Clinging for Refuge – Psalm 91:9-16

A text – Psalm 91:9-16       

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
¹⁰ no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
¹² On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

¹⁴ Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
¹⁵ When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation.

A reflection:

These are somewhat familiar words, heard most often in the Eagle’s Wings hymn. They also show up coming from Satan’s mouth when he tempts Jesus in the wilderness. So we have probably heard these words of promise from God before.

In Verse 9 comes the key word: refuge. All of these wonderful promises will be kept in the midst of conflict and trouble for the person who makes the Lord his or her refuge. What does that mean? It means, in a time of trouble, we turn to God and God alone to protect and care for us. We are running toward God and away from anything else that might promise to save us. And when we get to God, we are not keeping our distance from God out of unsure or timid feelings. We are jumping into God’s lap! Some Bible scholars look at verse 14 and translate the simple word love as cling to! So God is our refuge – we are clinging to God with all our might, the way you’d cling to a tree trunk during a raging flood.

God promises many things to those who cling to God for refuge. If we trust in God’s protection by clinging to God, safety and much more will be given. Have you ever clung to the Lord in this way? Have you ever been without any other source of refuge (or turned your back on such) and just relied upon the Lord? What did it feel like? Were you desperate? The trouble must have been great indeed, and your trust in God to save you must have been equally strong.

God rewards such trust. God takes trust very seriously, because God really wants to be in relationship with us.  Even Jesus will not test God when Satan quotes these words to him during the temptation. But Jesus relies on God when he is on the cross, seeking God’s refuge as he is dying. Jesus clings to God, committing his spirit into God’s care. And God keeps God’s promise. If we cling to the Lord, we will be safe. If only we could remember that.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving us and promising to be a trustworthy refuge when we throw ourselves upon you. Help us to remember that no earthly thing or person can be as trustworthy for us as you can. You keep your promises when we cling to you.  Amen.