Your Sure Refuge

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9: 9 – 10

The Hebrew word translated “oppressed’ can be rendered “crushed.” It means to be cut off from any hope of deliverance.  It is distress amplified to mean despair. The idea is He is sufficient for your greatest need.

Has that ever described you? There are many forms of oppression; both from man and from Satan oppression comes to us. In all its forms, a refuge is provided by the Lord Jehovah. 

Fortresses and certain cities were refuges in Old Testament times. You could enter them and enjoy their protection. So it is with the Lord. Concede you are going to have trouble. It is equally certain that when you do you can go to the Lord seeking and receiving His guidance as a refuge.

We can find refuge in seeking God, in knowing His name. To know His name is equivalent here to learning God’s character as made known by His acts.

To know the Name of God is to know him according to his historical conduct. When we face difficult times, we must resist self-pity, trusting that God knows what’s best for us and can use even our hard experiences for good.

To know the Name of God in Old Testament times meant to believe in God’s Word and trusting His promises. In Old Testament days those who “knew the name of God” were credited with righteousness. They were saved by grace through faith in the coming Lord.

How precious we can say, “I know the ‘unknowable’ name of YHWH.” His name is Jesus. He is truly a gracious God, full of loving-kindness and goodness. His record shows it.

Do you believe your God is almighty? If so, you can know He will shepherd you and provide all my needs. He is my peace even in the darkest day of despair. I will rest my case with Him. On Christ the solid rock I stand even if all other ground is sinking sand.

When difficult times come, and they will, you can rely on this promise. Don’t act like this promise is true, act because it is true.

Frame these truths and hang them on the hall of your mind, pass by them frequently, and reflect on them. He is your strong and mighty refuge. When cut off from all hope, don’t despair, He is there. The word despair means to quit, to give up. Don’t, simply put your trust in Him. Don’t camp in the desert of despair.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3: 5)