Freedom For Today

“For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.”

The Bible makes some audacious claims. This is one of those verses that makes me pause and make sure I’m reading it right. Recall from the past two verses that we have focused on the safety and protection God offers. Here we see some practical examples given of what that means.

That word “every” catches me — every trap? There are a lot of people out there who feel that God did not rescue them from difficult situations, yet here the Bible says that God will rescue you from every trap. So let’s think about the word “trap.” If you look up “trap” on BibleGateway.com, you will find that it is often a reference to evil or sin. So God will rescue us from evil and sin. That is the offer he is making as he seeks to protect and shelter us. This verse also mentions deadly disease. I notice it says “protect” as opposed to “heal,” meaning that it is possible there are some things we are protected from that we do not ever realize we have been protected from. On the other hand, a lot of people are dying of preventable or deadly diseases. How can this verse be true if people are still dying?

Here’s your freedom for today: God’s kingdom rights the wrongs. God does rescue us from sin and evil. He does set limits on the reaches of Satan’s earthly kingdom. God is in the restoration business. He is in the protection business. And the only things that need protection are things that are at risk or in danger. God is looking out for you today, and in his kingdom all the harm headed your way is being fought off fiercely. That does not mean Satan’s power is gone, and so we will continue to have suffering until the time that we are in the full protection of God’s kingdom as we dwell there. Until that time, we press on and thank God daily for the ways he fights for us.

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”

I love meditating on a single verse throughout my day. I read it again and again, I roll it around in my mind. I talk to God about it. I sit in his presence just feeling it with him. I soak it into my brain as I memorize it and I feel every word wrapping around me.

This verse begins with a bold assertion. “Get ready, I am going to declare some truth right now…” When we declare something, we are not just keeping it to ourselves. No, we are telling the world in a not-backing-down, hoping-above-hope way. I know that I know that I know. And what are we declaring? That God alone is my refuge and place of safety. That word “alone” strikes me — nothing else keeps me safe. Just God. And he is the one I worship. Just him. Feel the depth of the word “trust” here — do you trust God so much that you would declare he is your safe place?

Here’s your freedom for today: God is safe. So many people come into my counseling office bruised and battered by life, and all their hurt and pain gets wrapped up in their views of God (and their views of themselves). Trust is hard when it’s been broken by everyone who ever was supposed to be safe for you. But I assure you God is not like everyone else. He is so other. So different. He defines the very word “love,” so evident in his choice to die on a cross for us. He creates safety simply by being present. He is present with you right now, today, this week. Let him cover and protect you from all that life throws your way today.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

In this series we are going to soak in several Psalms just one or two verses at a time. Every sentence of this psalm (or song) is worth savoring and contemplating. I will share my thoughts and meditations, and I will ask questions to invite you to reflect as well. Feel free to share your thoughts with all of us in the comments section. Share this post to invite your friends to join us.

My first question as I meditate on this verse: what is the “shelter of the Most High”? Thoughts that come to mind are that it is the place where God lives or it is a shelter that he has built for us. We know that when we live in that place, we find something unique: rest. I find it strange to think of resting in a shadow, as we tend to think of shadows as scary or ominous. But when I think about the shadow of a tree, it is simply a shady spot. It is a shelter, a protection. And there in the shade I do find rest.

Here’s your freedom for today: Jesus is inviting you to relax with him. We often think of God as having all the rules and expectations. We imagine him shaking his head in disappointment at us when we fail. But this verse says that when we choose to live with God we find a place to relax. Take a deep breath today. Sit in a shady place and close your eyes, imagining the shelter of the Most High God. Where he casts his shadow there is peace and rest.