By Rex Herndon
“The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: And He shall thrust out the enemy before thee; and shall say, and ‘Destroy them,’ “ (Deuteronomy 33:27).
In the darkness of the early morning hours, I was suddenly awakened with the words of the wonderful song, “Sheltered In The Arms of God,” running through my mind.
Inspired by The Holy Spirit, Dottie Rambo penned words beautifully descriptive of the assurance and security believers know, when facing the perils and pitfalls of life.
She wrote, “So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise; they don’t worry me, for I’m sheltered in the Arms of God. He walks with me and naught of earth shall harm me, for I’m sheltered in the Arms of God.”
In the quietness of that pre-dawn morning, my mind became focused on the rich heritage and deeply impactful benefits of a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance God’s promise of His Presence and Power given to Joshua, as he succeeded Moses, in the daunting task of leading the Children of Israel on their often tumultuous journey to the Promised Land.
Seeking to mitigate any uncertainty, Joshua may have about the future, that included, the perils of the journey, and the attack of their enemies, God penetrates the darkness of doubt, and trepidation with the promise of His never failing, Presence, Provision and Power.
Speaking to Joshua, whose faith was being challenged, He says, “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” Joshua 1:9)
When reflecting on the crisis of confidence overshadowing Joshua and Israel, at a critical time in their history, and understanding their need for God’s promise, I was reminded, how, we, like these weary travelers often face the turmoil of troubling times, and the threat of adverse winds, that swirl menacingly about us.
It is in those moments, we, desperately need the promise of strength from the, Holy Spirit, Who, is our, ‘Comforter,’ and words of assurance that only come from God.
Such comfort and assurance is ours when, we exercise our faith and step away from the demands of life, turning our mind from the debilitating forces of doubt and fear, and entering unencumbered into the solitude and sanctity of God’s Holy Presence, where, He reveals His Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence to us.
In her wonderful hymn, Fanny Crosby, wrote, “O the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy Throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend.” (Draw Me Near: pub. dom).
Such was the case, as I waited on the Lord, in the early hours of a new day, apart from the demands and cares of everyday life. The Holy Spirit reminded me again, of the blessings given to those who, “Dwell in the secret place of the Most High”….”Under the Shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)
Flowing into my mind and spiritual consciousness, came words that brought, “The Peace of God that passeth all understanding,”(Philippians 4:7), and, “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.”(1Peter 1:8)
In the solitude of worship, these words came to me. “In the Sanctity of His Presence, there is Peace! In the Surety of His Love, there is Comfort! In the Security of His Wisdom, there is Confidence! In the Shelter of His Power there is Strength! In the Stability of His Promise, there is Hope!
Through the years, believers have been heard singing, “Under His Wings I am safely abiding; Though the night deepens and tempests are wild, Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me; He has redeemed me, I am His child.” (Under Is Wings: William Cushing: pub domain).
Such assurance is a treasure, the value of which far exceeds anything the world has to offer!
It is important, we remember: as did David, “My help cometh from the Lord that made heaven and earth.”(Psalm 121:2)
(1) The foundation of our faith and the source of our unshakable confidence is solely based on: Our Relationship with God Through Jesus Christ.
The Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (John 1:12)
A truth, around which we can scarcely wrap our mind is, we, who have been reconciled to God through the Blood of Jesus Christ, are now the sons and daughters of God. We have experienced a spiritual rebirth and have been grafted into the family of God.
I ask you to pause for a moment and think of the nearly unfathomable truth, that He, “Who hath mmeasured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance,” (Isaiah 40:12)…….That One, is our Father!
Reading and understanding that, glorious truth, my response is like that of the Psalmist, who when, a great truth was revealed to him, would exclaim,“Selah!” A Hebrew term meaning, “Pause and Reflect.”
If we “Pause and Reflect,” on our relationship with God and the benefits of being in the Family of God, it will give us a sense of personal value; a feeling of belonging, and the assurance of a bright future, far exceeding that which is found in earthly relationships.
It is understood; at creation, we became a part of the family of man, but, the glorious distinctive of the believer is, as a result of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, and our, ‘new birth’ at salvation, we have been given a new identity and heritage. We are now, “The sons of God.” “Selah!!”
As, the Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians, we are now, “No more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,” (Ephesians 2:19).
To the Romans, He writes, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father,”(Romans 8:14-15).
Gentle, Harriet Buell, wrote with insight about our relationship to God, declaring, “I am A Child of the King, A Child of the King: With Jesus my Savior, I am, A Child of the King!”
We, who are in Christ are immeasurably blessed! We don’t just know about God, or simply know Him as a friend. Paul says, we now have an intimate relationship with Him. We may now refer to Him as, “Abba Father!”
The term, “Abba,” is an Aramaic term describing a a relationship in which there is deep affection, confidence and trust; an intimate parental relationship comparable to that of a father and his child.
When we pray, “Our Father, Who art in heaven,” those words should take on greater significance and a more personal meaning, because, we are speaking reverently to God, as His child.
It was after learning I was a Pastor, a gentleman once sarcastically ask me, “Who do you think you are?” Without hesitation, I answered, not with a spirit of arrogance, but with humble gratitude and confidence. “I don’t think….I know who I am! I am a son of God….A Child of the King!”
Startled, at my response, he quickly walked away, and I, turning my eyes upward to heaven, gave thanks for my relationship to my Heavenly Father.
Suddenly, a warm glow of the Spirit filled my heart and mind, as I recognized, my salvation and my identity as a “Child of the King,” is beyond the commonality of man and far above this world. “It is a gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8).
God has a word for you today. When the enemy comes, with the deceptive and the degrading argument, you have no value in the economy of God. “You are nothing but a grain of sand on the beach of humanity; an orphan in the universe struggling to survive; a body waiting to become dust; God has absolutely no interest in you personally!
At that moment, you must, resist, those denizens who rise from the deep by standing on the Word of God, and speak with commanding authority, “Satan! Get thee behind me!” In that moment, “Resist the devil!” And the Bible says, “He will flee from you!”( James 4:7)
You have the power in the Name of Jesus! God tells us in His Word, “Behold, I give thee authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy,” (Luke 10:19).
Paul, inspired by God, writes, “We are more than conquers through Him that loved us!” (Romans 8:37).
I often remember the words of the alma mater of our High School in, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, “Forward ever be our watchword! Conquer and Prevail!” That, should be our determination when facing the forces of hell! “Conquer and Prevail!”
God is deeply interested in us, and lovingly engaged in the details of our life. He is our Father! We are a “Chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,” (1Peter 2:9)!
The song writer so beautifully said, “I once was an outcast stranger on earth, a sinner by choice, and an alien by birth, but I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down, An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown…I Am a Child of the King! A Child of the King!”
May we hear the Blessed Assurance given by God to His Children.
(2) The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are His everlasting arms.”
The promise of security and strength is ours without question! It is indisputable! But, it also recognizes the perils and pitfalls we will inevitably face in life.
There are those who assert, when you become a Christian, you are then exempt from the upheavals and turmoil of life. Their appeal is, “Come to Christ and all your troubles are over.”
That of course, is in conflict with what the Bible teaches. In (John 16:33), Jesus, speaking to His disciples said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation.” But he goes on to say, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
David writing in the seclusion of the Cave of Adullam, where he had been driven by Abimlech, acknowledges the reality of suffering, saying, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” But, he is also quick to remind us, “The Lord delivers him from them all,”(Psalm 34:19).
Yes, we will experience trials in life, but never alone! God, in the Person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is with us, giving strength and guidance!
Charles Albert Tindley, the Godly, African American Pastor and son of a slave, wrote a wonderful song, first published in 1905, the words of which are a prayer asking God to be with us as we face the trials and turmoil of life. He wrote: “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me; When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea, Thou Who rulest wind and water, stand by me.
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me; When the host of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail; Thou Who. never lost a battle; stand by me.” (Stand By Me:Pub. domain).
Turning again, to the Psalmist for encouragement, we hear him say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea….The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge,”(Psalm 46:1, 2&7).
As believers, it is unrealistic to expect our life will be free from trials and tribulations. BUT, what we may expect is, that in the midst of those trials, we will discover, “The Eternal God is (our) refuge, and underneath are His everlasting arms.”
In the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, we are given this assurance, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord Who has compassion on you,”(Isaiah 54:10 NIV).
“So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise, they don’t worry me; for I’m sheltered in the Arms of God. He walks with me and naught of earth can harm me; for i’m sheltered in the arms of God.”
(3) Finally, the word, “Eternal” in the text arrested my attention. God declared, “The ‘Eternal’ God is thy refuge.”
That God is, “Our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” is irrefutable and beyond question, because, our God is, “Eternal.”
He is today, what He was at Creation! He is, at this moment, the same God Who, rolled back the waters of the Red Sea, rained bread from heaven and shook the walls of Jericho to the ground! Our God, Is the same God Who, shut the mouth of lions, and “Turned to flight the armies of aliens,” (Hebrews 11:34).
He said, “I am the Lord, I change not,”(Malachi 3:6).
Listen, and be encouraged. Time has done nothing to hide His Face or erode His Power. He said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not,” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Our world today, is aflame with the fires of hate, anger and despair. Our nation is caught up in social, political and economic upheaval and uncertainty. Only God knows the future. But we hear Him say, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness,” (Isaiah:41:10).
The hymn from generations past, offers this assurance. “We know not what tomorrow hides, of sun, or storm, or good or ill; We only know His dear Hand guides, and He will be our Father still,” (God Holds The Future: James Rowe: pub. domain.).
As I close my remarks, permit me again to share those words the Holy Spirit gave me in the early morning hours. “In the Sanctity of His Presence, there is Peace! In the Surety of His Love, there is Comfort! In the Security of His Wisdom, there is Confidence! In the Shelter of His Power, there is Strength! In the Stability of His Promise, there is a Blessed Hope!
“The Eternal God is thy Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Amen!!
The Shepherd's Staff 