37 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
37 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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September 3
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<h1>David Confessing God as His Refuge</h1>
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<div class="block"><i><b>Trust</b> in <b>Him</b> at <b>all times</b>, you people; <b>Pour out</b> your <b>heart</b> before <b>Him</b>; <b>God</b> is a <b>refuge</b> for us…<b>You</b> are <b>my hiding place</b>…You shall <b>surround me</b> with songs of <b>deliverance</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 62, '8-8');">Psalm 62:8</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Psa', 32, 7);">32:7</a>)</div>
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<p>David often <b>confessed God as his refuge</b>. This is another indicator that he typically lived by the <b>grace</b> of God (that is, by trusting <b>God</b> to <b>work</b> on his <b>behalf</b>).</p>
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<p>The need or desire to find a <b>refuge</b> (a place of shelter or protection) is common among mankind. The storms of life can beat down relentlessly. Circumstantially, it can be as though Ezekiel's prophetic warning is being fulfilled toward us. <i>"There will be <b>flooding rain</b>… <b>great hailstones</b>…and a <b>stormy wind</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eze', 13, '11-11');">Ezekiel 13:11</a>). We long for a shelter. At other times, threats and dangers seem to lurk around every corner. Experientially, it can be as though we are reliving the trials of David. <i>"The <b>pangs</b> of death <b>encompassed</b> me, And the <b>floods</b> of ungodliness made me <b>afraid</b>. The <b>sorrows</b> of Sheol <b>surrounded</b> me; The <b>snares</b> of death <b>confronted</b> me"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 18, '4-5');">Psalm 18:4-5</a>). We long for a place of protection. David knew where to turn for refuge when troubles multiplied. <i>"<b>God</b> is our <b>refuge</b> and strength, A <b>very present help</b> in <b>trouble</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 46, '1-1');">Psalm 46:1</a>). Our place of shelter and protection is not a place, but a Person. When troubles come, we can turn to Him. He is <b>totally available</b> to help us (<i>"a <b>very present help</b>"</i>). Whenever we exercise our trust in Him, whenever we pour our heart out to Him in prayer, we can enjoy the Lord as our refuge. <i>"<b>Trust</b> in <b>Him</b> at <b>all times</b>, you people; <b>Pour out</b> your <b>heart</b> before <b>Him</b>; <b>God</b> is a <b>refuge</b> for us."</i></p>
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<p>At other times, we are not looking so much for a refuge (a place of shelter or protection), we are seeking a <b>hiding place</b> (a secret solitude). When this occurs, we easily identify with David's desire to flee. <i>"Oh, that I had wings like a dove! For then I would <b>fly away</b> and <b>be at rest</b>. Indeed, I would <b>wander far off</b>, And <b>remain</b> in the <b>wilderness</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 55, '6-7');">Psalm 55:6-7</a>). Well, God has more good news for us. As David learned, the Lord is willing and able to be that <b>hiding place</b>. <i>"<b>You</b> are <b>my hiding place</b> …You shall <b>surround me</b> with songs of <b>deliverance</b>."</i> Whenever we turn to the Lord and allow Him to encompass us with songs of His delivering power, we can enjoy the Lord as our hiding place. Of course, one practical way to be surrounded by God's <i>"songs of deliverance"</i> is to spend time prayerfully reading in the book of Psalms. They are God's divinely inspired rescue songs.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear God, my refuge, I so often long to be sheltered and protected. I praise You that I can find that by running to You in prayer! Dear Lord, my hiding place, I frequently yearn to flee for a secret solitude. I rejoice that I can find that by allowing You to surround me by Your message of deliverance found in Your word!</div>
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