My Perfect Hiding Place

MY PERFECT HIDING PLACE

By: Atty. Numeriano P. Galgo, Jr.

October 20, 2024

Tagum City, Philippines

attyborgegalgo@gmail.com

Part I.

Greetings

Overview of the message

This morning’s message is about the amazing love and goodness of God as our Almighty Father. He said that “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” I can attest to the truth of this love because I have experienced this throughout my life. One proof of God’s deep affection for us is the fact that we can run to him in times of trouble, and he willingly protects us. He calms us like a parent who comforts a frightened child. He covers us from trials like a hen who protects her chicks. He never neglects or abandons his children. Indeed, God never fails.

Our main verse is found in Psalm 32:7 which says:

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Prayer

Part II. Introduction

We all used to play hide and seek when we were kids, right? Most of my childhood years were spent on my grandparents’ farm. There was no cellphone back then, so the games I played with my friends were patentero, shatum, jolin, takyan, and tago-tago. Could you still remember these games? When we played tago-tago or hide-and-seek, we would hide behind the bushes, houses, flowers, and sometimes up on the coconut trees. We would look for the best spot, the hardest to find. Those were fun-filled days.

I hate to admit it, but I was a naughty kid. When my father got angry at me, I would run and hide behind my mother or grandmother to avoid the rod. Palaban ba. When it was time to wash the dishes, fetch water, or do some chores, I would hide too! I pretended to be sick. What similar experiences can you remember growing up? I know you did some foolish things too.

In my line of work as a lawyer, I noticed that a lot of people hide, or even perish, when it is time to pay debts. You can see them on social media but could not be found in their homes or offices! I had a hard time serving demand letters. There was a story wherein the creditor went to the house of the debtor to collect payment. When he knocked on the door, a child opened the door. When the creditor asked where his father was, the child would say “he is not here, sir.” The second time, the same thing happened. On the third time, the creditor asked the child, “Where is your father? We have a delicious gift for him?” The innocent child answered, “He’s hiding behind the door!” We have a saying that goes, “Kung utang lipay-lipay kung bayad likay-likay.”

Some of us have that special hiding place. We go there to be alone; to think; to meditate and pray; to find peace; to rest; and to run away from reality. There’s a beautiful song titled “You Are My Hiding Place.” It goes:

Your are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say I am strong

In the strength of the Lord

I will trust in You

A. Hiding

In the Bible, hiding could be two ways: 1) hiding away from God; and 2) hiding in God. Adam and Eve hid from God when they committed sin. Jonah ran away from the Lord. King Saul turned away from God. Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. On the other hand, King David had chosen to take refuge in the Lord. Either we walk away from the Lord or we come to the Lord. There’s no neutral ground. What will we choose—hide away from God or hide in God? We must hide in God alone.

In our verse, King David declared that God is his hiding place. He said this after he confessed his sins of adultery. It is clear that God is not the hiding place for our sins. Sin has no room in the Lord. The Lord is the perfect hiding place for people with a broken and contrite heart—those who have asked for the forgiveness of their sins and have surrendered fully to the Lord. We cannot rightly say, Lord, you are my hiding place, and keep sinning against him while violating his commands. We can only say, Jesus, forgive me, for my sins are many. Help me, rescue me, lead me, and hide me in the shadow of your wings! Confession and forgiveness must happen first.

To declare, “Lord, you are my hiding place” is not an act of weakness. The easiest thing to do is to walk away from the Lord. King David’s statement was an act of courage, strength, and faith. In my walk with the Lord, I have learned that it is very hard to acknowledge God’s will if it is against what I want; it is not easy to wait and be patient; it is difficult to submit to him sometimes. To choose the Lord in the midst of our troubles and set aside our pride, knowledge, position, power, and possessions is a gesture of strength and wisdom. If you have chosen the Lord, be glad and rejoice in it!