This psalm wonderfully rounds off the series on God’s active involvement with his people. Advisors are telling the author to flee like a bird to the mountains in search of safety (v 1). The wilderness, rather than mountains, was usually seen as a safe place of human refuge. But for a bird, looking for a safe perch, it might be a good place to hide. The opponents are acting randomly. Life feels precarious.

More secure is the refuge to be found in God (v 1). The second part of the psalm (vs 4–7) focuses on God’s intervention with his people. How far do the statements about God in these verses reinforce what we have reflected on in 1 Samuel? God is not remote. His eyes are ever watchful. (The word for ‘eyes’ (v 4) suggests eyelids which never close.) The fate of the wicked will be destruction, for he cannot associate with evil, but the faithful will behold God (v 7). 

‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety’ Psalm 18:2 (NLT).

‘Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.’¹

I picture a medieval battleground, with arrows flying in all directions and someone trying to flee. The psalmist paints a vivid picture; but he himself is hiding in a safe refuge (v 1). Even if he could fly above the rain of arrows, there is no need. I find it significant that the psalmist begins with the phrase, ‘In the Lord I take refuge’, before the troubles are mentioned. Thus he refuses to flee in fear, but rests in the Lord’s safe keeping. The psalm is clearly written in the context of crisis. When we meet serious trouble, is that how we respond? Or do we rush about every which way, panicking?

Verse 3 points to the importance of foundations and reminds us of Jesus’ parable about the houses on rock and sand.² Foundations in the wrong place can fail us. Where are yours? Where do you feel safe? In knowing you have a healthy bank balance? Proximity to a supermarket? A good job? The approbation of an influential person? None of these is secure, as the world has been discovering. When a crisis like coronavirus happens, nothing is secure any more – except the knowledge that we are ‘hidden with Christ in God’³ and therefore whatever happens we are safe for ever. That is stability indeed.

There is a warning here of final judgement. God is totally in control (vs 4–7). The mention of fire and brimstone (or ‘burning sulphur’, v 6) is a perpetual reminder of what happened to Sodom.⁴ The wicked will one day be judged, whereas the righteous, those who are right with God, are loved by him (v 7). So, as the arrows rain down around us, problems and troubles of every kind, we can ‘see his face’ (v 7) in love and worship, trusting he is still in control.

Think back to a particular trouble you’ve faced and reflect on what you have learnt through it – about God and about yourself.

¹ Ps 62:8  ² Matt 7:24–27  ³ Col 3:3  ⁴ Gen 19:24–28