Psalm 139:17-19: God is the Only Refuge Worth Taking!

Wouch! The fact that I went from consistently writing a new post everyday to missing three days in a row merits the use of a created word like “Wouch!” I apologize and truly the only excuse I can give is this; we had a lot of guest here over the weekend, so life was quite busy. However, I am hopefully back in my schedule and maybe I won’t do the same thing next weekend.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.” Psalm 139:17-19

In theses verses, David is acknowledging the care and dedication God has put into us humans every single day. God, who knows us, thinks of us and his thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace and love (See Jeremiah 29:11) and these thoughts of his are continually with us, sheilding us from the worlds problems.

For me, depression over days past and days to come usually come to me at night and stay with me to the morning. However, I’ve come to realize that when these downer feelings come, I am to rebuke them as methods of destruction from the enemy, and I should focus on the LORD through them, for he is the only refuge worth taking. (See Psalm 46:1 and Psalm 57:1) The best part about that is when you go to bed and then wake up, the troubles you were facing are still there but there is an even bigger presence that consumes you and gives you a peace that passes understanding, which is God! (“When I awake, I am still with thee.”)

In this imperfect world, there is always something to bring you down, something evil going on somewhere. It is important to acknowledge, however, that the in the end the evil will get their reward, the wicked will be slain, and there will be no more sorrow and no more pain. (See Revelations 21:4) We also need not be shaken by the enemies attack. My pastor always likes to say that whenever the enemy tries to bring you down with this worlds troubles and reminds you of your past, you don’t need to worry just remind him of his future. You know the end, the good guys win and the bad guys lose. The wicked will have their day of judgment, he shall judge the poor and the meek with fairness, and the bloody men--our enemies--shall depart from us. (“Surely though wilt slay the wicked, O God, depart from me therefore ye bloody men.” Psalm 139:19)

“But with righteousness and justice shall He judge the poor and decide with fairness for the meek, the poor, and the downtrodden of the earth; and He shall smite the earth and the oppressor with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:4

There will always be something to worry about in this life. I need to learn to not obsess over them, but rather wait on the LORD and focus on his loving power, and he will give me the strength I need to move on. Strength will rise as we wait upon the LORD. (See Isaiah 40:31)

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Paslm 27:14