LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE

Isaiah 26:20

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy door about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment…”

LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE

This sermon title may sound familiar to some of you. Let me tell you about its origin. Reverend Augustus Toplady, an English preacher in 1775, was making the long trek home on a lonely road one day after finishing his weekly visitations. Suddenly, a violent storm came upon him. There was no shelter in sight, but he didn’t panic. He searched his immediate surroundings and spied a cleft in the rocks running down a ledge beside the road. It was there that he took refuge, protected from the stormy winds and heavy rain. And as he stood there in the cleft of the rock, reflecting on the spiritual significance of his rescue, he noticed a playing card on the ground under his foot, a six of diamonds. He reached down, picked up the card, and penned the following words:

“Rock of ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in thee.”

There are times in our lives when retreat and reflection are the best choices. For Rev. Toplady, it was a necessary option. When the storms of life are raging, what better place is there than to seek safety and protection!

LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE

The Prophet Isaiah is singing to us this morning. Chapter 26 of his book is a song for Judah...and for us. It’s a reminder of God’s protection and providence. Isaiah writes: “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy door about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment…” Isaiah says “Come”, withdraw from the world. Retire for some very personal communion with your LORD. Leave the public distractions and troubles of the world behind. Don’t stress over what you cannot fix. Isaiah is calling us to withdraw to our “chambers”…our prayer closets…shut the door and hide yourself for some alone time with God.

It's okay to sound a retreat. It’s not cowardly; it’s cautious. A wise man does not tackle what he knows he cannot handle. Consider what we gain by withdrawing from the world in times of crisis.

Retreat for Reflection.

When we withdraw, we make time for Reflection. It’s a chance to perform a spiritual checkup…to set aside our own faulty judgments and opinions, and consider God’s word.

Isaiah says we should enter our ‘chamber’…that place of solemn and sacred meditation, to give ourselves a chance to reflect on our present spiritual condition. Do we fully realize who is in control? Are we making progress as a child of God? Do we realize that time waits for no one, and life is short? Too often, we forget that this life is temporal and short-lived. The shortness of our lifespan should move us to action, not complacency. Our focus should be on eternity. We have a tendency to focus so much on the NOW, that we forget about the LATER.

Reflection is a chance to ask ourselves: Is Jesus pleased with the witness I am bearing and the work I am doing for Him?

We know there is a fight to be fought and a victory to be gained. How is your participation?

We know there is a Cross to be carried and a cost to be considered. How is your sacrificial spirit?

We know there is a goal to be reached and a reward to be gained! How close are you to achieving your goals for Christ?

Reflection is good for the soul. Our bent knees strengthen our broken spirits. Our humble retreat invites the Lord’s soothing balm of grace and mercy. We should seek the Lord’s calm in the midst of our crisis.

Seek His strength in the midst of our turmoil. Seek His Balm in the midst of our battles.

So retreat for reflection. But then…

Retreat for Conversation.

When we withdraw, we make time for a conversation with God…real dialog…not some memorized prayer we were taught in Sunday School. We can’t flourish on expressions of public devotion. Our prayers must be personal.

Nothing nourishes the soul like a private, personal fellowship with God. There is no excuse for the neglect of private Communion with your Creator. I know you’re busy, but what if God was too busy to replenish air and water; too busy to forgive us our trespasses; too busy to protect our present and assure our future?

When we retreat to our secret place, we ought to approach the LORD with a reverent attitude, knowing that He alone is able to meet our every need. We like to sing “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.” But do we stop to realize what a little talk with Jesus will give us? He shows mercy when you are miserable; He showers grace when we are guilty. He gives counsel when we are confused. He bestows blessings on the burdened. But most of all, He offers salvation for the sinner.

Sure, God knows our every need, but there is something powerful in the asking. It’s an affirmation that we believe He has all power in His hands, and He alone can handle every issue we have, whether its… Bread when you’re hungry, Comfort when you’re lonely, Assurance when you’re anxious, Hope when things seem hopeless, Rest when life gets weary, And peace when you are troubled. God offers an open invitation to COME.

We shouldn’t miss a single day to retreat to our chamber and shut the door, to speak to God and allow God to speak to us. If Daniel, with all the cares of Babylon resting on his shoulders, found time to pray three times a day, to converse with God (Daniel 6:10), then we can certainly compel ourselves to make daily room for conversation with our Creator. Isaiah says COME!

Retreat for reflection; retreat for conversation, but then…

Retreat with Expectation.

When we withdraw from the cacophony and discord of this life’s trials, we should allow the Spirit to fuel our expectation. We can try as hard as we can to do things on our own, but there comes a point when we have to admit there are some things we cannot do. And the sooner we admit that the better our relationship will be with the LORD.

Are you a confident Believer? Do you approach the LORD with expectation, knowing that when we are at the end of our rope, we can tie a knot and hang on, because we know that God can handle what we can’t?

Expectation is nothing more than hope. And our hope is in God. And it takes faith.

Heb 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

It’s the anticipation and belief that God can deliver us. But there is something else our expectation does. It breeds an attitude of patient discipline. There’s no sense hurrying God. He’s always on time! We just rest in Him, knowing that His mercy is everlasting, and

His truth never changes.

His goodness never declines.

His wisdom never varies.

His promises never fail.

His presence never departs.

His supply never shrinks.

His faithfulness never fluctuates.

His power never weakens.

His authority never wanes.

His mercy never lacks.

His Glory never diminishes, And His forgiveness never runs out.

When life attacks on the left and the right, Isaiah says, retreat to your prayer closet; humbly enter into the presence of God with expectation, because it’s the MEEK who inherit from the Lord.

Remember this too. God may defend you by what He does FOR you, but He can also defend you by what He does WITH you and THROUGH you. His power can bestow on us a spirit of wisdom and good counsel, so that we will be wise and prudent in the wake of our trials. It was David who said, ”The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way.” (Psalm 25:9).

When the pressures of this life are weighing you down, whether personal or public, neighborhood or national, great or small, heed the words of Isaiah and hide thyself in the Lord!

Let me hide, Lord… From those who doubt your existence.

Let me hide, Lord… From those who challenge your character.

Let me hide, Lord… From those who deny your authority.

Let me hide, Lord… From those who question your integrity.

Let me hide, Lord… From those who denounce your Word.

Let me hide, Lord… From those who rationalize your wisdom.

Let me hide, Lord… Let me hide myself in Thee!