Do we abide, or do we not?
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:2
There’s a big difference in saying God is “A” refuge and saying God is “MY” refuge.
Calling Him “A” refuge is like telling someone there is a storm shelter in such and such place and they should go there if things get bad.
Calling Him “MY” refuge makes it personal enough for me to testify about what it’s actually like there.
It’s much better if I go out from my storm shelter and lead them back to a place that I can assure them is safe because it’s MY safety too! And I KNOW IT personally!
Calling Him “MY FORTRESS” means that I know that there is nothing that can keep out danger, enemies, weapons, and schemes like MY GOD!
The Bird & The Fowler: Abide
Surely he shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Psalm 91:3
Is there any other creature as weak and potentially foolish as a little bird? Like them, if we’re not very careful to remain IN the refuge and IN the fortress, we can be lured into unsettling places by an enemy who never tires of retrying old ways and making up new ones to snatch our legs out from underneath us.
However, staying close to God means the enemy won’t get close enough to set those traps.
“The noisome pestilence” is a culmination of illnesses, evil spirits, sin, and trouble that we can be delivered from as well. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world! All of this comes to those described in verse 1 of the same chapter:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1
These benefits described in this chapter are available to those who DWELL in that secret place. Not those that occasionally visit it, run to it in times of trouble. It doesn’t come to those who nonchalantly pass by from time to time.
To “DWELL” is to LIVE there, continuously, making it HOME. As much of one as we can have in this world to which we are Ambassadors of another Kingdom.
In other words, we can’t live a Two-Service-Sunday kind of relationship with the Almighty and fuss about what He doesn’t provide.
This ABIDING must be done all day every day…
- At work
- At school
- Doing the dishes
- Rocking the baby
- Attending that funeral
- Shopping for groceries
- Visiting a friend or family member
- Disciplining the children
- Enjoying a hobby
The list could go on!
So, do we ABIDE?
Or do we not?
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