It goes without saying that we should put our trust and safety in God. There are many examples in the Bible of the men of God doing just that and over the past years I have studied a good number of them. What brought me to study this another time is my study of the word “strong” as I have been for the past few weeks.
“7I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.” – Psalm 71:7 (ESV)
The first thing that I had to take some time studying was the word “portent” which has many different meanings. I looked in the dictionary I have at my desk, and then online which still confused me based on the context of the passage. You see there it was defined as a sign or an omen or a wonder. In the verse above you see the word “but” that negates that meaning. So I went to some commentary found in the online app, Bible Hub, to see if I could get additional clarity, and below is what I found as coming from the Geneva Study Bible.
“All the world wonders at me because of my miseries: both those in authority and the common people, yet being assured of your favour, I remain steadfast.”
What a great amount of insight I was given with just that one sentence expound on the original verse. When I look at the totality of the verse and the comment from the Geneva Study Bible I now understand.
People wondered at David because he continued to be who he was. As king, he had the power to avoid misery and difficulty and yet he accepted them. Even as a man after God’s own heart, he hid from Saul and fled the palace from his own son. And what they did not understand was that David did not seek refuge or protection from the world, he sought God and placed his full trust in Him.
I have fallen into the trap of seeking the favor of the world to solve and resolve my problems. I was looking not to “disappoint” the world with my actions. I should continue to place my trust in God and in God alone. The world really has nothing to offer me, it is in God that my refuge should be. I must remain strong in my reliance in Him and allow the world to say and act as they do, knowing that I am doing the will of God in my life.
Where are you placing your trust and refuge? Are you worried about what others in the world are saying about or acting toward you? What if you were more like David and stayed strong and true to your refuge in the Lord our God?
Trevor's Thoughts 