Tags
I will praise Him!
Be still before the LORD — photo by David Kitz
Dwelling in Safety
05 Sunday Aug 2018
Posted in Bible, God's word, Psalm 4, Psalms
Tag Archives: safety
Fearing God—Is it a Good Thing?
10 Wednesday Jan 2018
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 76, Psalms
Tags
commands, fear, fear of God, fearing God, forgiveness, Jesus, judgment, love, obedience, relationship with God, safety, the LORD, wisdom
Reading: Psalm 76
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.
His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.
You are radiant with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot lie still.
It is you alone who are to be feared.
Who can stand before you when you are angry?
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared and was quiet—
when you, God, rose up to judge,
to save all the afflicted of the land.
Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth (NIV).
Reflection
Has the church abandoned the fear of God? Has our messaging focussed so exclusively on the God of love and forgiveness that the very idea of cringing in fear before God is a completely foreign to us? In more general terms is fear a bad thing—an emotion we should always avoid? Is there something wrong with our relationship with God if we fear Him?
You are radiant with light (Psalm 76:4) — photo by David Kitz
First we need to acknowledge that fear can have both good and bad consequences. A healthy fear of a sharp blade will keep me from sticking my hands under the deck of a running lawn mower. There is wisdom and there is safety in that kind of fear. But the constant fear of a violent, abusive spouse can be devastating to a person’s health and happiness. In brief, fear is essential for self-preservation, but too much of it has terrible consequences. It has a crippling effect by producing paralysis of the human spirit.
A complete lack of fear can have terrible consequences too. I still have both my hands because of a healthy fear of whirling blades. We all need a healthy fear of God. The psalmist states, “It is you alone who are to be feared.”
Jesus essentially said the same thing. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Response: LORD God, you are the One I need to fear. Give me a healthy dose of fear. I want to love and fear you, so that I will walk in full obedience to your commands. Amen.
Your Turn: Is there a place for both love and healthy fear in your relationship with God?
My Fortress
17 Friday Nov 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 59, Psalms
Tags
blood of Christ, David, defender, deliverance, demonic attack, enemies, fortress, God, mercy, safety, Saul, Statue of Liberty, the devil, the LORD
Reading: Psalm 59
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.
(Verses 1-10)
Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from those who are after my blood.
See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, LORD.
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
You, LORD God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.
They return at evening,
snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.
See what they spew from their mouths—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,
and they think, “Who can hear us?”
But you laugh at them, LORD; you scoff at all those nations.
You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely (NIV).
Reflection
The back story to Psalm 59 is an episode of high drama, betrayal and treachery. Despite winning several battles as a loyal warrior for King Saul, in a fit of jealous rage Saul attempted to kill David by pinning him to a wall with his spear. David fled to his home, but his wife, Michal warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed” (1 Samuel 19:11).
The Statue of Liberty — photo by David Kitz
David made good his escape, while Michal put an idol in his bed to deceive the men who were sent to kill David. Undoubtedly, this deception bought David some precious time as he fled. It is within this context that David makes this double plea for deliverance, “Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me. Deliver me from evildoers and save me from those who are after my blood.”
Saul’s murderous attack was demonically inspired. See 1 Samuel 19:9. Christian believers today should not assume they are immune from demonic attack. Peter gives us this warning, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Fortunately, we have a fortress. God is that secure fortress to whom we can flee in our time of need. Hallelujah!
Response: LORD God, when I am under attack, you are my help and defender. I run to you. Surround me and protect me by the blood of Christ. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you need the safety of God your fortress today?
Surely He Will Save You
05 Saturday Aug 2017
Tags
faithfulness, faithfulness of God, God saves, plague, protection, refuge, safety, salvation, save
I will praise Him!
You will find refuge — photo by David Kitz
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
(Psalm 91:3-7, NIV)
The Rock where I am safe
24 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
If you love me
17 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
Tags
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
The Lord says,
“If you love me
and truly know who I am,
I will rescue you
and keep you safe.”
(Psalm 91:14, CEV)
Your Fortress
16 Saturday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm
Mackenzie King Estate, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz
The LORD Most High
is your fortress.
Run to him for safety,
and no terrible disasters
will strike you
or your home.
(Psalm 91:9-10, CEV)
Run to Him for Safety
17 Tuesday May 2016
Posted in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth
The LORD Most High is your fortress.
Run to him for safety,
and no terrible disasters will strike you
or your home (Psalm 91:9-10, CEV).
Lone Tree — photo courtesy of Donald Adam
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is the word fortress.
Much of Canada has been caught up in the drama of the mass evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alberta. More than 80,000 people were forced to flee as a forest fire swept into the city destroying thousands of homes.
For many of us our home is our fortress—our place of safety and renewal. When that safe zone is destroyed, what can we do? Today’s verse from the Psalms provides an answer.
The LORD Most High is your fortress. Run to him for safety, and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home (Psalm 91:9-10, CEV).
But for many in Fort McMurray, a terrible disaster did strike their home. What can these people do?
The truth of God’s word still stands firm though external forces rage. When we lose all our material wealth, what remains? Faith remains. The Word of God remains. We can run to Him. The LORD is that fortress that will never be destroyed. Run to Him for safety.
Response: LORD God, the day will come when all will be taken from me. In that day let me be found safe within your fortress. I put my faith in you. You stand firm forever. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you have a fortress to which you can run?
Valleys as Dark as Death
05 Thursday May 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe (Psalm 23:4, CEV).
The Ottawa Valley viewed from the Champlain Lookout, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is shepherding.
All of us have experienced dark days. And we will experience such days again in the future. Death is a reality that ultimately we all must face. But even in that dark moment, there is good news. We do not need to face death alone. Jesus, the Good Shepherd walks through that valley with us.
I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe (Psalm 23:4, CEV).
As people of faith we can face death courage. Death is merely the portal to eternal life with Jesus. He is our redeemer, who with great courage stared death in the face and then emerged victorious on the other side.
I will fear no evil because Jesus, my companion, walks with me.
Response: LORD God, I can walk with confidence through dark days because you are with me. I feel safe because your shepherd’s rod protects me from all harm. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you see the shepherd’s rod as a rod of protection?
Are you at home with the LORD?
13 Thursday Feb 2014
Reading: Psalm 27
(Verses 4-6)
One thing I ask of the LORD,
This is what 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 seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
And set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;
At his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD. (NIV)
Reflection
No matter where we travel, or how pleasant the journey, within us all there is a longing to be home. The same longing for the safety and comfort of home can be found in this psalm of David, but for David, being at home meant being in the presence of God. The LORD God was David’s refuge and comfort. To be near the LORD was to be safe, at rest and fully at peace. Nearness to God was the paramount desire of David’s heart.
Now hear David’s heart cry, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what 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 seek him in his temple.”
David’s statement here delineates a clear priority. For David the house of the LORD was of first importance. But, I do not believe that it was the physical structure or house that attracted and captivated David. It was the LORD of the house who captured David’s heart. He wanted to be with Him. He longed to see Him and be at home in His house.
Like many preschool children, my youngest son Joshua had some difficulty pronouncing the t-h sound, so in his four-year-old vocabulary the word ‘with’ became ‘whiff’ instead. He would make odd sounding statements such as this, “Daddy, I want to come whiff you,” or, “I want to do that whiff you.” Doing something ‘whiff’ someone brings to mind the notion of being so close to them that you can smell each other. That’s close – really close; bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh close – father and son close – intimate in a family kind of way.
Something deep and soul changing transpired as David tended that flock of sheep on those Judean hillsides. In his youth David met God. The LORD was ‘whiff David,’ so close that they could smell each other. David in his youth tasted and saw that the LORD is good. So even now in his adult years he yearns for that intimacy. He yearns for the house of the LORD. He is filled with a longing for home.
Response: Lord Jesus, I want to be ‘whiff’ you. I want to live my life close to you. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you at home with the LORD now? How at home will we feel with Him in eternity, if we aren’t at home with Him now?
I love the Psalms 