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Sermon of 08-31-02
UNDER HIS WINGS
By Pastor David Farmer
Scripture - Psalm 91:4; "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Many years ago in certain parts of the Ancient Middle East, people made and kept their own law by a rather aggressive form of punishment. Let me give you an example of what I mean.
Lets say someone in your family lost his or her life by the hands of another person. Your family would call a meeting. There you would discuss the situations. Then the family would appoint someone to hunt and find the person that killed your family member.
In Joshua 20:5 we are told that this representative would become known as the "Blood Avenger." Their only job would be to track down and kill the person who killed your family member. After the person was found and killed the "Blood Avenger" would bring back evidence of the kill. Then the family would celebrate because justice had been served.
But there was a major problem with this sort of law and order. See, there was no provision for accidental deaths. For example, say a woman goes to the market. She hops on her horse and heads to town. But on the way there, a small child runs in front of her horse. The woman doesn't see the child in time. And the little child is trampled upon by the horse's hooves and killed It was an accident. The woman feels terrible. But nevertheless the child's family calls a meeting and a "Blood Avenger" is appointed. His orders are clear. He is to track down that horse-riding housewife and do the job he was hired to do, kill her.
We today feel and believe that was not fair! And you are right it wasn't fair. But no one knew what to do about it back then. That is no One but God.
In the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy 19:2,9, Numbers 35:6,11,14, and Joshua 20, we find God addresses this situation and problem. Numbers 35:6 tell us that God did so by establishing 6 cities of refuge for the Levites. Listen to Joshua 20:2,3;
"Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: V:3
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood."
These cities were in well-known areas. They were so distributed as to be only a half day's journey from anywhere in of the land. God knew that a fleeing man or woman must have every advantage they could to escape. No mountains to climb or deep rivers to cross. The roads leading to these cities would need to be well marked with road-signs pointing to each city. The signs must bear the word "Refuge". (see PP 515)
Probably every mother and father taught their children to know these 6 cities by heart and how to find them from wherever they might be. Joshua 20:9 tell us that the accused could stay in the city of refuge until a fair trial could be held.
Now friends, keep in mind that those who were entitled to protection could receive it only as long as they stayed within the appointed city. If one wander away beyond the city limits and was found by the "Blood Avenger" his life would pay the penalty of his disregard of the Lord's provision. It was very important to stay within those city walls.
You see it was God that provided the shelter. In these hiding places, we find the very message of who God is. It is the nature and character of God to provide safety and refuge for His people who are feeling oppressed or hunted. It is in the heart of God to provide safety and refuge to people who are running fast but are wearing down.
I bet if I were to ask if there is anyone here that has been under some enormous stress lately. If there is anyone here that feels like they are the one the devil is seeking to devour in 1 Peter 5:8, I bet many hands would go up.
Friends, we must understand that our God is a refuge providing God! And God delights in that role. And all He asks in return is for us to help ourselves to the refuge He provides. God constantly provides a shelter. He secures a safe place for us when we are feeling like the world is coming down on us. When the devil is breathing down our backs.
Yes, God provides a shelter for us when we need it. Now in order to fully understand what God's refuge is all about I want to ask and try to answer a few questions.
The first question I would like to ask is: "What does a refuge feel like?" To answer that question we need to first look at a physical refuge.
Not to long ago an American soldier and his son were on a skiing vacation in Italy. While on the mountain a real bad blizzard came in. As they were trying to come down they lost their way and somehow ended up on the wrong side of the mountain. They were lost for 11 days. People gave up hope that they would ever be found alive. But by the end of the first day the father and son found a little crevice. Only a couple feet high and it only went back up under the ledge a very little bit. But it was adequate enough to shelter them from the harsh elements for 11 days. If you were to ask that son and father what a shelter of refuge feels like, I believe they would say just like that cave.
Well, if that is what a physical refuge feels like, then what does a spiritual refuge feel like? Listen to Psalms 46:1:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Friends, our God is a shelter from the harsh forces that are pressing against us and wearing us down.
Take our Scripture again there in Psalms 91:4; "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
It read "God will shelter us under His wing." What a picture of a loving God. Have you ever seen little chicks hopping around chirping, pecking, you know, doing baby chicks stuff. Then all of a sudden, the mother hen becomes aware that a predator in the vicinity. At this the mother hen lifts both of her wings. And within a few seconds all the baby chicks make a mad dash and dive up under the wings of their mother. There they hide. They're sheltered from all harm.
We must learn to trust God enough to crawl under His wings. When we are under His wings we become very close to His heart. God wants us to seek shelter under His wings. He wants us to trust Him fully. God delights in spreading His protective wings over His weary, beaten-down, worn-out children.
Now lets look at our 2nd question. "Who needs a refuge?"
The truth is, if you have to ask that question, you probably haven't ever needed one. Yet!
In the Old Testament times cities of refuge didn't mean much to the average person on the streets. But to the person that had a "Blood Avenger" hot on their trail, cities of refuge were the most important place in the world. Imagine with me if you will, an innocent person running for their life. The "Blood Avenger" is right behind them. He can almost feel the heat of his breath on their neck. When suddenly they burst thru the gates of the city of refuge. As they lay there in the street they look up at Heaven and say: "Thank you Lord. For I would surly be dead if not for this safe place."
Some of us have probably repeated similar words when we have come into God's Refuge. Words like: "Thank you Lord, for I could not have gone thru another day except You hid me under Your wings."
Psalm 9:9 spells it out very clearly who needs a refuge, listen; "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."
Friends, throughout the Psalms you will find an invitation by God Himself to come for protection under His wings. So who needs a refuge? Oppressed people do! Trouble people do! Weary people do! Grieving people do! Worried people do! Disappointed and heart-broken people do! Lonely people do! And every one of us here does! We have a refuge providing God and He counts it a joy for us to come to Him in times of need.
The first move is yours and mine. It's not a hard move. Listen to Psalm 91:15;
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him."
The first step toward accessing the refuge God provides is you need to call upon Him. And God promises, "to answer and deliver us" when we call on Him.
When you are in trouble, when you are in need of God's refuge, just call upon Him. That is the first thing you do.
The Second thing can also be found in Psalms 62:8: "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us."
The first is calling out to God. The 2nd is pouring out your heart to God. It's telling God that you are hurting; you're weary, heart-broken and discouraged. It's telling God how you feel. And it's then when you will feel His wings surrounding you. Jesus never promised that we would not have trials and troubles when we accepted him. But He did say that when we come to Him, He would hide us under His wings. That same merciful Savior who appointed those cities of refuge has also provided us a retreat, a place of safety (See PP 516).
The road to God's refuge is always in good repair. The signpost is always pointing in the right direction. And His gates are always open.
To close, let me tell you a true story about 3 Seventh-day Adventist Chinese orphans that lived back during World War II in a mission.
The 3 boys were alone one day. When an air-raid siren started sounding a warning that planes were above. They could hear bombs being dropped all around them when they each one saw what they describe as a beautiful being clothed in white appeared to them. The 3 boys knew that these beings must be angels. Then all of a sudden they could hear a bomb falling and they knew it was right above them.
The angels told the 3 boys to "Lie down quickly, and that they would cover them." And each boy fell down immediately. Sure enough the bomb hit. The boys were covered with all kinds of debris. But not a one of the 3 boys had so much as a scratch. Today, those 3 boys will tell you what it means to be covered by His wings. (From 501 Illustrations pg. 50)
Friends, do you know what it means to be covered by His wings? If not, then may I suggest that you find out today.
For farther reading see Patriarchs and Prophets pages 515 - 517.
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