god as refuge
February 3, 2019
Psalm 71:1-6
In certain circles A.W. Tozer is well-known. I suspect at one time he was widely known, but since he died in 1963, it is pretty safe for me to say that there are some who may not know the name Aiden Wilson Tozer, or the man known as A.W. Tozer. According to one outlet, He was “a self-taught theologian. Fearless preacher. Gifted writer. Man of the inner life…, called a modern-day prophet by many.” Professionally he was a pastor, author, magazine editor and spiritual mentor who received two honorary degrees as a result of his work. Through the various and numerous volumes of his work people have been known to pull meaningful quotes. I came across one of those quotes this past week. A quote that got me thinking, of course, and that thinking stirred me to conversation throughout the week – conversation that I hope to continue after today, for both me and you. So, hear now this particular A.W. Tozer quote I’ve been talking about - “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Isn’t that a bold claim? Now, I will admit I am not one hundred percent (100%) sure of the context of his statement, but that didn’t stop it from working on me all week. His statement had me thinking about all sorts of things about myself, my family, my church family and really humanity in general. “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most is the most important thing about us.” To place such a level of importance leads me to believe that at least in Tozer’s mind, the way we see God is foundational for our entire life, and if that is in fact true, then we better be asking ourselves about our own images of God. Images that might be as plentiful as the number of people here today.
******************************
So, take a moment and answer (to yourself) this question, what image comes to mind when you think about God?
Now I don’t know if that little exercise was hard or easy for you all, but I do believe we all had some concept come to mind. Even for those claiming no belief in a God, more times than not they have an image of who or what God is or isn’t. Quite remarkable isn’t it.
So, let’s see if any of these images fit with what you saw:
For some people God is a collection of things that they have joined together from other world religions and spiritual practices so that God really becomes whatever they want.
For others God is angry and vengeful. A “fire and brimstone” God. Keeping score and just waiting to punish everyone on Judgment Day.
Or maybe God is totally unfair and as a result they want no part of it. The reasons for this image are numerous, like praying for someone you love, but bad things happen to them anyway. You can’t believe in a God who lets bad things happen to the people you love.
Or how about God the grandfather. Full white beard. Always kind and perfect to have around on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.
And even though I think I could keep going on and on I’ll end with this one, God the distant one. So busy running the entire universe that there is no time to be interested in us.
*******************************
When reading verses one through six of Psalm 71, it seems safe to conclude that the author had a very clear image of God as the source and place of refuge and rest. God is the one who rescues and saves. God is the peace that is always found underneath the surface because no matter how choppy and tumultuous the surface waters are, at some depth underneath the surface you will find peace. I know Kay Williams earlier read the NRSV translation, but I also love The Message translation and I want you to hear it.
1-3 I run for dear life to God,
I’ll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
you said your door was always open!
You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.
4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough--
my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth,
the day you took me from the cradle;
I’ll never run out of praise.
No one can truly hear those words and doubt the Psalmist’s conviction. Simply put, in his eyes there is no doubt about God’s love and God’s goodness and each time I read it my response is the same… what a blessing this image must have been for him. Even more than that, I find myself so desperately wanting that image for everyone. How powerful would it be if everyone knew about God’s love and God’s goodness? How transformative might it be for everyone to know God as their place of refuge and rest? Not only for them, but for all of creation.
Maybe that is why A.W. Tozer placed such significance on our images of God. You see, if your image of God is one of anger, judgment and/or distance, then it seems logical to be angry, judgmental and distant from others. On the other hand, if your God is one of love, grace, mercy and rest, then your approach to others will be loving, graceful, merciful and caring.
*******************************
There are some things about my God that I’ve always known, like I have no doubt about God’s love. Not just for me, but for all creation. I also have no doubt about God’s grace. Never once, though, has it ever entered my mind that God does not love. Never once has it entered my mind that God doesn’t care. I know people who do feel that way… people whose image of God leads them to that place, but in my never-ending desire to help people, I want to find a way to help them know and claim the God I know. Not because I have all of life figured out, because I don’t. There are so many things that I want to know more about when it comes to God, like God as refuge. The Psalmist is so clear in his knowing about this aspect of God that I find myself longing to know that aspect too. Like everyone, life can wear me down and sometimes wear me out. I want to know more about God as my refuge for those times because I know they will come again. The thing is, my desire to discover that aspect of God has never been reason to disregard the aspects I already know.
What I have found in my own life is that layers of God’s are continuously being revealed. And I never know when that new revelation will happen. Try as I may, I have thus far been unable to predict it. All of these layers, though, are rooted in love. That, I’ve always known.
****************************
Over the past couple of days this layer of refuge and rest was really working on me. I prayed about it and in those prayers expressed my longing for its revelation. Then this happened:
Psalm 71:1-6
In certain circles A.W. Tozer is well-known. I suspect at one time he was widely known, but since he died in 1963, it is pretty safe for me to say that there are some who may not know the name Aiden Wilson Tozer, or the man known as A.W. Tozer. According to one outlet, He was “a self-taught theologian. Fearless preacher. Gifted writer. Man of the inner life…, called a modern-day prophet by many.” Professionally he was a pastor, author, magazine editor and spiritual mentor who received two honorary degrees as a result of his work. Through the various and numerous volumes of his work people have been known to pull meaningful quotes. I came across one of those quotes this past week. A quote that got me thinking, of course, and that thinking stirred me to conversation throughout the week – conversation that I hope to continue after today, for both me and you. So, hear now this particular A.W. Tozer quote I’ve been talking about - “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Isn’t that a bold claim? Now, I will admit I am not one hundred percent (100%) sure of the context of his statement, but that didn’t stop it from working on me all week. His statement had me thinking about all sorts of things about myself, my family, my church family and really humanity in general. “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most is the most important thing about us.” To place such a level of importance leads me to believe that at least in Tozer’s mind, the way we see God is foundational for our entire life, and if that is in fact true, then we better be asking ourselves about our own images of God. Images that might be as plentiful as the number of people here today.
******************************
So, take a moment and answer (to yourself) this question, what image comes to mind when you think about God?
Now I don’t know if that little exercise was hard or easy for you all, but I do believe we all had some concept come to mind. Even for those claiming no belief in a God, more times than not they have an image of who or what God is or isn’t. Quite remarkable isn’t it.
So, let’s see if any of these images fit with what you saw:
For some people God is a collection of things that they have joined together from other world religions and spiritual practices so that God really becomes whatever they want.
For others God is angry and vengeful. A “fire and brimstone” God. Keeping score and just waiting to punish everyone on Judgment Day.
Or maybe God is totally unfair and as a result they want no part of it. The reasons for this image are numerous, like praying for someone you love, but bad things happen to them anyway. You can’t believe in a God who lets bad things happen to the people you love.
Or how about God the grandfather. Full white beard. Always kind and perfect to have around on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.
And even though I think I could keep going on and on I’ll end with this one, God the distant one. So busy running the entire universe that there is no time to be interested in us.
*******************************
When reading verses one through six of Psalm 71, it seems safe to conclude that the author had a very clear image of God as the source and place of refuge and rest. God is the one who rescues and saves. God is the peace that is always found underneath the surface because no matter how choppy and tumultuous the surface waters are, at some depth underneath the surface you will find peace. I know Kay Williams earlier read the NRSV translation, but I also love The Message translation and I want you to hear it.
1-3 I run for dear life to God,
I’ll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
you said your door was always open!
You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.
4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough--
my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth,
the day you took me from the cradle;
I’ll never run out of praise.
No one can truly hear those words and doubt the Psalmist’s conviction. Simply put, in his eyes there is no doubt about God’s love and God’s goodness and each time I read it my response is the same… what a blessing this image must have been for him. Even more than that, I find myself so desperately wanting that image for everyone. How powerful would it be if everyone knew about God’s love and God’s goodness? How transformative might it be for everyone to know God as their place of refuge and rest? Not only for them, but for all of creation.
Maybe that is why A.W. Tozer placed such significance on our images of God. You see, if your image of God is one of anger, judgment and/or distance, then it seems logical to be angry, judgmental and distant from others. On the other hand, if your God is one of love, grace, mercy and rest, then your approach to others will be loving, graceful, merciful and caring.
*******************************
There are some things about my God that I’ve always known, like I have no doubt about God’s love. Not just for me, but for all creation. I also have no doubt about God’s grace. Never once, though, has it ever entered my mind that God does not love. Never once has it entered my mind that God doesn’t care. I know people who do feel that way… people whose image of God leads them to that place, but in my never-ending desire to help people, I want to find a way to help them know and claim the God I know. Not because I have all of life figured out, because I don’t. There are so many things that I want to know more about when it comes to God, like God as refuge. The Psalmist is so clear in his knowing about this aspect of God that I find myself longing to know that aspect too. Like everyone, life can wear me down and sometimes wear me out. I want to know more about God as my refuge for those times because I know they will come again. The thing is, my desire to discover that aspect of God has never been reason to disregard the aspects I already know.
What I have found in my own life is that layers of God’s are continuously being revealed. And I never know when that new revelation will happen. Try as I may, I have thus far been unable to predict it. All of these layers, though, are rooted in love. That, I’ve always known.
****************************
Over the past couple of days this layer of refuge and rest was really working on me. I prayed about it and in those prayers expressed my longing for its revelation. Then this happened:
