Introduction

Good morning, church family! As we gather together today, I feel led to delve into a beautiful passage from the Book of Isaiah, where the prophet paints a picture of our Heavenly Father as a steadfast refuge, a hope to wait upon, and the source of our ultimate salvation and joy.

A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." So, let's dive in and allow our minds to be filled with God's truth about who He is.

Our Scripture today is from Isaiah 25:1-9:

"O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners' palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, 'Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'"

Let's open with a prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, as we dive into Your Word today, open our hearts and minds to receive Your truth. Help us to see You as our Refuge, our Hope, and our Salvation. Stir in us a joy that comes from knowing You and waiting on You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let's unpack this powerful passage together...

God is Our Refuge

In the midst of the tumultuous events described in the book of Isaiah, the prophet paints a vivid picture of God as a refuge - a stronghold for the poor and needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm, and a shade from the heat. This image of God as our refuge is not just a comforting thought, but a foundational truth that shapes our understanding of who God is and how He interacts with us.

Refuge definition: When we think of a refuge, we often envision a place of safety and protection, a sanctuary where we can find respite from the storms of life. This is exactly what God is to us. He is our safe haven, our sanctuary, our place of rest and peace amidst the chaos and turmoil of this world. He is the one we can run to when we are overwhelmed, the one we can trust to protect us when we are vulnerable, and the one we can rely on to provide for us when we are in need.

A refuge for our souls: He is the one who can provide us with inner peace and tranquility, even when the world around us is in turmoil. He is the one who can give us hope when we are despairing, comfort when we are grieving, and strength when we are weak. He is the one who can fill our hearts with joy, even in the midst of sorrow.

Always accessible to us: We do not need to travel to a specific location or perform a specific ritual to access His protection and peace. We can turn to Him at any time, in any place, and in any circumstance. His presence is always with us, and His arms are always open to us.

His faithfulness and reliability: Just as a physical refuge is dependable and trustworthy, so is God. We can trust Him to be there for us when we need Him, to keep His promises, and to never leave us or forsake us. His steadfastness and reliability are a source of great comfort and assurance to us.

For all who put their trust in Him: Isaiah speaks of God being a stronghold to the poor and the needy, showing that God's refuge is available to all, regardless of their social status, wealth, or background. This is a powerful reminder of God's inclusivity and His heart for all people.

An eternal arraignment: Isaiah speaks of God swallowing up death forever and wiping away tears from all faces. This points to the ultimate refuge that God provides us in the form of eternal life. In Him, we have the assurance of a refuge that will never end, a place of safety and peace that will last forever.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about how you've experienced God as your refuge in a time of need. How did this affect your life and your faith?

Waiting on God in Hope

To wait on God is to place our trust in Him, to rely on His timing and His plans, and to anticipate His action in our lives with a sense of expectancy and hope ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO