Friday, October 24, 2014

God's Everlasting Arms

A Study in the Psalms: Psalm 9

My focus today in this Psalm will be in verses 7-9.

                               The Lord reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment. 
                               He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples 
                              with justice. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in 
                              times of trouble. 

In the midst of all the chaos and evil things happening in our world, it's comforting to know that God is still on the throne.  He reigns forever.  He is still in control. There has never been a moment that He stepped away and relinquished control.  There is day coming when all this evil and sin will be judged.    (Romans 2:52 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15) In the meantime, I can run to God, who is my refuge in times of trouble.

David would hide in cliffs and caves when he was being chased by his enemies, so I think that may have been what he was visualizing when he wrote the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed. I can run to Him for His protection and strength.

Psalm 32:7

                               You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and 
                               surround me with songs of deliverance. 

Psalm 37:39-40

                              The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their 
                              stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers 
                             them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because 
                             they take refuge in Him.

Psalm 46:1-2 (probably the most familiar)

                            God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 
                            Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the 
                            mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar 
                            and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Deuteronomy 33:26-27a (Moses spoke this blessing over the Israelites before He died.)

                            There is no one like God of Jeshurun [Israel], who rides on the 
                            heavens to help you and on the clouds in His majesty. The eternal 
                            God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

I love the visual this verse provides of resting in the arms of God.  As one of the verses in Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, goes, What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms?

No matter what is happening to me or around me, I can rest in my Father's strong and loving arms knowing that He loves me and is watching out for me.








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