to be ignorant of some of our own faults. Some faults are buried deep within us. God’s law is a revealer of secret faults. Paul said that he would not have known about the sin of covetousness except that the law of God revealed it. It was always there it was just not made manifest without the law. This passage of scripture reminds me of my own observation of physical mirrors. I know immediately when I have come before a mirror of superior quality. Strands of hair on the top and sides of my head that are out of place become evident to me. (I find certain ones that will absolutely not be tamed or manipulated to my desire no matter how I brush.) Likewise, I see the small pock marks, blemishes, and discolorations within my face. None of these things are new. They are always there. But with the right mirror and lighting, what is unnoticed—indeed almost invisible to the unaided eye—from day to day, become obvious and brought to the front and center of the stage. The mirror does not change me. It does not add or detract. What appears to be new is just made manifest by a superior mirror. God’s law does not make me a sinner nor does it change my ethical or moral behavior. In its perfection, God’s law gives a true reflection of what has always been there and sometimes it has been unnoticed from day to day as I observe myself in the mirrors of public opinion and peer comparison. Public opinion and peer comparison average the good with the bad and leads us to contentment with mediocrity. God’s law, however, is not an average of good and bad; neither does it compare one individual with another. God’s law is perfect.

Robert C. Hudson
September 22, 2010