Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Psalm 90: 1, NKJV
Heavenly Parent, as we enter the study of Your Word, may our eyes be opened, and our hearts blessed, for Christ’s sake; Amen
Today our promise is taken from a Psalm written by Moses. Moses had been used by God to bring the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. He had seen God become a refuge for His people in the land of Egypt. When the entire land of Egypt was enshrouded in a darkness so thick that it could be felt, “all the Israelites had light where they lived” (Exodus 10: 23c, NRSV). God Himself was their light. When, because of Pharoah’s stubbornness, the final plague (the death of the firstborn), threatened every household in Egypt, from Pharoah to the least among the Egyptians, the firstborn among the Israelites was spared (12: 27, 29). God, became their life.
Throughout all their wanderings in the wilderness, God was their refuge (translation for dwelling place in the Septuagint, and Vulgate). They found shelter in Him from the desert sun by day, and from the cold and darkness by night (13: 21, 22). They hid in Him when Pharoah and His army pursued them. He became the Way for them to walk on in the midst of the Red Sea (14: 23-25). He provided bread from heaven when they complained of hunger (16: 15). He was their source of water in the dry, desert land (17: 6). He was their Banner (17: 15, 16), and defended them against the Amalekites .
He was their Lawgiver at the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). He was the Ratifier of the Covenant (24: 8). He was their Arquitect in the construction of the temple (25: 9). He was their All! That is why Moses could say “You have been our dwelling place in all generations!” They wandered away from Him constantly, but He never left them!
For those of us who have put our trust in the LORD, He will do the same, for He is the same God, today, tomorrow, and forever! He has promised to make our bed in sickness (Psalm 41: 3). He has also promised to forgive our iniquity, heal our diseases, redeem our life from the Pit, crown us with steadfast love and mercy, satisfy us with good as long as we live, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103: 3-5, NRSV). He has promised to deliver those who love Him; protect those who know His name; answer when we call to Him; be with us in trouble; rescue and honor us, and show us His salvation (Psalm 91: 14-16). And even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil, for He will be with us.
Like Moses, we can truly say, “Lord, you have been our [refuge] through all generations,” for He has been, and will continue to be.