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When I was a kid, I had a hideout. And so did many of you.
You know what I am talking about. That really cool secret retreat. Our secluded place we hoped no one else knew about. A tree house. A rickety barn or abandoned garage. Maybe a crawl space under the hallway staircase. A dimly lit closet or a dusty corner in the attic. A tent or a cardboard shack made from huge appliance boxes. You get the picture: your place of escape and solitude. Childhood hideouts serve several purposes. Being the little guy on the block, I hid out from neighborhood bullies! Me and my best friend also retreated there to ditch our siblings. It was awesome to sneak away from life to be alone and have a neat place all your own. In the safety of my hideout, I used to think about stuff, goof around, dream dreams, and plan things I wanted to do.
Our scripture today tells us that God believes in hiding places. Matter of fact, He believes in them so much, that HE IS ONE! God is our hiding place. A holy hideout if you will. When it is necessary to run and hide from something or someone, it is imperative that we run to something or someone. A safe, secure, strong place for us to run to when Satan is beating up on us. A consoling and comforting shelter from life’s spiritual and emotional storms. A refreshing and renewing spot to run when life is running us down. A familiar,” its okay my child” setting where we can catch our breath and take a break from the stresses and pressures of daily living. Everybody needs a hiding place. Good News: GOD IS IT. Note in our verse David’s unmistakable emphasis is on God. “Thou”, not us or men, but God is our “hiding place”, “my shield”, and He gives us “Thy Word”. When we need to hide, God Himself is our hideout. Two things should happen when we seek the Lord as our hiding place.
Like running to a neighbor’s house for shelter, we run to God and take up temporary residence with Him. And what a great address to visit! The God of heaven and earth! Note God is our shield. Shields protect from attack and danger. “Shields up” (from Star Trek days) provide a protective covering from the enemy’s weapons. Think about it. Who can get through to us when God is our shield? No person or power in heaven, on earth or in hell. Hallelujah!
2. When hiding in Christ, CONFIDE IN HIM. While David is sheltered and shielded, he waits for God’s Word. When resting in God’s protecting presence, we need to seek and receive His Word. Hiding means confiding in Him. To confide means to consult with the Lord and to listen to what He has to say. When we tell Him how we feel and what we need, He responds with His Word. Psalm 107:20 declares “God sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.” As we walk by faith in this world, you and I need God’s Word found in the Bible. While we hide in Him, the Word of God will minister to us, equip and encourage us for the next round of life.
A FACT OF LIFE: There are times when we simply need to run to the Lord and hide in Him. There is nothing wrong and everything right with running to hide in the Lord. He will cover us and protect us from what is hurting and creating pain in our hearts. Retreat often to your hideout in God. Let Him hide you out for a while. He is there to care for you and minister to your needs through His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Need a time out in your hideout with God? “Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, preserve my life from dread of the enemy.” Psalm 64:2 “Thou art my hiding place, Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 A Word For Your Week: When life crashes in, hide in HIM. |
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