The hiding space

Psalm 46:1 (NIV): 1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 61:1–5 (NIV): Hear my cry, O God;

listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,

I call as my heart grows faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge,

a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever

and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

5 For you, God, have heard my vows;

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV): The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;

the righteous run to it and are safe.

Isaiah 32:1–2 (NIV): See, a king will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice.

2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind

and a refuge from the storm,

like streams of water in the desert

and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

Introduction

One inspiring story that came out of World War II is Corrie ten Boom’s book The Hiding Place. In this book she relates her experiences of torture by the Germans when they came to Holland.

The Ten Boom family hid a lot of Jewish people in a secret place they had built in their house. The Germans discovered the hiding place, and Corrie and her family spent many years in concentration camps.

Where her father and sister died.

She tells a story about the fleas being so bad in the barracks that even the guards didn’t go in there; so they where left alone and where able to do bible studies.

During her persecutions, dangers, and troubles, she found great solace in the presence and power of God. The Lord became a hiding place for her.

The psalmists referred to God as a shelter or hiding place.

Often David testified, “You are my hiding place.” Various situations in David’s life prompted this affirmation. He was taught by his parents that God is a hiding place.

He found strength in God when he fought Goliath, the Philistine giant.

one of my favorite stories found in 1 Samuel 17:34-39, where Saul dresses David in the kings armor.

When he had to flee from the jealous rage of Saul, he found refuge in God.

When he led the armies of Israel into battle, he knew the Lord to be a hiding place.

Throughout David’s life, he ran to God seeking refuge.

All of us need a hiding place.

David’s life demonstrated a definite need for a hiding place. Many good things could be said about David—he was rich, strong, famous, a man after God’s own heart.

A graph of his life would show many ups and downs.

He lived through a mixture of sunlight and shadows, times of laughing and crying.

David needed a hiding place for his diversified experiences of life.

We see in 1 Samuel 16:11 even Davids dad didn’t think of David first, as a matter of fact he didn’t even mention him until Samuel asked if there was another.

All of us need a hiding place at various times and in chaotic situations.

Life brings with it sunshine and shadows, triumphs and troubles.

Matthew 5:44-45 says:

Matthew 5:44–45 (NIV)

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

ii. Our lives are filled with so many activities that we live according to a clock and calendar. The pressure of daily living drives us to a hiding place.

Sin and temptation force us to a hiding place.

When David was confronted with the reality of his sin, he ran to a hiding place with God.

He said, “Thou art my hiding place” (Ps. 32:7).

We are constantly assaulted by the satanic solicitor.

Temptation is a terror to us.

During times of temptation, we need a hiding place.

Our Lord was tempted, and he resisted.

When he resisted, angels came and ministered to him. He too had a hiding place. (Matthew 4:11)

Dangers face us, and we are fearful.

Our world lives with the constant reminder that nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons could be used for a global war.

People have built underground shelters to protect themselves from nuclear fallout.

God can be our refuge during the threatening dangers of life.

Sorrows and sadness teach us the need for a hiding place.

During times of great grief, we especially need a hiding place.

David lost his son Absalom, whom he loved, in death.

During the time of his stress, he went to God, for he needed a hiding place.

All of us can have a hiding place.

David identified his hiding place.

David’s hiding place was not in his royal standing, his knowledge, his possessions, or his friends.

He identified God as his hiding place. “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (Ps. 61:3).

God is an amazing hiding place.

Only God is adequate for whatever life may bring. Through the years people have found God to be a trustworthy hiding place.

David hid himself with the Lord centuries ago.

Corrie ten Boom found a hiding place in God in the twentieth century.

People have always found that God is greater and stronger than the dangers of life.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

Places of refuge are sufficient only if they are stronger than the storms.

In the crabbing industry in the Bering sea you will hear of plenty of stories of boat captains taking refuge in St Paul harbor off of the Aleutian islands.

You would not want to hide in a place that could be destroyed by a storm.

God is sufficient. No trials or troubles are stronger than him.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and are safe” (Prov. 18:10).

3. All of us can benefit from a hiding place.

David testified that the secret of his life was his relationship with the Lord.

A close examination of the writings of David will disclose references to numerous testimonies about God as the strength of his life, the guide of his life, and his close companion.

Going to God for a hiding place will bring many benefits to our lives.

First, we will enjoy the blessed presence of God. Someone greater than ourselves walks with us throughout the pilgrimage of life. His Word is a great comfort as we face a variety of life situations.

A second benefit of going to God for refuge is that we enjoy his protection. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

Of course God does not insulate his people against trouble, but he protects them during the trouble.

Just like St Pauls harbor does.

A third great benefit of going to God for a hiding place is that we gain God’s perspective. Times of private and “corporate worship give a new outlook on life.

Conclusion

Have you prepared for the storms of life? Or are storms battering your life right now? You can find refuge in God. He never turns away those who repent of their sins and open their lives to him. When you make this decision, you can say, “I have found a hiding place in Jesus my Lord.