God Is Our Refuge

Introduction

This world has often been likened to the sea, ever restless and agitated; liable to storms and tempests, and where myriads have been engulfed and lost forever. The Christian is a spiritual sailor. On this sea he is sailing, and he must cross it before he can reach the haven of eternal rest.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes get weary from the constant battering from the storm. The non-stop pressure of external forces that are always threatening to destroy when there are so few that want to build is overwhelming even to the strongest of believers.

God Knows What We Are Facing

I. Notice What the Text Implies.

Now (refuge implies) danger, (strength) weakness, (life of man) trouble.

Danger

A. Danger.

This is placed frequently before us in the Divine Word; he is in danger from the wicked one, from ungodly men, from evils of his nature. He is a pilgrim, exposed to thieves and robbers; he is a sailor, exposed to pirates; he is a soldier, exposed to hostile foes. Now this danger is the lot of all God’s people, and it is co-existent with the Christian’s life; it is incessant and perpetual danger.

Weakness

B. Weakness.

Now this weakness has been felt and confessed by the most pious and devout; the more grace we possess, the more it will be experienced; a sense of it is indispensable to safety. “When I am weak,” etc. Christ clearly taught it, “Without me,” etc. We find it when,

1. Great duties are to be performed.

2. Great sacrifices to be made.

3. Great temptations to be resisted.

Trouble

C. Trouble.

Man is born to it. Good men have their peculiar ones; “It is through much tribulation,” etc. “Many are the afflictions,” etc.; grace does not exempt the mind under its influences.

Scriptural Affirmations

II. What the Text Affirms.

A. God is our refuge in danger.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower,” etc.; “He is the fortress and garrison”; the haven in time of storm. As a refuge He is all-sufficient; as the walls were round, etc.; “Wall of fire,” etc.; “Who shall harm,” etc.; “If God be for us,” etc.

B. God is our strength in weakness.

p 26 He fortifies the mind; He gives energy and power to the soul; in Him we have ability for all things; “I can do all things,” etc. This is according to His promise. “I will strengthen,” etc.; “He giveth power,” etc.

C. God is our help in trouble.

1. He helps us to bear our troubles.

2. He helps us out of them—delivers us.

3. God is a present help

He sanctifies them unto us, makes them yield real good; “All things,” etc. Now God is a “present help,” help near when we need Him.

Romans 8:20–31 ESV

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Application:

1. Learn the importance of self-renunciation.

2. Constantly depend upon God.

3. How sad the state of the ungodly in the afflictions of life.