TRUST IN THE LORD GOD AND NOT IN MAN

Proclamation:

“It is better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in humans.  It is better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in princes.”  Psalm 118:8-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

The name of the human author of this psalm is unknown, however, it is clear that it was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is the last of the “Hallelujah psalms” (Psalms 112 through 118) which was sung during the feasts celebrated by the children of Israel.  This psalm, sandwiched between the shortest psalm (Psalm 117) and the longest psalm (Psalm 119) is thought to be the song which Jesus and the disciples sang when they went out singing after their Passover meal. (Matthew 26:30)  There are a number of take-home points in this psalm but the most important one is that it is better to trust in The Lord than to trust in man.  Mankind rejected Jesus, The Christ, when He walked among them preaching and teaching.  However, that which they rejected was, and is, the most important of all.  “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-23)

Application:

In The Lord God we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  He gave us the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7)  He is our creator, our provider, our protector, and our sustainer.  We should all say as this psalmist said, “You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God and I will exalt You.” (Psalm 118:28)

THE LORD WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS TO GUARD YOU

Proclamation:

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge’ and you make The Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”  Psalm 91:9-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

Bible scholars disagree regarding the human author of this psalm, some attribute it to Moses while others attribute it to King David.  However, it is clear that it is a messianic psalm of life written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  It reveals the perfect place of protection for us, under His wings.  This psalm spells out the protection will provide for us.

Application:

If we want The Lord God to be our refuge and our dwelling place, we need to pray and ask Him for that.  Some things we have not because we ask not. (James 4:2)  He will protect us from all hurt, harm, and danger.  He will command His angels to guard us in our going out and coming in.  He will rescue us because we love Him.  He will protect us because we acknowledge His name.  He will answer us when we call Him and be with us when we are in trouble.  He will also grant us a long life and salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)

LET THE PEOPLE OF GOD REJOICE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE

Proclamation:

“The righteous will rejoice in The Lord and take refuge in Him; all the upright in heart will glory in Him!”  Psalm 64:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This psalm begins with a prayer that God would hear him and preserve him from his enemies.  He spends most of the psalm describing what his enemies would do to him. (Psalm 64:2-6)  Then he focuses on what he wants God to do them. (Psalm 64:7-8)  After the righteous have seen what The Lord God will do to his enemies, they will rejoice and they will trust in Him. (Psalm 64:8-10)

Application:

When others see or hear of the things that The Lord God has done for us, they are encouraged to believe and trust in Him. (Psalm 64:9-10)  That is why we are to witness to the lost so that they might be saved.  No one can tell our story like we can, and no one has had the same experiences that The Lord has brought us through.  When we could not see our way out of some situations, He made a way.  Not only should we be grateful and thankful for who He is and for what He has done, but by sharing it with others and being His witnesses we help with building the kingdom of God. (Isaiah 43:10)

TRUST IN THE LORD GOD AT ALL TIMES

Proclamation:

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty Rock, my refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”  Psalm 62:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This psalm is a song which was intended to be sung during worship services.  The second verse is a stanza, or refrain, that is repeated, verbatim, in the middle of the song. (Psalm 62:6)  “Truly He is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”  David wanted everyone to know that The Rock upon which the church is built is The Rock that provides his safety, shelter, and salvation.  All of the accolades that he received are due to his being blessed by the righteousness and grace of God.  Here he encouraged the people of God to confess and present the desires of their heart, their cares and concerns, and all of their problems to The Lord for He is also their safe haven.

Application:

As believers we are to trust in The Lord God.  We can tell Him everything that is on our mind, things that are troubling us, and all of our wants, wishes, and desires. (Philippians 4:6)  We know that He hears us and He knows our heart. (Luke 5:22)  He knows what we need. (Matthew 6:8)  We are also to wait patiently for Him and expect that He will keep His word. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:34, Psalm 62:1 and 5)  That which He has promised to us, we will receive. (Psalm 62:12) 

WE WANT TO DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

Proclamation:

“For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”  Psalm 61:3-4 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David begins this psalm with a prayer.  He is far from home and feeling overwhelmed.  He asks The Lord God to lead him to a rock that is higher than he is then. (Psalm 61:2)  Some Bible scholars believe that the rock that he is referring to is Christ, The Rock of Israel, The Rock of our salvation, and our refuge.  In the next verse he states that God has been his refuge.  The he states that he longs to dwell in the house of God and take refuge under His wings. (Psalm 61:3 and 4)  He wants to be in the presence of God here and throughout eternity. (Psalm 23:6 and 61:4)

Application:

Being far away from our home and our normal place of worship can cause some feelings of being lost, alone, and depressed.  When we are “down in the dumps” we need God’s help to climb back up on “The Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 89:26 and 95:1)  Even though we know that The Lord God is always with us, there are times when we feel like we have fallen down and lost the joy of our salvation and we need God’s help to restore that joy. (Psalm 51:12)  We want to enjoy the presence of God now and throughout eternity.

YOU ARE MY STRENGTH MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS

Proclamation:

“But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.  You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.”  Psalm 59:16-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  The title of this psalm states that it was written when King Saul had sent messengers to watch David’s house and to kill him when he rose in the morning. (1 Samuel 19:11)  David began this psalm asking The Lord God to deliver him from his enemies who wanted to kill him even though he had not done anything to them. (Psalm 59:1-4)  He knew that he could count on The Lord to be his strength and to protect him. (Psalm 59:9-10 and 16-17)  He was willing to publicly sing praises unto The Lord.

Application:

As believers we know that the little strength that we have comes from The Lord God who has all power. (Matthew 28:18)  We are blessed to receive the mercy of God each morning that we wake up.  It is by His goodness and loving kindness that we were protected from all hurt, harm, and danger while we slept.  Our enemies, known and unknown, were kept away from us.  We should praise and thank Him for allowing us to get a peaceful night’s sleep during these troublesome times.  We should put our faith and trust in Him because He is the only one that we can truly rely and count on in times of trouble. (Psalm 118:8-9)

HAVE MERCY ON ME MY LORD

Proclamation:

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in You I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed.”  Psalm 57:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  When he is in the midst of trouble, David prays to The Lord God for help, protection, and deliverance. (Psalm 57:4)  He knows that The Most High God will hear him, vindicate him, and rebuke those who pursue him. (Psalm 57:2-3)  This psalm is a song and he repeats a stanza, or refrain, in the middle and at the end of it.  “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth.” (Psalm 57:5 and 11)  David’s faith and trust in God is steadfast, fixed, and unshakable. (Psalm 57:7)  He states that he will praise The Lord in the congregation of believers and in public for the whole world to see and hear. (Psalm 57:9)

Application:

When we say, “Lord, have mercy” we need to remember that it is not just some cute, catchy phrase, we are actually praying to The Lord God.  We are appealing to His goodness and kindness to withhold the punishment that we deserve, to deliver us from the pain and suffering that we endure, or to protect us from hurt, harm, and danger.  Like a mother hen protects her chicks, we seek the protection, refuge, and safety under His wings from whatever calamity, situation, or circumstance we face.  Because we are the children of God we know that He will protect us. (John 1:12 and Galatians 3:26)  We should praise Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do, because He is worthy to be praised.

GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

Proclamation:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear …”  Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm was written as a song, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, by an unknown human author for the sons of Korah to sing.  This unknown psalmist knew that The Lord God provided a place of safety for believers and that He is the source of their strength, their physical strength and their spiritual strength.  He is always with them in times of trouble.  For that reason they have no cause to fear anything, regardless of what is going on around them. (Psalm 46:2-3)

Application:

As believers we know that The Lord God said that He would never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  He is a place of refuge in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9)  He is the source of our strength. (2 Samuel 22:33, Psalm 18:2 and 32, Psalm 59:9 and 17, Psalm 62:7, Psalm 118:14, and Isaiah 12:2)  The Lord God said fear not for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)  If God is with us, then who or what can stand against us. (Romans 8:31)  Even when the things that are normally stable, like the ground, become unstable, like during earthquakes, there is still stability in God. (Psalm 46:2-3)  “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:7 and 11)  Let us praise and exalt The Lord God.

BLESSED ARE ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.  Serve The Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling.  Kiss His Son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment.  Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”  Psalm 2:10-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

The human author of this psalm is unknown but it was clearly written under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God.  The author may have been King David as he is said to have spoken the words in verses one and two of this psalm. (Acts 4:25)  This psalm also serves as an introduction to the psalms.  Whereas psalm 1 refers to “two different ways” for individuals to respond to The Lord, psalm 2 follows it with an application to nations and their leaders.  It begins with human rebellion, (Psalm 2:1-3) followed by God’s reaction (Psalm 2:4-6) and His divine decree. (Psalm 2:7-9)  It ends with a statement of individual human responsibility.  The leaders of all nations are warned that all of the people must serve, worship, and submit to The Lord or they will incur His wrath.  Those who put their trust in Him will be blessed. (Psalm 2:10-12)  Those who don’t will be destroyed.

Application:

The Lord God is the sovereign ruler of all and we are instructed to obey His commands.  The message to us is that those who do not obey Him will perish. (Psalm 1:6 and Psalm 2:12)  This psalm deals with the triumph of The Messiah and His rule over all.  It offers us a warning that all those who oppose Him will be broken into pieces like fragile pottery. (Psalm 2:9)  Only those of us who trust in The Lord will find refuge, peace, and a safe haven in Him.  Blessed are all of those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2:12)

GOD IS OUR PROTECTION IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

Proclamation:

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You."  Psalms 9:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired Words of God were written by King David to encourage the people of God during times of trouble.  David began this psalm with praise to God for delivering him from his enemies. (Psalms 9:1-6)  He knew that judgment was coming to the world (Psalms 9:7-8) and he also knew that the people of God would be protected.  The Lord God would never forsake those believers who trust in Him and who follow His Word.

Application:

When we are in the midst of one of life's storms, we can always seek and find refuge in The Lord.  He will always shelter and protect believers in times of trouble. (Psalms 61:3)  He can protect us from our enemies. (Psalms 143:9)  He is our stronghold.  He puts a hedge of protection around us, and around our families because of us. (Job 1:10)  He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  The Lord God is always present, and He is always there to help us in times of trouble. (Psalms 46:1)  All we have to do is to believe.

DON'T BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING

Proclamation:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear ..."  Psalms 46:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were recorded by the Sons of Korah under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  It is a song which was sung by the people of God to remind them that He is powerful and merciful in defending His believers.  Therefore, they have no need to be overcome with fear.

Application:
There is no need for believers to be afraid of anything.  The Lord God will strengthen us when we are weak.  He will hid and shield us when we need protection.  He will help us when we are in trouble.  If God is for us, then who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31)  So, what do we have to be afraid of?  This Psalm gives us the assurance and unshakable confidence that we are secure in God, no matter what happens to us, or around us. There is no need for us to be afraid of anything or anyone.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  When the storms of life come, God is our "bridge over troubled waters", and He is our “shelter in the time of storm."

GOD IS

Proclamation:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm is a psalm of the sons of Korah.  It is a song which proclaims some of the attributes of God, His abilities, and His power over nature.  He is all powerful (omnipotent, Matthew 19:26), all knowing (omniscient, Ephesians 3:10), and is everywhere at the same time. (omni-present, Jeremiah 23:24)  God can do for us things which we cannot do on our own or for ourselves. (Genesis 18:14) 

Application:

When we are in trouble and need help, it is God who helps us, protects us, and gives us the strength that we need to go on and continue.  We are secure during the storms of life because God is our mighty fortress.  The song “God Is” says, "God is my protection ... God is my guide and direction ... God is my joy in the time of sorrow … God is my hope for today and all my tomorrows … God is my all in all.  God is the joy and the strength of my life; He moves all pain, misery, and strife.  He promised to keep me, never to leave me.  He’s never ever come short of His word … I want to go with Him when He comes back, I’ve come too far and I’ll never turn back.  God is … God is… God is my all in all.”  He is our every thing and He is all that we need.

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH

Proclamation:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalms 46:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were recorded under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God by the Sons of Korah.  The purpose of this psalm was, and is, to inform believers that The Lord God is always present, in good times and bad.  He is our shelter and our protection, and it is with His strength that we can continue on our journey.  When we get in trouble He is always there to help us.

Application:

As believers we know that God is our refuge, our hiding place (Psalms 32:7 and Psalms 119:114), our fortress (2 Samuel 22:2, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 31:3, Psalms 91:2, and Psalms 144:2), and our strong tower. (Psalms 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10)  It is said that in order to protect us He hides us under His wings. (Psalms 17:8, Psalms 36:7 and Psalms 91:4)  It is by His strength that we carry on and continue. (1 Chronicles 16:11, 1 Chronicles 16:27, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 29:11, and Psalms 59:9)  He need not give us the strength to fight our enemies, for that battle is His. (2 Chronicles 20:15)  We just need to put on the whole armor of God and stand against evil. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  When trouble comes, God is the only one we should turn to.  He has to power to handle any situation and to help us through any circumstance.  God is our refuge and our strength.

God Is Our Refuge And Strength

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalms 46:1 (NIV)

The words of this psalm were recorded under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God by the Sons of Korah.  The purpose of this psalm was, and is, to inform believers that The Lord God is always present, in good times and bad.  He is our shelter and our protection, and it is with His strength that we can continue to go on.

Believers know that God is our refuge, our hiding place (Psalms 32:7 and Psalms 119:114), our fortress (2 Samuel 22:2, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 31:3, Psalms 91:2, and Psalms 144:2), and our strong tower. (Psalms 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10)  It is said that in order to protect us He hides us under His wings. (Psalms 17:8, Psalms 36:7 and Psalms 91:4)  It is by His strength that we carry on and continue. (1 Chronicles 16:11, 1 Chronicles 16:27, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 29:11, and Psalms 59:9)  He need not give us the strength to fight our enemies, for that battle is His. (2 Chronicles 20:15)  We just need to put on the whole armor of God and stand against evil. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  When trouble comes, God is the only one to go to.

Thank The Lord And Praise Him

"In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge...deliver me in Your righteousness...Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.  Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge.  Into Your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, The God of truth...I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul...Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.  My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak...I have become like broken pottery...But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.'  My times are in Your hands...Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love...How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You... Praise be to The LORD, for He showed His wonderful love to me...You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help.  Love The LORD, all His saints!  The LORD preserves the faithful...Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in The LORD."  Psalms 31:1-24 (NIV)

This psalm of King David is a song of encouragement.  In it he acknowledges who God is, and what He has done for him.  Then he praises God and exhorts all of the saints of God to love and praise The Lord also.

David acknowledged that he was in trouble, he called upon the name of The Lord to ask for mercy, and God saved him.  Believers know that what ever the situation, God is the solution; what ever the affliction, God is the answer; what ever the distress, God is the deliverer; and what ever the condition, God is the comforter.

God Is Protection In Times Of Trouble

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You."  Psalms 9:9-10 (NIV)

This is The Holy Spirit inspired Word of God which was written by King David to encourage the people of God during times of trouble.  He begins this psalm with praise to God for delivering him from his enemies. (Psalms 9:1-6)  He knows that judgment is coming to the world, (Psalms 9:7-8), but the people of God will be protected.  The Lord God has never forsaken those believers who trust in Him and who follow His Word.

When we are in the midst of one of life's storms, we can always seek and find refuge in The Lord.  He will always shelter and protect believers in times of trouble. (Psalms 61:3)  He can protect us from our enemies. (Psalms 143:9)  He is our stronghold.  He puts a hedge of protection around us, and around our families because of us. (Job 1:10)  He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  The Lord God is always present, and He is always there to help us in times of trouble. (Psalms 46:1)

 

God Is Our Refuge And Our Protection

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  Psalms 18:2 (NIV)

This psalm is a song of King David.  In this verse, He is taking comfort in and expressing the fact that The Lord God is the source of his strength, his hiding place, and the source of his protection.  This is part of his justification for his love for The Lord. (Psalms 18:1)  It is also why he says that The Lord God is worthy of praise, because He has saved him from trouble. (Psalms 18:3)

We know that our strength comes from The Lord. (Exodus 15:2, Psalms 27:1, Psalms 28:7, Psalms 37:39, Psalms 118:14, and Isaiah 12:2)  We also know that The Lord God is the source of our protection. (Deuteronomy 33:27, 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalms 9:9, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 57:1, Psalms 59:16, Psalms 62:7, Isaiah 25:4, and Jeremiah 16:19)  As He was in the past, He is now, and always will be. (1 Kings 8:57)  He did it for them and He can do it for us.  
When God is our foundation, we are on solid ground and unshakable.  When He is our protection, we are safe for all hurt, harm, and danger. (Psalms 91:4)  There is no safer place, and there is no place that we would rather be. (John 10:28-29)  We can take comfort in knowing that we are safe in God. (Psalms 46:1)

God Is Our Refuge Strength And Help

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalms 46:1 (NIV)

This is one of the psalms, author unknown, that was a song which was sung by the people as a statement of fact, and as a reminder to themselves that God was their safe hiding place and the source of their strength.  He was always with them and He helped them whenever they were in trouble. The remainder of this psalm provided them with examples of some of the things that God protected them from, and that was followed by examples of God being with them.

The Lord God provides believers with protection from the attacks of man, the attacks of nations, and the things and acts of nature.  We have no need to fear earthquakes, floods, storms, fires, or the acts of war or evil men. (Psalms 46:2-3)  God is our refuge.  It is through His strength that we are able to function. (Psalms 28:8 and Psalms 29:11)  Because He is God, He is omni-present, He is every where all at the same time. (Proverbs 15:3)  It is He who helps and protects His people when we are in trouble. (Psalms 37:40)  When we need His help, all we have to do is ask for it.  Long prayers are not required, it is sufficient just to say, "Lord, have mercy on me."  We have not, because we ask not. (John 14:13 and  John 16:24)