APRIL 28

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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Hebrews 6:18

“that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”

Psalm 9:9

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.”

Psalm 91:4

“He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

Psalm 62:8

“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

Psalm 31:2

“Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me.”

Jeremiah 16:19

“O Lord, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction,….”

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Our book for this month  is called “100 NAMES OF GOD”  written by Christopher D. Hudson.  Each day we’ll take one Hebrew name for God as given in the Bible to study and relate to.

JEHOVAH-MACHSI

REFUGE

Palm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Sometimes it’s the things we can’t see that are most dangerous:  Internet hackers; toxins in the air; impurities in our food; that erratic driver coming our way, right around the corner, just out of sight.  Where can we find safety and refuge from such threats?

In the Bible, we read about “cities of refuge.”  These designated cities provided a safe place where people could flee and hide.  If, for example, you accidentally killed someone, you could hightail it to one of these cities of refuge and find protection.  Within these city walls, you’d be safe from any grieving, irate family member seeking vengeance.  As long as you remained in this place of refuge, you were safe from the threat of a surprise retaliation.

In the Bible, we also see another expert in seeking and finding refuge.  David often hunkered down in caves to avoid inclement weather or to hide from the murderous King Saul.  David rarely knew exactly where Saul was – only that he was out there somewhere, looking for him, and that he might strike at any time.

It’s no surprise, then, to see David begin to refer to God as his  REFUGE, or MACHSI. It’s such a great word with such a rich image.  MACHSI means “my shelter,” but it can also be translated as “MY HOPE” or “MY TRUST.”  No city or cave is completely safe, but David learned that JEHOVAH-MACHSI always is.

You may only be aware of a few threats today (and oblivious to a hundred other dangers).  But you can trust God as your refuge to shield you from all the troubles you see, as well as the dangers you can’t even imagine.

The true power of God is that He saves us in many ways we will never know, because due to His intervention, we never saw those dangers come to fruition in the first place.

Looking back on your life, where have you seen God’s protection long after the danger had passed?

PRAYER

JEHOVAH-MACHSI, please help me understand that You have always been and will always be, my refuge.  When things are difficult and not going my way, please remind me that You are protecting me from even worse outcomes.

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