The Unchangeable Changer Series

REF NO: 024

COLUMNIST: Rudolf Nii Yemoh Mensah, Prelate, Oasis Potterlight Chapel International

BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble".

BACKGROUND: God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. In what ways has God been your refuge and strength?

THE UNCHANGEABLE CHANGER

Our faith is always being subjected to storms and earthquakes. Where can we find safety and security? Psalm 46 is a strong biblical passage that reminds us that even in the face of trouble, God is our refuge and strength.” The reality is that there will be difficult times, but God promises to be our refuge.

It quite literally says this – “God is our refuge and strength, a Helper in trials/tribulations, the ones which find us exceedingly.” In other words, these trials are extreme and terrible and it's almost like they are chasing us.

One day in the year 1505 while walking in the woods, Martin Luther got caught in a terrible thunderstorm and he began to run to seek shelter at the school but before he reached the safety of the school lightening struck near where he was running.

It was so close to him in fact that he cried out to St. Anne "Help, St. Anne! I'll become a monk!" (according to catholic tradition St. Anne is the mother of the Virgin Mary).

Martin Luther survived the near death experience and true to his word, he dropped out of law school and entered the monastery.

It was in 1529 that Martin Luther wrote "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and it has been called "The Battle Hymn of the Reformation. He wrote this hymn when he understood from scripture (Psalm 46) that it was actually the Almighty God who came down to be his rescue during the thunderstorm and lightening strike that endangered his life. He found Jesus to be his mighty fortress on that fateful day.

Three things are said about God here in relation to when we run into trouble. Thus, God is our REFUGE, STRENGTH and HELP!

God Is Our Refuge

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Shelter or protection from danger or distress.

2. (n.) That which shelters or protects from danger, or from distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; a place inaccessible to an enemy.

3. (n.) An expedient to secure protection or defense; a device or contrivance.

How does God manifest Himself to us as a refuge?

The Hebrew word there is 'chasad'. It means a refuge, a dwelling place. "Chasad' means " a place for the refugees to run towards" The word is spelt with a Cheth which indicates that He becomes our refuge when we join ourselves with Him and receive a revelation from God.

In modern English, "shelter" is often applied to structures providing safety from things like rain, natural disasters, or enemy attacks. As in the Assyrian invasion, God sheltered the people of Israel. He demonstrated that He was the source of their protection.

The next letter is 'Samekh' which shows that this joining ourselves with God and receiving a revelation from him will come through our memories. As David said: “Forget not the past.”

We look at how God brought us through in the past and this will assure us that He will not let us down today. The last letter is 'hei' which represents the presence of God. So refuge is a joining of ourselves with God by thinking on the past faithfulness of God and receiving a revelation from Him that His faithfulness is forevermore. He will never change. He is the unchangeable changer.

God Is Our Strength

The Hebrew word study identifies 'ozze' in relating to strength which has the idea of inward reflection through an involvement with God resulting in a rest. When we rest in Him we are not worried about all our troubles. This gives us the chance to renew our strength. The word 'ozze' shows physical, financial, and relationship strength.

The word ‘strength’ implies that we can rely on his might when we feel weak and defenceless. And we’ve all felt like that at times. You know of course that nothing sucks our strength like stress.

It means that he has ‘proved’ himself to be such a help in the past and we can therefore trust in him in the present. He has been ‘tested’ and found to be trustworthy. No crisis is too big for God to handle and nothing will happen to him. Because of this, we do not have to fear.

God is Our Help

The word help means just that, to assist. However, the ever-present aspect found in the word 'masa' means to 'find something with a light'. We sometimes find something through torch, through uncovering something or by shining a light on it. 'Mesa' is the third, finding something by shining a light on it. God is our help as He shines his light to reveal what his revelation is. In other versions, they use the phrase ever-present help. And that means God is quick to assist.