Psalm 31: 19-24
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
19 How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
In the second stanza of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, Martin Luther laments that life would be a disaster if we were left to our own resources as there is an “ancient foe who seeks to work us woe.” The legions of evil would defeat people for “on earth is not his equal.” David in Psalm 31 equally felt that he was cut off from God by the evil that confronted him as he ran from King Saul. David realizes that God has prepared good for his followers though. God hides us, preserves and keeps us safe as God is our refuge and our fortress in times of trouble. David does not say we will not have trouble but during those times when we feel cut off from God by our problems, we can “be strong and take heart” and hope in the Lord, not the powers of this world.
Perhaps we feel cut off from God by our troubles. Often we feel that way. That is a lie. God is preparing good things. He is present and it is he who keeps us safe, not our money, our talents, or our government. So what does safety
- Look like ?______________________________
- Feel like? ______________________________
- Smell like? ____________________________
- Sound like ? ____________________________
- And taste like? __________________________
Thank the Lord for each of these sensations that remind you are secure!
On the Way to Wonder 