Our God is a rock of refuge. He doesn’t have access to a rock; he is the rock. We take refuge, and he delivers and rescues us. But first, he has to lean in and hear us. Our rock listens to us. We are to cry out to him.
“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come…” Psalm 71:1-3
We are invited to continually come to him. He is to us a rock and a fortress. He rescues us from the wicked, the unjust, and the cruel. The world is full of brokenness. But we have a rock of refuge.
Continually come to this rock of refuge. Why would we delay?
“For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.” Psalm 71:5-6
Our faithful Lord is our only hope. Truth be known, we have always leaned upon him, even when we didn’t know we were being sustained by him. From the beginning of our beginning he has been a rock for us.
When you are able to fathom this truth, you erupt in praise of him continually. Even when we have exceptional strength, he is our sustaining power.
“My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.” Psalm 71:8
Again, praise erupts from our lips. Our mouths are filled with his praise and his glory. All the day long. He is our God, and he is good. He is our hope. He is the only one in whom we trust. He is our sustainer. Even in old age we trust his power when our strength is spent. In my weakness, enemies may think I am powerless. They do not acknowledge God’s presence and, therefore, they do not see him as my defender. And yet, God is my strength when I am weak.
“O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!” Psalm 71:11
All that is necessary to be strengthened by God is to call upon him. We ask him to be near us—God with us—and to make haste to come to our aid. We pray that our accusers are shamed and disgraced. We continually hope in God. We continually praise him day by day and more and more.
Our mouths give testimony to his righteous deeds; however, they are beyond comprehension. God’s righteous acts overflow into telling of his greatness. His faithful love began before my birth and extends to my old age. O God, give me the privilege of proclaiming your might to the next generation!
“Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?” Psalm 71:19
My testimony of your goodness reveals a good God whose righteousness reaches the heavens. There is no one like our God. In a broken world, he revives us and renews us. He restores our hearts. We lift our voices in praise for his faithfulness. Our lips shout joyous praises for the redemption provided to our souls.
Brokenness in all its forms is defeated by his righteous help. Brokenness has been put to shame. Brokenness has been disappointed. That which was meant to hurt me has been overturned!
And that is why we continually come to this rock of refuge.
“And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.” Psalm 71:24
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God is faithful. Thanks for your encouragement.
Amen, Lynn…and you’re welcome!
This has become my favorite scripture. It brings me great comfort to know God sees me and is even keeping a record. Still, the grief is so difficult.
Psalm 56:8
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Deanna, that is a great passage. Press through the valley. Grief is difficult but God sees.