It's been so refreshing for me to be in the Psalms this summer.
I hope it's been that way for you as well.
Lord willing, this will be our last sermon on the Psalms for this summer.
And then, Lord willing, again, maybe next summer we'll pick up with Psalm 8,
which is a wonderful place to start again in the Psalms.
So Psalm 7.
Well, as I read this, keep in mind, this is God's very own word.
It's his inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear and sufficient word for you, for his people.
Once I'm done with the reading, I'll say this is the word of the Lord,
and you can respond, thanks be to God.
Psalm 7.
Shigion of David, which he sang unto the Lord,
concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite.
Verse 3.
O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands,
if I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me,
yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy,
let the enemy persecute my soul and take it.
Yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth
and lay mine honor in the dust.
Selah.
Verse 6.
Arise, O Lord, in thine anger.
Lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies
and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about.
For their sakes, therefore, return thou on high.
The Lord shall judge the people.
Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness
and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Verse 9.
O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the just,
for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reigns.
My defense is of God,
which saveth the upright in heart.
God judges the righteous
and God is angry with the wicked every day.
If he turn not, he wet his sword.
He hath bent his bow and made it ready.
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death.
He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity
and hath conceived mischief
and brought forth falsehood.
He made a pit and digged it
and has fallen into the ditch which he made.
His mischief shall return upon his own head
and his violent dealing shall come down
upon his own pate.
Verse 17.
I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
This is the word of God.
Thanks be to God indeed.
You may be seated.
Let's pray.
O Lord, you are our shelter.
You are the rock of ages that was cut open
so that we can hide ourselves in you.
Our shelter, Jesus Christ, is alive.
Lord, draw us into your presence
inside the house of your Father in heaven
and speak to us, your children.
May we take your truth from your word like children eating with their family dinner.
May it be a delight to our souls.
May you satisfy us once again.
Speak to us, Lord.
You preach to us.
May we pray that you will give us hearts to hear.
May every word of my mouth and may the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight.
For Christ's sake we pray.
Amen.
beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
does your soul have a refuge?
Does your soul have a refuge?
I want to draw your imagination to this real family
in northern Brazil
with a child that's too soon to be three,
if my calculations are correct.
And her name is Cristina.
Cristina's family is from Venezuela.
And her family had to flee Venezuela as refugees
before she was even born.
Venezuela was plagued by hyperinflation.
All those with some education
that could maybe keep the economy going
had left the country.
And now the lower middle class
has no other options for survival
but to run into a new nation,
to cross a border and hope for a new start.
When her family first arrived in northern Brazil,
they joined one of three camps,
refugee camps set up on the parks of the town.
And in these camps,
they experienced hunger,
they experienced physical harm,
and many were tempted to even sell themselves
just to get enough money to feed their family.
Over time, God provided for this little family
a shared home,
a very small apartment with two bedrooms
for six families.
And it was better than being out in the tents,
but even there,
their physical safety,
theft,
and a lack of medical care
made those living conditions almost impossible.
See, refugees, by definition,
they know they're in danger.
Refugees know they need to find refuge.
Refugees know danger is so real
that they live with a constant fear.
You could say they're crippled by fear on every side,
a fear of sleep,
sleeping at night because you could be attacked,
a fear of not being able to have the medicine
that your family needs,
a fear of being rejected
by those you're living with now in this foreign country,
maybe a fear of being kicked out of that country
by the government,
and certainly fears about the future.
Will they ever feel safe?
Refugees know that they need refuge.
Well, the context of Psalm 7
is that David has been driven out of his nation,
and he's living in the wilderness
among the foreigners like a refugee.
And the Lord taught David in the wilderness his need.
Look how David describes his need in verses 1 and 2.
He feels danger, not only physical,
but he's talking about danger for his soul.
See, in verse 2 he says,
the enemy wants to take my soul
and tear me to pieces.
And so look at what David says in verse 1.
What he says, it sets the tone for the whole psalm.
He says,
O Lord my God,
in you I take refuge.
And that's his call to the whole nation.
O people of God,
this is for you too, church.
You are the people of God.
You need a refuge for your soul.
That's the message of Psalm 7.
I think that David wrote this psalm
after he had been spared,
after God preserved him
and brought him back into Israel.
And he looks back on what God taught him
through that time.
So it's a theological reflection
of one of the hardest moments in his life.
And I've tried to cluster these verses
into five theological reflections.
I'm going to give them to you
in the form of questions.
So listen for five questions
as we move through these verses
and one response at the end.
So the first theological reflection
is this.
Are you aware
that your soul
needs refuge
from the enemy?
Look at the superscription
to this psalm.
It's a psalm of David
which he's saying to the Lord
concerning the words of
Cush,
a Benjaminite.
That means that this man
who's bringing a lot of trouble
on David
is from a different tribe
than David.
He's from the tribe of Benjamin.
And at the end of the book of Judges
we see
the wickedness of the tribe
of Benjamin
was so great
that all the other tribes
gang up against Benjamin
and go to a civil war
with Benjamin
and nearly annihilate them
because their wickedness
was so evil in the land.
Well, the people wanted
a king after their own heart
and they chose Saul
because he was tall
and handsome.
He would be a king
that all the other nations
would be impressed by
and guess what tribe
Saul is from?
He's from the wicked tribe
of Benjamin.
The Lord says
you want to be like
all the other nations?
Have it your way.
So Saul is surrounded now
by the army
that's most loyal to him.
The closest you get to Saul
is going to be
the blood relation.
Those also from the tribe
of Benjamin.
So this would have been
earlier in David's life
before David ever became
the king
before he ever took on
the throne
and before David himself
ever abused the power
though he would.
This is at a different point
in his life.
So when David stood then
before the nation
and sang this psalm
unto the Lord
these are spirit-breathed
reflections.
Listen to verses 1 and 2.
O Lord my God
in you do I take refuge.
Save me from all my pursuers.
Save me from those
that persecute me.
Deliver me
lest he tear my soul
like a lion
tearing my soul apart
rending it in pieces
with none to deliver.
Well David is picturing
Saul like that lion.
That lion chasing down
a deer in the Middle East.
When it catches that deer
it's going to use
its claws and its teeth
to tear the flesh
apart of that deer
and to devour
the insides
of that deer.
That's what David
is going through.
Saul is coming after me
and he wants to devour
my soul.
Let me try to describe
for you why
from 1 Samuel 22
it's a good comparison
of Saul like this wicked lion
preying on the innocent.
1 Samuel 22 says
that Saul was there
sitting on the top
of a hill
like a place
from which he would rule
he's sitting in the shade
under a tree
and he has a spear
in his hand.
Can you picture him?
And all of his servants
were standing about him
and then Saul speaks
to the tribe of Benjamin
he says
hear now people of Benjamin
will the son of Jesse
give every one of you
fields and vineyards
will he make you
all commanders
of thousands?
Give your allegiance
to me
not to Jesse's son David
that shepherd boy.
So Saul is
wooing the hearts
of the people of Israel
and especially those
in the tribe of Benjamin.
So he goes to hunt down David
drives him out of the land
and in these
these four chapters or so
1 Samuel 22
through 26
David describes himself
as a dead dog.
That's what it's like
to live in the wilderness
being hunted by Saul.
He describes himself
as a flea.
I'm a nobody Saul.
These men around you
are twisting it.
They're trying to accuse me
of things I've never said
or done.
I'm being falsely accused.
I'm a nobody.
And he calls himself
a hunted bird.
See David knew
he was a refugee.
He was in danger
and he needed
to find a fortress.
He needed to know
his soul would be safe.
He needed a refuge.
The first step for us
is just like David
it's to confess.
We cannot save ourselves.
Our souls are hunted.
There is an enemy
like Peter describes
Satan
like a lion
seeking whom
he may devour.
I think that
we run the risk
of being most vulnerable
when we feel
most comfortable.
Isn't it easy
for us to forget
that there is a spiritual
battle going on
for our souls
and there is an enemy
who wants to devour
your soul
and destroy
your life.
And if the enemy
gets David's soul
it will
be torn apart
torn to shreds.
So God
must be the one
to save David.
He has none else
to deliver him
he says.
Does your soul
have a refuge?
Are you
still trying to build up
a fortress
of your own making
to protect
your own soul?
or are you aware
that your soul
needs shelter
from God alone
to preserve
your soul
your life
from the enemy?
I think that's
the first reflection
David brings
to the people
of God.
Oh Lord my God
in you
I take refuge.
The second question
is this
does your soul
and does my soul
deserve
God's refuge?
By our own merit
we know that it doesn't.
But notice
how carefully
David examines
himself
in the next few verses.
Verses 3-5
David says
Oh Lord my God
if I have done this
if there is iniquity
if there is wrong
in my hands
if I have repaid
my friend
who was
at peace with me
with evil
or plundered my enemy
without cause
let the enemy
pursue
and persecute my soul
and let him
overtake me
and let him
trample my life
and tread me down
to the ground
into the earth
let him lay
my honor
in the dust.
See David knows
that if he's a hypocrite
if he is
a rebellious
lawbreaker
that does not
fear God
that's exactly
what he deserves.
So David is really
he's under pressure
from unjust saw
and he's appealing
to the higher throne
the higher king
of God
who is just.
Rebellious criminals
don't deserve
God's refuge
and as long as
David is proud
and refusing to repent
and running away
from God
he doesn't deserve
to be spared.
he does not deserve
to find refuge
in God.
Now the good news
is that
David would be
reflecting on the temple
the sacraments
the blood that would be
spilled
and those things
would be counted
to him as righteousness
because he was putting
his faith
in the future work
of Jesus Christ
and now we can know
from the full counsel
of God's word
that if your soul
is clothed
in Christ's righteousness
that means he has
washed you
with his very own blood
and you do stand
before the throne
of God
not condemned
any longer
because you have
repented
you have run
and found refuge
in Jesus.
Now
when God has
washed you clean
and he's put on you
the garments
that are white
of his own righteousness
clothing you
scripture does tell us
to keep your heart
to not defile
what God has made pure.
So
do you see
this glorious truth here?
The Lord clothes you
with his own righteousness
you don't earn it
because we can't
we can never deserve
his sanctification
and his righteousness
but when he does
clothe you
he does teach you
through his spirit
working in you
to not defile yourself
that's the whole message
of the book of Revelation
to the church
do not defile yourselves
in the world.
If you've
acted unjustly
then your soul
deserves to be
hunted down
trampled
and buried.
There's no false
sense of security
if you're standing
in your own
righteousness.
Your soul
needs
a refuge
that is not
of your own making
but if you have
put your trust
in Christ
you need to
keep your heart
you need to
do like
David here
and ask God
to search
all of you
search your conscience
and let him
expose what it is
you need to confess.
Let me give you
just three short
verses from
all of the Bible
to confirm
how important
it is that we
search our conscience
and lay it
before God
just as David
has done here.
2 Corinthians 1.12
Paul writes
and he's writing
to the church
as a fellow Christian
he says
our boast is this
the testimony
of our conscience
that we have
behaved with
godly sincerity
by the grace
of God.
1 John 3.21
Beloved
if your heart
does not
condemn you
have confidence
before God
you see how
important it is
for you to
approach the
throne of glory
you don't want
to be injuring
your conscience
you want to be
able to approach
God
saying
God search
my heart
and I will
surrender
I will repent
of anything
you show me
and that's not
a new message
that's what God
has told his
people all along
Proverbs 4.23
says
keep your heart
with all vigilance
for from it
flow the springs
of life
keep your heart
John Flavel
was an English
Puritan
who suffered
much persecution
he was exiled
he was thrown
in prison
he was prohibited
from preaching
and during that time
he wrote
much of what we
have today
and he would
have been tempted
to seek revenge
just like David
had opportunities
two different times
to take Saul's
life
listen to how
John Flavel
encourages the
Christian now
who has suffered
injustice
Flavel said
by revenge
you might
destroy one
enemy
yet when
Christ's love
constrains you
you conquer
three enemies
what are they
number one
you conquer
your own
lust
number two
you conquer
Satan's
temptation
number three
by God's grace
you may conquer
your enemies
heart
see when
Christ has
clothed you
with his
righteousness
it's the
love of
Christ
working in
you
that
constrains
you
when your
soul is
found
refuge in
God
you
want to
trust
him
from his
mighty
fortress
to be
the avenger
you don't
want to
touch it
you want
to leave
it
to the
Lord
praise the
Lord
that
by the
work of
Christ
we can
pray like
David
oh Lord
in you
do I
take
refuge
the third
reflection
do you
know
that your
soul also
needs to
find refuge
from God's
own justice
so you need
refuge from
the enemy
you need
refuge in
the fortress
of God
alone
you don't
deserve to
be in
that fortress
except by
his grace
and you
don't have
a right
to be in
his refuge
in his
fortress
unless the
justice of
God is
accounted for
because the
wrath of
God is on
the evildoers
so here
David is
drawing a
line in
the sand
it reminds
me of
Psalm 1
which sets
the tone
for the
Psalter
there are
two ways
to live
while he's
he's talking
about his
need for
refuge by
the grace
of God
over here
there's a
stern
warning
for those
who are
opposing
God
over here
the wrath
of God
is against
those who
do not
repent
look at
verse 7
David says
let the
assembly of
the peoples
be gathered
about you
look at
this assembly
he says
and return
on high
oh Lord
another
translation
says
so
shall
the
congregation
of the
people
compass
thee
about
and for
their
sakes
return
thou
on high
saying
Lord
when the
people
are not
trying to
conquer
by their
might
but when
they're
repenting
when they're
coming before
your holy
presence
to your
temple
receiving
your grace
through the
shed blood
of the
sacrifice
may you
then look
at them
may you
dwell with
them
as they
repent
verse 8
he says
the Lord
judges
the peoples
judge me
oh Lord
according to
my righteousness
and according
to the
integrity
that is
in me
he said
I'm
with
those
who
repent
I'm
with
those
who
take
your
gift
of
righteousness
but here's
the contrast
the other
side
verse 9
oh let
the evil
another
translation
says
let the
wickedness
of the
wicked
come to
an end
and but
may you
establish
the righteous
and the
just
you who
test
you who
try the
minds
and hearts
see David
is saying
that all
people will
be gathered
before the
Lord
and his
favor will
be on
those
who
God
declares
righteous
but upon
those who
do not
repent
they will
get his
wrath
and there's
no one
that can
stand before
the Lord
and plead
self-righteousness
because the
Lord knows
the mind
and the
heart
the King
James uses
a difficult
word
it says
the heart
and the
reins
but reins
is spelled
without the
G
so it
really is
maybe a
closer to
the Hebrew
it's talking
about the
kidney
the Lord
knows the
heart
and he
knows the
part inside
of you
that's even
deeper
the kidneys
so Hebrew
poetry
it's so rich
you know
the soul
is what is
in focus
in all of
Psalm 7
this is a
spiritual
insight here
and the
Bible teaches
that you have
an outer man
and an inner
man
your inner
man
your soul
is searched
by God
every part of
the inside
of you
God
knows
thoughts
hearts
soul
kidneys
see God
knows you
through and
through
and David
is saying
Lord
judge me
search my
motives
look at my
actions
in this case
I've been
falsely accused
I have nothing
to hide from you
because you see
it all
already
search me
through and
through
you show it
and I will
repent
and may all
those who
gather around
your holy
gathering around
the temple
of the Lord
the shed
blood of
sacrifices
may they all
be searched
by you
and may we
all repent
and confess
our sin
and trust
once again
to receive
your grace
this wonderful
picture from
the Old Testament
it's also
preparing us
for the coming
judgment of
God
God will
search every
soul
the living
and the dead
all will be
assembled
before God
nothing will
be hidden
God will
have it all
in front of
him
and God
will weigh
your righteousness
in the balance
of his
just scales
he will
search your
mind
your thoughts
your hearts
your motives
and mine
we will be
laid bare
so let's be
like these
repenting
Israelites
that turn to
the Lord
now
and they say
Lord search
me I
confess my
sin to
you now
and it's
so refreshing
that we can
do this as
a gathered
body
at least
every week
we can do
this privately
as often
as God
by the
spirit
leads us
to confess
our sin
see any
that God
finds righteous
the promise
is that he
will establish
them
they will not
be driven
out of the
land of his
kingdom
and all
who are evil
and wicked
God himself
will bring
to an end
there will be
no apocalyptic
fort that you
can you know
go into
no bunkers
where you
can hide
from the
coming
judgment
of God
when Jesus
Christ
comes with
the army
of heaven
he will
judge
the living
and the
dead
so you
must
take your
refuge
in him
now
confess
your sin
and repent
to him
now
and you
will find
refuge
in him
does your
soul
have a
refuge
the
fourth
theological
reflection
is this
for those
who refuse
to repent
now
they are
in rebellion
and those
in rebellion
against God
they are
raging against
God
and it's
futile
it is
futile
to rage
against this
mighty fortress
this refuge
this shelter
of God
he uses
language of
war and
battle here
I skipped
verse 6
on purpose
because I
want to
show you
how it's
connected
to what
God
does
so look
at verse
6 next
verse 6
David says
arise oh
Lord
in your
anger
lift
yourself
up
against
the
fury
of
mine
enemies
because
of their
rage
he says
awake
for me
he said
Lord
you have
appointed
a
judgment
these
people
rebel
against
you
and it
feels
to me
that
you're
asleep
that
you're
sitting
down
says
Lord
do you
see
my
injustice
I'm
with
those
who
repent
please
rise
now
in
our
defense
and look
at how
this gets
answered
in the
next
verses
starting
at
verse
10
David
now
beholds
the
fortress
of
God
fighting
back
in this
battle
bringing
his
judgment
in verse
10
he says
my shield
is with
God
my defense
is with
God
who
awakes
for me
he saves
the upright
in heart
verse 11
God who
judges
the righteous
is a
righteous
judge
now here's a
difficult phrase
listen to what he says
in verse 11
a God
who feels
indignation
a God who
feels anger
every day
says God is angry
with the wicked
every day
verse 12
if a man
does not
turn
does not
repent
then God
wets his
sword
he sharpens
the blade
of his
sword
he says
God's
bow and
arrow
are ready
to be
released
he has
readied
and bent
his bow
verse 13
he has also
prepared for him
his deadly
weapons
instruments
of death
he has
ordained
his arrows
with fiery
shafts
against
his
persecutors
that's the
fortress of
God
that's how
David describes
God going
to war
against the
unrepentant
now the
the difficulty
here is
what does
it say about
the nature
of God
God is
angry
every day
is God
fighting an
offensive
aggressive
war
or is
God
defensive
is God
the one
from his
fortress
defending his
people
I think
this is
answered in
verse 6
would you
look there
with me
see David
appeals to
God
to rise
up
because
of the
rage
of the
wicked
he says
rise up
against
the fury
of mine
enemies
so the
enemies
are the
ones
that are
aggressing
and he's
calling on
God
to defend
we found
refuge in
you and
your
fortress
mount
those
walls
fire
back
at the
enemy
who's
raging
against
you
this
reminds
me
of
Psalm
2
remember
it's
the
nations
that
rage
against
the
Lord
and
his
anointed
and
the
king
sits
on
his
heavenly
kingdom
and he
laughs
what about
that
difficult
phrases
says
every day
God's
anger
is against
the
wicked
every day
that man
rages
against
God
God's
justice
takes up
arms
to defend
his
kingdom
so it's
the foolish
nations
raging
against
God
and it's
God
protecting
those
inside
of his
fortress
it's
a
defensive
battle
and
every day
that man
rebels
and rages
against
God
on high
God's
wrath
goes
back
against
them
because
God
is
just
do you
remember
last week
I mentioned
how John
Calvin
prayed
how long
oh Lord
so often
sometimes
that was
all he
could
pray
this verse
also
gives
comfort
that
how
how long
oh Lord
well
every day
God
is
defending
you
every day
God
is
firing
back
at
the
enemy
God
is
your
strong
fortress
and it's
futile
to rage
against
his
kingdom
Calvin
commented
every day
it may
be asked
why God
frequently
delays
his punishment
of evil
but the
scripture
certainly
celebrates
God's
patience
this is
not to
say
that a
day
passes
when God
relaxes
his bow
against
man's
sin
Christ
never
ceases
to execute
his office
of judge
so
Calvin
wrote
never think
of the
patience
of God
as his
approval
of evil
in verse
11
David
says
God
is
the
righteous
judge
and
in verse
12
he says
if
rebellious
men
do
not
repent
then
God
sharpens
his
sword
why
rage
against
the
kingdom
of
God
on
heaven
his
bow
is
bent
against
evil
his
blade
is
being
sharpened
it's
like
God's
spiritual
forces
have
dipped
the
tip
of
the
arrow
and
kerosene
and
touched
it
to
the
torch
and
that
bow
is
bent
back
it's
ready
to
be
released
in
defense
of
his
people
who
take
refuge
in
him
if
you
do
not
take
refuge
in
Christ
you
are
joining
those
ranks
of
demons
who
rage
against
the
high
king
of
heaven
and
it's
futile
and
that's
why
we can
do
what
we're
told
in
1st
Thessalonians
4
3
things
do
not
remain
proud
in
our
pride
we're
raging
against
God
instead
we need
to
run
inside
his
unshakable
fortress
we need
to trust
that he
has
all the
weapons
needed
to
protect
us
and
it
is
futile
for
the
enemy
to
try
to
touch
even
a
single
soul
that
is
hidden
in
Jesus
Christ
your
soul
needs
a
refuge
and
you
need
to
find
that
refuge
in
Christ
well
here's
our
fifth
theological
insight
you
also
need
refuge
from
yourself
David
says
in
verses
14
through
16
that
there
is
so
much
evil
remaining
inside
of
us
that
no
one
can
really
dispute
that
the
fact
that
you
need
refuge
from
the
own
evil
that
remains
inside
of
you
the
devil
is
bent
on
tempting
and
flaming
up
the
remaining
sin
of
the
flesh
while
we're
in
this
world
you
need
God's
protection
even
from
yourself
he
says
in
verse
14
behold
the
wicked
man
conceives
evil
inside
of him
and is
pregnant
with
that
mischief
and he
gives
birth
to
lies
he
brings
forth
falsehood
verse
15
the
wicked
man
makes
a
pit
digging
it
out
and
falls
into
the
hole
that
he
has
made
for
someone
else
his
own
wickedness
shall
return
upon
his
own
head
on
his
own
skull
his
own
violent
plots
will
crush
he's
describing
something
going on
on the
inside
of the
wicked
he
says
it's
like
a
pregnant
mother
who's
quivering
with
labor
pains
what's
making
her
quiver
is
her
desire
to do
evil
travailing
to
conceive
wickedness
that's
what's
inside
of the
wicked
that's
what's
inside
of
everyone
who
comes
after
Adam
and our
view is
that
in
Adam
you have
no
hope
of
turning
around
so
much
corruption
for
yourself
you are
totally
depraved
not as
bad as
you could
be
but every
part of
us
is
tainted
by
sin
now
the
good
news
is
under
Christ
we
do
get
a
new
nature
but
the
battle
against
the
remaining
flesh
will
persist
until
the
last
day
that
we're
on
this
earth
but
it's
not
a
losing
battle
but
see
how
desperate
is
this
condition
if
you
do
not
have
that
new
nature
put
into
you
by
the
spirit
of
God
himself
he
says
David
says
that
the
inner
being
it's
like
carrying
an
and
when
you
give
birth
to
that
addiction
to
sin
it
only
brings
forth
lies
and
falsehoods
the
wicked
man
is
digging
his
own
grave
David
says
the
violent
malice
that
this
wicked
man
plots
to
crush
others
it
falls
on
himself
and
smashes
his
own
head
isn't
it
true
that
in
the
addiction
to
sin
the
sinner
becomes
his
own
worst
enemy
you
destroy
yourself
if
you're
left
to
your
own
devices
you
need
saving
from
yourself
you
need
refuge
in
Christ
continually
even
if
you're
a
believer
think
about
how
God
does
that
for
us
if
we
go
a
period
of
time
many
of
us
travel
this
summer
don't
you
just
feel
your
soul
you're
needing
God's
shelter
again
and
it's
so
refreshing
to be
able to
hide
in the
congregation
of
God's
people
again
to
be
reminding
ourselves
again
of
his
gospel
and
how
Christ
alone
shelters
us
and
his
spirit
applies
that
truth
over
and
over
again
and
God
preserves
us
he
preserves
us
until
the
last
day
but
beware
of
that
remaining
sin
in
the
flesh
and
give
no
opportunity
for
the
devil
let
Christ
be
your
refuge
every
day
especially
when
you're
tired
and
weak
James
1
verses
14
and
15
warns
Christians
like
us
that
each
person
is
tempted
when
he
is
lured
and
enticed
by
his
own
desire
then
desire
when
it
has
conceived
gives
birth
to
sin
and
sin
when
it
is
fully
grown
brings
forth
death
you pick
up on that
similar
language
of it
being
inside
of
you
it's
like
a
like
a
pregnancy
that's
going
to
give
birth
so
beware
of the
sin
that
remains
because
that
remaining
sin
destroys
lives
isn't
this
true
not only
of
Saul
but
it
was
true
of
the
Pharaoh
he
intended
all
the
boys
be
thrown
into
the
Nile
River
and
drown
be
devoured
by
the
crocodiles
and
the
story
ends
with
his
own
army
being
buried
under
the
waters
of
the
Red
Sea
God's
waters
of
judgment
remember
Naaman
and the
story
with
Esther
he
prepared
the
gallows
for
Mordecai
and
on
those
young
and
now
here
is
Saul
trying
to
raise
up
these
3,000
Benjamites
to go
hunt
down
David
like a
bird
in the
wilderness
and
Saul
dies
not only
by the
arrow
but by
his
own
sword
we
need
refuge
in
Christ
even
from
our
own
remaining
sin
well
verse
17
is our
response
to those
five
biblical
truths
here's
the
response
if
your
soul
has
a
refuge
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
your
righteousness
the
only
thing
you
can
do
is to
praise
his
holy
name
praise
the
name
of
the
most
high
God
look at
verse
17
I'll
give
to
the
Lord
the
thanks
due
to
his
righteousness
I
will
sing
praise
to
his
name
the
name
of
the
Lord
most
high
I
started
off
by
making
you
think
of
refugees
and
how
refugees
are
so
aware
of
their
danger
refugees
know
they
need
to
find
refuge
you
know
once
a
refugee
experiences
that
new
start
in a
new
country
a
new
kingdom
they
are
some
of
the
most
grateful
people
you
will
ever
talk
to
have
you
gotten
to
visit
with
a
refugee
who's
got
a
new
start
in a
new
country
they
overflow
with
gratitude
the
reason
I
shared
that
specific
story
of this
little
girl
named
Christina
is
because
her
family
did
find
their
way
by
God's
providence
into
Baptist
church
in
northern
Brazil
and
this
church
loves
them
takes
care
of
them
helps
connect
them
with
opportunities
for
work
gives
them
rides
to
medical
appointments
and
other
things
that are
needed
just to
make
a
life
and
to
get
a
job
they
are
so
grateful
for
this
church
and
for
those
in
that
church
that
showed
them
that
love
as
refugees
this
little
girl
was
named
after
one
of
the
members
of
that
church
in
Brazil
an
expression
of
gratitude
and
I
just
can't
help
but
think
of
that
glory
that
we
share
you know
in
taking
on
the
name
of
God
you're
baptized
into
the
name
of
the
Father
the
Son
and
the
Spirit
not
only
does
he
bring
you
into
his
country
he
brings
you
into
his
family
he
doesn't
just
give
you
a
new
start
he
gives
you
a
new
nature
and
he
puts
you
inside
of
his
new
kingdom
the
new
creation
verse
17
David
highlights
three
things
he
says
give
to
the
Lord
the
thanks
number
one
due
to
his
righteousness
2nd
Corinthians
521
said
for
our
sake
God
made
Christ
to
be
sin
who
knew
no
sin
that
in
him
we
might
become
the
righteousness
of
God
we
can
give
thanks
that
Jesus
Christ
is
our
righteousness
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
he
became
a
refugee
you
could
say
so
that
your
soul
could
have
refuge
in
him
Jesus
was
rejected
he
was
despised
he
was
hunted
down
and
he
was
killed
so
that
you
could
have
life
and
you
could
belong
now
to
him
the
shelter
for
your
soul
David
also
says
I
will
sing
praise
to
the
name
of
the
Lord
the
word
Lord
is
Jehovah
this
is
God's
covenant
keeping
name
in
1st
Corinthians
1
7
through
9
we
read
that
God
is
faithful
because
he
has
called
you
into
fellowship
through
his
son
Jesus
Christ
and
he
who
called
you
will
sustain
you
to
the
end
guiltless
in
the
day
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
the
third
reason
to give
the
thanks
do
to
God
is
because
he
is
Lord
most
high
he
is
the
most
high
king
revelation
7
15
describes
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
this
way
it
is
he
who
sits
on
the
throne
listen
to
this
he
will
shelter
you
with
his
presence
our
king
lives
our
shelter
is
alive
run
to
Christ
for
refuge
it's
his
presence
that
is
your
shelter
and
give
thanks
to
the
Lord
with
your
life
live
like
a
grateful
refugee
who's
been
brought
into
the
kingdom
of
heaven
sing
praise
to
his
name
live
your
life
in
gratitude
to
the
one
who
has
been
the
refuge
for
your
soul
and
always
will
be
let's
pray
Lord we
thank you
we give you
the praise
do your
name
because you
are our
righteousness
and every
true
Christian
can sing
yes there
is one
who lived
for me
his life
my only
victory
his death
forever
sealed in
time
that I
am his
and he
is mine
praise to
the king
his throne
transcends
his crown
and kingdom
never
end
now
and throughout
eternity
I will praise
the one
who died
for me
our
shelter
our
shield
our
fortress
the
God
of heaven
the
most
high
king
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
amen