God is our refuge
Opening Prayer
God, with the psalmist I say, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust.” You are my refuge.
Read PSALM 25:1–22
[1] Of David. In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. [2] I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. [3] No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. [4] Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. [5] Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. [6] Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. [7] Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good. [8] Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. [9] He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. [10] All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. [11] For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. [12] Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. [13] They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. [14] The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. [15] My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. [16] Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. [17] Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. [18] Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. [19] See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! [20] Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. [21] May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you. [22] Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles! Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the hope of the one who puts trust in God?On our television screens today we see picture after picture of people fleeing from war, unrest and natural disasters. Finding places of refuge is not easy, and even when such oases are reached they are usually far from pleasant, bringing their own hardships and dangers. For David, refuge was much more than a physical place. Right from the beginning of this psalm we know who he runs to in the bad times (1,2). He has been through so much in his life, both good and bad. And yet here he is making a very positive statement about the consistency of God’s presence in his life (5). We all need our spaces where we can withdraw and rest in God. We can move away from the concerns of the day and let God slow us down and fill us with his peace. When we take refuge in God we receive loving guidance (8–10,12); in turn God also confides in us (14). What a wonderful thought—that God takes us into his confidence! Like David, we need to be ready to pass on what we have experienced.
Apply
As you watch or hear distressing accounts, make your first resolve to ask God for refuge for these troubled souls.
Closing prayer
God of peace, You offer peace even in the midst of the war-torn reality we have brought on. Bring us to You.
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