Author: Brad Whitt
03 Sep Devotional Thought – Our Reliable Refuge
"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you." Psalm 20:1 In reminding us of our reliable refuge, David talks about "the name of the God of Jacob." You say, "But, I thought that God's name wasn't revealed to Jacob. In fact, I thought that the night-long wrestling match took place because the Angel refused to give Jacob His name." That's true, but even though Jacob didn't receive His name, he did receive His blessing. When the Angel departed, he left behind something that would distinguish Him from any and every other presence - something that would clearly mark His identity from everyone else. This is what I think the Psalmist is referring to, and encouraging us to grab hold of, in this verse. David says, "May the place you run to for refuge not be a philosophical idea or some religious denomination or even a physical structure for worship. No. Let it be that one thing that you cannot exactly put into words, but which you have felt deep within your spirit. May God's name to you be 'the God of Jacob.' The One who in the midst of a man's struggle of soul sent a blessing in the form of physical pain - a shrunken sinew and a dislocated joint. This really is the only reliable refuge that will suffice when trouble remains - in a "day of trouble."28 Aug 2014 Fall Blog Schedule
Tonight, as I sit in one of my favorite places (Ridgecrest Conference Center), I must admit that I have somewhat of an internal conflict. On...