(Looking forward to the scriptures of the VBS this summer – today is Psalm 142:5 “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge.’ “)

The hockey game last night was a treat – and the seats too – high above that you could see everything – a preplanned outing with my old work folks – so good to see them and catch up.

The seats were a single row with a panoramic view – theatre style – and protected by the clearest of clear plexiglass – thick too – safe for us to stand up and not feel like we would fall. (I’m not afraid of heights – but maybe some would be.)  And there was a nice lounge behind us too – with food and lots of people not watching the game except a glimpse on a TV monitor. I watched the first period, gabbed with friends all the way through the second period, then sat down and watched the thrilling 3rd period (our local team won! but both team fans, in our mixed crowd, were excited at the exciting game)… In general we were all happy to be there!

That plexiglass gave us a view as opposed to a wall – and it gave us security – even being high enough – and it gave us a place – a seat saved for us – yet stay behind the barrier. What of this reminds us of God and the Psalm 142:5 – that MORE reliable than that plexiglass – and more transparent than the perception of safety – that God our Lord is our SAFE PLACE – “I cried out to You, O Lord:I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”

The plexiglass was security – and clear – the Lord is clear and we can see out from under His wings that the world out there is a scary place at times and we are in fear of falling – and like David afraid of evil out to get us – and yet the Lord can rescue and He has and will win against evil – and He has a seat secured for us – He has us SAFE and SAVED in His Salvation.

The Lord is whom we can cry out to – like David under persecution, praying in a cave hiding – and cry out to in ordinary days too for direction: “I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.”
And like the attendants and ushers – we also can be people who point the way to the right seat in the house – we can be the encouragers and the teachers – we can comfort and we can listen. We can witness that this statement of David is true: When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You [LORD] knew my path.

Amen Amen Amen: “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge.’ ” Psalm 142:5

In His Salvation, we will someday see that there will be no more evil in the world and we will all be at His table – and in His Lounge – and In His Garden – and in His House – and in His Courts – and in His NEW city – always and forever.

For now, remember the game won’t last forever – keep watching for Him.

Amen

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Psalm 142 NKJV
A Plea for Relief from Persecutors
A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.
Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”