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Our True Sanctuary
During the recent (and ongoing) global Coronavirus crisis, much emphasis is put on “Staying in Place.” Being quarantined at home to avoid exposure to a viral threat can be likened in a way to David’s seeking the Sanctuary of God’s presence in the harsh environs of the desert. We find ourselves in unfamiliar and uncharted territory and desire for things to get back to normal —when will this storm raging around us end?
1 Samuel tells us how David fled into the wilderness, a fugitive from King Saul, who was tirelessly seeking to kill him. If we read through the story in 1 Samuel of this time of hiding in the desert, we see that it was several years! David was far from the tabernacle of God’s presence, which was in Gibeon. Yet David says, “So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” (Ps. 63:2) What sanctuary had David found?
I believe that he found an inner sanctuary — one not affected by the anxious storm about him. There he could find peace and rest in the midst of the raging circumstances and barren wasteland. In Psalm 27, another psalm David probably composed in the wilderness, he writes, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” (v. 5)
The wilderness and isolation of the desert were as real as ever, yet in the midst of that, David found a place of refuge — a secret place where there was peace and rest. This sanctuary is not a special place, but it is the secret place where God dwells, not a tent or temple or church, but within us and all around us.
As we see in Psalm 91, God doesn’t keep us from trouble, but He delivers us! This means that when we are in the midst of trouble, we can rest in the assurance that He sees us and will provide grace, peace and rest — and deliverance. And yet, our deliverance is not on our terms or timing. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We are on the winning side!
o Praise God that...
We can enter the sanctuary of His presence in the midst of the storm!
o Pray that …
You will be able to enter confidently into His presence because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us.
About this Plan
Have you ever felt it is hard to abide in Christ when God seems so distant? Many Christians, including pastors, missionaries and full-time workers, admit to feeling distant from God and ministering from an empty heart. As we discover God’s call to abide, work, rest and walk with Him, we can learn to experience joy and fullness in the Secret Place of His Presence.
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