Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge— ¹⁰no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. —Psalm 91:9-10
Refuge is one of the most important concepts in the entire book of Psalms. It is used often as the choice description of faith. Consider a few other verses:
“O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,” (Psalm 7:1)
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” (Psalm 16:1)
“Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.” (Psalm 25:20)
“On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” (Psalm 62:7)
To trust in God—relinquishing our own efforts to find security and holding fast to all that He is—it’s summed up here: to take refuge.
But think about it for a moment. Refuge is only necessary if there is an impending threat. And this impending threat is key to our understanding more about what the refuge is. Evil, plague, deadly pestilence, the snare of the fowler—these are a few things mentioned in Psalm 91 from which we are saved. But they’re not the main thing. The biggest threat that pushes us to find refuge is the wrath of God.
The first time refuge is used is in Psalm 2:12, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
In other words, take refuge in the Son or be consumed by his wrath. Yes. That’s right. We take refuge in one who would destroy us. We take refuge in the one who has every right to destroy us because of our sin. In our sin, we were destined for God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3); and in Jesus Christ, we have been saved (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Our greatest threat gives way to our greatest salvation. And if we are saved from that, what then is plague? What is pestilence? Ushers, now. That’s all. We are not merely saved from them, but they are conquered. They’re actually so overcome—more than conquered—that they usher us into the glad presence of God (Romans 8:37). Because the victory of Jesus has freed us from God’s wrath, death and every other “evil” is turned against itself to bring God’s people into His eternal joy.
For Reflection
You are saved from evil. How does this truth mobilize your life in the world?
What is the greatest threat from which we need salvation?
How are you saved from this greatest threat?