Always available
Always available
“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go; …”
Psalm 71 v 3
Want to get away from it all? Want to escape the stresses of modern life? Want to find a safe place in a troubled world?
The idea of a SAFE HAVEN – a place to run to in times of trouble – is common in the Psalms. Perhaps the most notable reference is:
Proverbs 18 v 10
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
But the idea is very common in scripture – and always the attention of the reader or the worshipper is drawn to the LORD Himself who is a constant refuge for His people. For, whatever our circumstances He offers the only constantly available place of safety – he is “ALWAYS AVAILABLE”
“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go…”
This Psalm might be called the “Asylum Seeker’s Psalm” – for certainly in its opening verses that is the prevailing theme.
(Someone has suggested that this is peculiarly a Psalm of an old man. He reflects on his life – and gathers together in a haphazard manner references to his past, and quotations from other psalms.)
But, as I look at theses verses I am also struck by another feature of the writing: see the several references to age:
v6 from my birth
v5 & 17 since my youth
v9 when I am old
v18 even when I am old and grey
The Psalmist surveys his life and concludes in verse 14: “as for me I shall ALWAYS have hope…”
I notice too that the Psalmist refers to several different situations:
1,2 in need of salvation
7, 10a when despised
10-13 when accused
20,21 in trouble and bitterness
And finally I see that his time scale is not only in years but in days – he uses the phrase several times:
8, 15 and 24 all day long
AS A CHILD I came to know the Saviour. Then He quietened my early fears and gave me security
AS A YOUTH He gave me purpose and direction – and taught me to recognise the dangers of temptation
AS A YOUNG MAN He called me into His service – and gave me a specific ministry
AS AN OLDER MAN He has redirected my life and broadened my horizons
AS I GET OLDER AND GREYER He surprises me with His faithfulness and with new views of His service
He is :
“my rock of refuge to which I can always go…”
And so I recommend Him to you this morning – whatever your age or situation, in a troubled world we have a REFUGE who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
In all ages
In all circumstances
All day long
In all ages verses 6,5+17,9 and 18
v6 from my birth
v5 & 17 since my youth
v9 when I am old
v18 even when I am old and grey
It is the psalmist’s testimony – and ours as well, that the Lord’s power is applicable at all ages.
5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From my birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and grey,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
From the supreme trauma of birth – to the “old and grey” each age has it’s own peculiar problems and God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE to each of these.
In Church work we often make unnecessary distinctions between the work with children, with youth and with parents and the elderly.
As a general observation I believe that Christians often target the most vulnerable age groups for evangelism – feeling that positive results will be more evident there.
True – more come to faith as young people than the middle-aged and the elderly – but God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE at each stage.
Perhaps you are particularly concerned about children – or teens – or that missing group in so many churches the 30s and 40s.
THE YOUNG are especially precious to us – they have the whole of their life before them – so we must make sure that they know the Christ who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE for them.
YOUTH need so much help with the temptations of a mixed-up world.
YOUNG PARENTS need particular guidance in their responsibilities
The middle aged do seem to have a crisis…
The old and grey increasingly look frailty and decline in the face
For ALL of these MY GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
In all circumstances verses 1,2 7+10 20,21
1,2 in need of salvation
7, 10a when despised
o when accused
20,21 in trouble and bitterness
The “spiritual asylum seeker” looks for a refuge for freedom from attack and hardship and persecution:
1 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
7 I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no-one will rescue him.”
let me never be put to shame 1
rescue me and deliver me 2
I may also be “like a portent to many” 7
I am the subject of ridicule and abuse – the prospect of misunderstanding and a low self image.
My life may have taken a turn in which it is less easy for me to recognise that He who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE is walking beside me.
In times of trouble and bitterness, despair, regret, grief and sorrow
20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honour
and comfort me once again.
In ALL of these circumstances God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE
and the result can be praise and joy
14 But as for me, I shall always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.
19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
and finally ….
All day long 8, 15 24
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendour all day long.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
In this repeated phrase the psalmist reduces the passage of time to a DAILY PERSPECTIVE
and in each case the response is one of PRAISE
He has proved that GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
This is the conclusion of the matter – from a man who looks back over a long life lived in the confidence that God gives
He considers the God who is his REFUGE
and he concludes that he has more cause to PRAISE than to lament
more reason to WITNESS than to WHINE
more reason to SING than to sigh
And his testimony is bang up to date:
17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and grey,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
He reflects on the past – and as he gets older he does this more often – but DAILY he takes stock and concludes that GOD who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE offers him a future whatever his age:
20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honour
and comfort me once again.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
Notice how his closing words are sung to musical accompaniment:
the harp
the lyre
shout
sing
Our GOD is ALWAYS AVAILABLE – take refuge in Him and in Him alone.