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!
When we hide, we don’t want to be seen. But when King David said to God, “You are my hiding place,” it was not his purpose that he would not be seen by his enemies. He was the King of Israel. You must be seen as a leader of a nation. I think he was saying that God was his comforter and deliverer in times of trouble. We cannot hide from problems. In fact, our verse only says, “You will protect me from trouble.” Trials will come to strengthen our faith. They are part of life. But no matter what, the children of the Lord cannot be defeated, for the battle belongs to him! Everything has been defeated at the cross!
B. What kind of a hiding place is the Lord?
Our verse says, God is the kind of hiding place that protects us from trouble. While it says hiding place, God is not just a place to go to; he is also a person. This means that wherever we may be, in the Philippines or abroad, in our houses or in the valley of the shadow of death, or in the highest or lowest point of our lives, God is there; he protects, and he goes wherever we go. He is an ever-present help in trouble. He encamps in our midst. Like a hen, he moves with his children.
I watched a video wherein the shepherd was looking for his herding dog and one sheep that had gone astray in the mountains. He was looking for two days. On the second day, he found the dog at last. It was guarding the sheep because it had given birth. The dog never left the sheep and the lamb to protect them from predators. God’s protection is like that but more.
I also heard that somewhere in Africa, a missionary came to a village full of sorcerers and witchcraft to preach the gospel. The sorcerers had decided to attack and kill the missionary because it would destroy their hold on the people in the village. So, for several nights, they went to the house of the missionary to kill him. But they did not succeed. One of them asked the missionary, “Where do you sleep at night? He replied, in my house. The sorcerer said, I don’t think so. We could not find you there! God’s protective covering is amazing! He blinds the enemies.
Other verses of the Bible say that the name of the Lord: 1) is a strong tower and a safe refuge (Prov. 18:10); 2) is a shelter from the storm and shade from heat (Isaiah 25:4); 3) is a place of perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3-4); 4) is faithful and he protects us from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3); 5) is our shield (Psalm 119:114); 6) is the Eternal Rock (Isaiah 26:3-4); and 7) is sovereign. There are many more. Our protector neither slumbers nor sleeps. Our refuge is not ordinary. He is an omnipotent God. He controls all things. Indeed, God is our everything!
Who needs hiding in the Lord? Those who are in the storms of life (Isaiah 32:2); those who are subject of the evil plots of men (Psalm 31:20); those who are slandered by other people (id); those whose hearts are heavy and they need to pour it out (Psalm 62:8); those who are fatherless (Psalm 68:4-5); the widows who need help (Psalm 68:4-5); those who are in trouble or need; those who are afraid; and those who are weak. High and low people find refuge in the shadow of God’s wings.
C. Songs of deliverance
God sings songs of deliverance to those who hide in him. I remember my grandmother and mother with this verse. When I had a problem, or afraid, or made a huge mistake as a child, oftentimes I would cry terribly in their arms. Then, they would rub my back, hug me, and say comforting words—that everything would be okay. Then I would slowly stop crying and heave a sigh of relief. Then I would play again as if nothing happened. Mothers are really good at this. Fathers have a different approach sometimes: if our children are bullied, we say to them, “Stay here while I give a lesson to that bully!”
How sweet it is to know that when we run to and hide in God, he does not lecture us about our mistakes and sins! Earthly parents tend to blame their children. I think we should rather sing our castigations! But with God, he sings to us! Maybe a lullaby to calm us down. In Isaiah 40:9-11, it says that God tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart and gently leads them. He tells us, “Don’t worry about it, consider it solved and done; it’s difficult at the beginning, but you will rejoice in the end; or just stay still; the battle belongs to me, and we will win. God’s songs of deliverance are in the Bible. His promises are there. Read and meditate on them every day.
Part III. Lessons
A. First, when we hide in God, his protection extends to our loved ones. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). God protected David, his kingdom, and his descendants. I have benefited from the faith and service of my parents in the Lord. You know, I could have died when I was a little boy because accordingly I fell into a deep canal, but someone saw me and told my father about it, and without hesitation he jumped into the canal and found me and lifted me up from the black filth. It was God’s protection. My son Miego could have died or been injured because of a reckless driver, and partly because of my lack of foresight. I was not expecting that a vehicle would violate the speed limit inside the Provincial Capitol. But I saw with my eyes how God protected Miego. The vehicle was speeding fast, but the Lord stopped Miego at the right moment. One more step, and something bad would have happened. I lost all energy and braced for the worst. In my mind, I was only able to say “In Jesus Name” as I fell on the ground, covering my ears. When you hide in the Lord, he protects you, and he protects your family too. The coverage of the Lord’s protection is very wide. His blessings will last through generations.
B. Second, when we hide in the Lord, we should not resist anymore. Hiding in the Lord means submission and dependence. Before, I would take refuge in the Lord, but when I don’t like what he was planning to do or doing in my life, I fight back and resist. I would decide on my own based on emotions. I found no rest. Resisting defeats the idea of hiding in God because we would not find peace. Now, I would find the courage to say, God, you know what’s best. If you want to take it, do so. If it’s not for me, don’t allow it.
C. Third, when God is singing songs of deliverance, sing with him. We are used to our earthly hiding places—small, dark, and unstable. We often forget that our God is totally different. His name is powerful. We hide in him but are still so anxious and worried. We have plenty of “what ifs.” When God says, “I will heal you because I’m the Great Physician or I will provide your need because I’m Jehovah Jireh,” we should confirm it in our spirit. Don’t sing a different song full of doubts and fear. No matter how bleak and grim the situation looks, sing with him. Have faith in God. Believe his words and promises. Never doubt. Just agree with him because he knows best.
Part IV. Conclusion
Every thing that we have—profession, knowledge, power, connections, money, and possession are temporary. They cannot offer protection from our spiritual enemies. God is our perfect hiding place. Let’s hide in God. There is no other way to a victorious life. Let’s pray.
