16.Refuge
Psalm 9.9
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
A refuge = stronghold, fortress, strength, rock, high tower, hiding place, defensive position, safe place, any place to hide where attack by the enemy is extremely difficult. The promise is not of physical space to defend against physical enemies but a spiritual place to be safe from attacks and temptations of spiritual enemies. It is the Lord Himself who is the refuge; it is entering into His presence; communing with Him; developing a relationship with God. Deuteronomy 33:27: “The eternal God is thy refuge (dwelling place), and underneath are the everlasting arms; and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee.”
The same God who in the previous verse appears as awesome judge to the evil offers refuge to the oppressed in times of trouble. With God as judge of our enemies and refuge from our enemies we have nothing to fear. Romans 8:31: “If God is for, us who can be against us?”
A believer can and may come into the presence of God and find refuge in Him at any time, but the Lord as a refuge is particularly useful and available when oppressed or in times of trouble. When you need Him He is there for you. There are two things we need to remember and notice to avail ourselves of this unconditional promise: the first is to recognize when we are in trouble. This may seem simple at first, but very often when we are in trouble we just sort of accept it as life; it’s just the way it is. I may not even see it as trouble or oppression. But it really is an evil force, or personal evil force, like Satan, Sin or Death. I am also tempted to believe that I can solve this problem or overcome the oppression by myself. The second thing then is to call upon the Lord, jump into the refuge of God’s care and protection, and stay with Him at least until the danger passes. Psalm 50:15: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.”
It may be helpful to do a little imaging, or use your imagination, to see yourself safely inside the refuge while the Lord defends against and wards off the evil that wants to destroy. From that place of safety watch Sin flee, Satan be crushed, and Death be destroyed. “Imagining” is taking God at His word and constructing in the mind the movie that the Word is describing. Watch that movie and take heart. The promise is real.