Tag: shelter

God’s Protection

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91 (NIV)

A favorite song of many is “On Eagle’s Wings” written by Michael Joncas in the 1970s. The song was even mentioned in a speech which Joe Biden gave on November 7, 2020. This song is included in many funeral services but can also be heard in other worship services as well. Many of the lyrics of the song find their origins in a much older song which we know as Psalm 91. 

Reading Psalm 91 today, you may have found yourself humming or singing Joncas’s song. The words bring comfort and reassurance to us.They also point us toward a future where fear and battle is removed. The pain and suffering of our present time is taken away by our Lord. Scripture is filled with the now, but not yet, juxtaposition. This psalm promises the shelter of the Lord. The protection cited here presents an image of no harm or pain. The psalmist writes of angels preventing danger or injury. 

God extends this promise to all who love and turn to God. However, we know that even today there are those who love the Lord and turn to God for help who suffer, are injured, and die. Now, but not yet.

It is also very important to keep in mind the priorities of the Lord. While God values and sustains life of all creation, the physical life of a human is secondary to the spiritual life of the person. The psalmist presents an image of God protecting us physically because that is what is known and experienced. At times, God does protect us physically. The Lord always protects us spiritually when we allow. This makes sense because the physical is temporary while the spiritual is eternal.

Be assured that you live within the protection of the One who you love and who loves you. Be also assured that the Lord will lift you up as on eagle’s wings.

Our Shelter

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

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46 (NIV)

Anyone who lives in the areas of our country which regularly experience tornadoes, knows the importance of having a strong shelter when a tornado approaches. The unusual results of a tornado passing through an area shows the power and unexplainable damage which a tornado has the potential to do. Shelter is important in other times of natural disaster as well.

The psalm for today declares the truth of God being a shelter, or refuge, for us when trouble enters our lives. Images of natural disasters are presented as representatives of life’s troubles. The psalmist points out that where God dwells there is protection, nothing can withstand the power of God. Even wars and the instruments of war are subdued by God. So we can silence our fears and relax in the knowledge that God is THE God.

There are many situations in life that can devastate us. Our fears come from experiences which we have had and others which we have witnessed. At times, our fears can overwhelm us. During these times, the psalmist reminds us to be still. Our first step should be to acknowledge God is God. Then we recall the many times when God has provided shelter and protection. This psalm can be assuring to us that when God resides in our lives, we have the guarantee of God’s protective power which can overcome anything in life.

Kingdom Seed

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Mark 4:30-34 (NIV)

Have you seen one of those cartoons in which a character takes a small snowball and sends it down a snow-covered hill? As the snowball moves down the hill, it gathers snow and momentum, enlarging in size. Usually the enlarged snowball picks up other characters and items along the way. The scene often ends with the huge snowball smashing into something at the bottom of the hill which sends the accumulated characters and debris flying through the air. The increase in size, momentum, and accumulation is the image which I place before you today.

Our passage from the Gospel according to Mark presents a scene in which Jesus is teaching one of the crowds. Here Jesus is providing imagery in an attempt to help the people understand what the Kingdom of God is like. A mustard seed is the object Jesus brings to their minds. He points out that it is one of the smallest seeds in creation. Once the seed is planted and grows, it becomes a plant large enough for birds to rest in for shade from the heat.

When we consider this imagery in relation to God’s Kingdom, we can imagine the planting of a small seed in the lives of individuals. After planting, the seed grows and becomes stronger. Momentum builds in the growing process. The size increases as it gathers from around it. Eventually it becomes a haven and a place of rest for others. 

This imagery places each of us in three distinct roles within God’s Kingdom. First, we are the ones who receive the starting Kingdom seed. The seed is planted in our lives where we nurture it and encourage it to grow. Second, we become the planters of the seed. We bring it into the lives of others and introduce them to our Lord’s Kingdom. Third, as the Kingdom expands and enlarges, we become like the birds and find shelter from the heat of life within the Kingdom. The momentum of God’s Kingdom increases in our world.

Shelter

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27 (NIV)

The winter months remind us how fortunate we are to have houses in which we live. The winds and elements can be brutal this time of year. Our houses provide protection from whatever the weather may be like, not only in winter but throughout the entire year. The house in which we dwell also offers a sense of safety for us. We have less to fear from those who wish to do us physical harm or attempt to steal our belongings when we are secure inside our house. For those who do not have a house, they are susceptible to the ravishing weather extremes or those who would bring harm upon them. Fear is a constant part of their lives.

The psalm for today speaks of the protection which is found in the Lord. In reading this psalm, one can understand the desire and request made in verse 4, a request to live in the shelter (house) of the Lord throughout life. The reason for such a request is the knowledge that with the Lord is protection. Being with the Land also presents the opportunity to learn the correct way to live and remain safe.

The house, apartment, condominium in which we dwell provides protection for our physical selves. Living in the shelter of the Lord provides protection for our spiritual being. Like the psalmist we are led to give thanks and have confidence in what the Lord  has provided for us both physically and spiritually. We must also be mindful of those who, for whatever reasons, do not have access to these two forms of shelter. Wherever, and however, we maybbe able to increase access, our mission should be to make it so.

Be grateful for the shelter of the Lord and work to increase access for all people.