Flight?
Psalms 11:1-2 MSG
(1) A David psalm. I’ve already run for dear life straight to the arms of GOD. So why would I run away now when you say, “Run to the mountains;
(2) the evil bows are bent, the wicked arrows Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness at every heart open to God.
She had heard them from the time they got out of the truck on the far side of the field, and immediately her pulse had begun to quicken. Although nestled safely in a hole behind some bushes, an uncertainty made its way into her heart. She had heard them before when they had come a couple weeks ago and drove away with several of her relatives tucked away in their bags. She had helped many of her family prepare their own safe places and couldn’t understand how one after one of them left their refuge to be shot right away as they attempted to escape in flight.
It was the dogs! And now, as she continued to listen intently, she could hear the dreaded sound of their excited barking as they eagerly anticipated the hunt. Not only did they produce that annoying and obnoxious sound, but they possessed this terrible ability to locate well-hidden prey, point it out to their master, and then rush in to flush it out of its hiding. There was one of them apparently headed right towards her hiding place even now, and her heart began to nearly leap out of her chest as she could no longer hear any sound from the dog, only shouts from the man with the gun. She knew what would come next. Would she be able to hold tight and resist the dog’s flushing or would she give way to that natural urge to abandon the security of her refuge? She closed her eyes, determining to resist all temptations to take flight and join those who had gone before to the destination of the bag.
A cleft in the Rock has been prepared for us. It’s a perfectly safe place, a refuge that is completely protected from any threat of the one who is going around, making a bunch of annoying sounds with his roar, and seeking to flush us out so he can put us in his bag and devour us. Although he is quite clever with his methods and while his success has been frequent with those that may even be close to us, the only way his weapons will be able to inflict any damage is if he can bully us, entice us, tempt us, or just somehow scare us into taking flight. The heart may leap into the chest and flight syndrome may kick in big time, but no matter how loud or real the threats, the only real safety and freedom from the power of his terror is in the shadow of the Redeemer’s wing, in the Secret Place of the Almighty. Once established and settled in to this cozy place at the Master’s side there will never be a legitimate need to go elsewhere. There will never be another entity or source that will require our departure from its security. In fact, the only way the hunter of our soul can touch us with his treachery is if he can persuade us to seek safety or fulfillment somewhere else. Only in departing from our place in worship will we lose our invincible protection. Only in taking flight for another apparently ‘better’ place will there be ability for his arrows to find their mark.
Having found our place in Christ, having been placed in our own personal eternal refuge, how could we ever depart from it for any other destination? Here come the dogs, though. There are the shouts and threats. What will we actually do when he comes rushing in? The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard if we will but remain behind it in our peaceful, protected place in worship.
Isaiah 59:19 KJV
(19) So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Psalms 57:1-11 KJV
(1) <To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
(2) I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
(3) He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
(4) My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
(5) Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
(6) They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
(7) My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
(8) Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
(9) I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
(10) For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
(11) Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.