Our Dwelling Place
Psalm 90:1-2: "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Where does one find refuge in trying times? When viruses threaten our lives, fires threaten to destroy whole communities, civil unrest threatens to destroy the fabric of society - to whom or what do we look for our solace and hope?
Moses spoke to this question throughout Psalm 90. As one who was rescued at birth, raised in the Pharaoh's house, exiled to the desert for forty years, then called back to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage to Egypt, Moses knew difficult times. As God's appointed leader of the Israelites, Moses learned what it meant to look to the Lord as his refuge. He declared that the Lord was their dwelling place. It was the very presence of the Lord with Moses and the nation of Israel that set them apart from every other nation. It was God's presence that provided their deliverance from Egypt, their food and water in the desert, and their directions for the journey.
This was Israel's God. The one who revealed himself to Abraham and made a covenant that Abraham's children would outnumber the stars and that his offspring would occupy the land shown to Abraham. Not only was Israel's God one who made and kept covenants, but he was the only eternal God. Before the world existed, God did, and his hands fashioned the mountains, the sky, and the seas. Israel's God was the Creator God and the eternal God.
Who better to trust and look to than the God who is everlasting? Who better to trust than the one who fashioned the heavens and the earth? Moses knew that mankind was inclined to put his trust in many gods, in men like themselves, in the work of their hands. Having lived in the nation of Egypt, Moses saw the rampant worship of pagan gods. He also saw the true God, the everlasting God, overpower those gods throughout the ten plagues. There was no God like Israel's God; therefore, there was no one else to look to during trials, challenges, and uncertainties.
Who or what do you look to in these difficult days? Are you looking for the government to resolve our world's problems? Are you looking for a spouse or children to fulfill you? Are you looking to substances to numb the pain? Just like in Moses' time, there are many supposed gods out there to meet your needs and take away your pain. However, true refuge is found in the Lord alone. He is the eternal God, from everlasting to everlasting, who created the heavens and the earth and you. As your Creator, he is trustworthy and able to comfort you in your trials. Can you make him your dwelling place?
Reflection:
Can you take some time to get still and quiet before the Lord today? While in that place, ask the Lord to give you a picture or a sense of what it means for him to be your dwelling place in the trials of this life. Then go to that dwelling place in your time of prayer and return each time you fear, hurt, wonder, or delight. God wants to be your dwelling place throughout all of your life!
Where does one find refuge in trying times? When viruses threaten our lives, fires threaten to destroy whole communities, civil unrest threatens to destroy the fabric of society - to whom or what do we look for our solace and hope?
Moses spoke to this question throughout Psalm 90. As one who was rescued at birth, raised in the Pharaoh's house, exiled to the desert for forty years, then called back to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage to Egypt, Moses knew difficult times. As God's appointed leader of the Israelites, Moses learned what it meant to look to the Lord as his refuge. He declared that the Lord was their dwelling place. It was the very presence of the Lord with Moses and the nation of Israel that set them apart from every other nation. It was God's presence that provided their deliverance from Egypt, their food and water in the desert, and their directions for the journey.
This was Israel's God. The one who revealed himself to Abraham and made a covenant that Abraham's children would outnumber the stars and that his offspring would occupy the land shown to Abraham. Not only was Israel's God one who made and kept covenants, but he was the only eternal God. Before the world existed, God did, and his hands fashioned the mountains, the sky, and the seas. Israel's God was the Creator God and the eternal God.
Who better to trust and look to than the God who is everlasting? Who better to trust than the one who fashioned the heavens and the earth? Moses knew that mankind was inclined to put his trust in many gods, in men like themselves, in the work of their hands. Having lived in the nation of Egypt, Moses saw the rampant worship of pagan gods. He also saw the true God, the everlasting God, overpower those gods throughout the ten plagues. There was no God like Israel's God; therefore, there was no one else to look to during trials, challenges, and uncertainties.
Who or what do you look to in these difficult days? Are you looking for the government to resolve our world's problems? Are you looking for a spouse or children to fulfill you? Are you looking to substances to numb the pain? Just like in Moses' time, there are many supposed gods out there to meet your needs and take away your pain. However, true refuge is found in the Lord alone. He is the eternal God, from everlasting to everlasting, who created the heavens and the earth and you. As your Creator, he is trustworthy and able to comfort you in your trials. Can you make him your dwelling place?
Reflection:
Can you take some time to get still and quiet before the Lord today? While in that place, ask the Lord to give you a picture or a sense of what it means for him to be your dwelling place in the trials of this life. Then go to that dwelling place in your time of prayer and return each time you fear, hurt, wonder, or delight. God wants to be your dwelling place throughout all of your life!
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