Deuteronomy 33:26–29 The Answer to Despair
Moses now faced death, and could say,
“The eternal God is [my] refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms …”
I. The Everlasting Arms Belong to the God of Eternity - The eternal God is thy refuge,
1) The Eternal God is the Answer to Life - and underneath are the everlasting arms:
man is made for God - Augustine "You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are rest-less till they find their rest in you." - Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.
2) The Eternal God is the Answer to Death - The eternal God is thy refuge,
Death is inevitable to all Heb. 9:27 as it is appointed unto men once to die.
… A little boy was offered the opportunity to select a dog for his birthday present. he picked a puppy whose tail was wagging furiously. Why? boy said,
“I wanted the one with the happy ending.”
3) The Eternal God is the Answer to Eternity - The eternal God is thy refuge,
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
II. The Everlasting Arms Belong to the God of Security - The eternal God is thy refuge,“refuge” is better rendered “dwelling place.” The children of Israel were homeless and their national future was uncertain and hidden, yet they were in the presence and security of the eternal God. - Ultimately, this is the only thing that matters;
1) God Gives Security in the Place of Emptiness - The eternal God is thy refuge
Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist has stated that
“the central neurosis of our time is a sense of emptiness.”
Things may satisfy our bodies, and people may satisfy our souls, but only God can satisfy our spirits. - John 10:10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
2) God Gives Security in the Place of Loneliness - The eternal God is thy refuge
Ps. 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
No fellowship or friendship can equal communion with God.
3) God Gives Security in the Place of Homelessness - The eternal God is thy refuge
Moses is saying - The eternal God was my refuge, is my refuge, and will be my refuge.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
III. The Everlasting Arms Belong to the God of Ability
27 and underneath are the everlasting arms:
1) The Extent of Those Everlasting Arms - The word “underneath” is very significant.
Everything holds together and rests upon that which is eternal; ie.the everlasting arms.
There are three “d’s” which sum up the tragedy of human experience, but underneath them all are the everlasting arms.
(a) The “d” of defeat. Because man is “… brought forth in iniquity, And in sin" (Ps. 51:5) He is no match for the world, the flesh, or the devil; but even at the deepest level of defeat “… underneath are the everlasting arms …”
(b) The “d” of distress. No one can know defeat without experiencing distress.
Such distress may lead eventually to depression.
Spurgeon once said, “This week has been in some respects the crowning week of my life, but it closed with a horror of a great darkness, of which I will say no more than this—I bless God that at my worst, underneath me I found the everlasting arms”
(c) The “d” of despair when death seems inevitable and all hope is gone.
In such an hour the Spirit of God can whisper, “Underneath are the everlasting arms.” The extent of those arms meets us at the level of our greatest need.
2) The Embrace of Those Everlasting Arms - 27 underneath are the everlasting arms: Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. In the embrace of those arms there was, (a) The Forgiveness of the father—He “… had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (20). No words could better spell out the forgiving love of God.
(b) The Fellowship of the father— 22 Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet - Welcome
(c) The Fullness of the father— 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
Paul could say, Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Col. 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
3) The Endurance of Those Everlasting Arms - 27 underneath are the everlasting arms:
… A busy mother once overheard her two young daughters talking. One asked, How do you know you are safe?” “Because I am holding Jesus tight with both my hands,” - “That is not safe,”, “suppose the devil cut off your two hands?” She replied. “Oh, I forgot! Jesus is holding me, and Satan couldn’t cut off His hands, so I am safe!” How true are the words, “… underneath are the everlasting arms …” Fanny Crosby was pregnant, but lost the baby during childbirth. years later when asked to write words in a hurry for a melody - she said - that's safe in the arms of Jesus.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast;
