Our Refuge and Stronghold

Reformation Sunday – October 27, 2024

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36

As most of you know, our psalm for today (46) was the inspiration of Martin Luther’s A Mighty Fortress is Our God. That is not surprising since the theme of the psalm is God as our refuge. The psalm repeats this theme three times – in verses one, seven, and eleven. “A refuge against what?” you may ask. The psalm answers – God is our refuge from cosmic powers and war. It is not surprising that these are the concerns of the Israelites. They were a nomadic people as Exodus tells us. There it tells us they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. As you know anytime numbers are used in the Old Testament it is symbolic and 40 means that enough time has passed. Once they entered the promised land they still remembered their past. That may be why, even though Israel was on the Mediterranean Sea, they never developed as a sea-fairing nation. They feared the waters of the sea and the image of the waters were of chaos and danger. The story of God’s creation that begins Genesis talks about the chaos before creation as water and God brought order by controlling it. The psalmist also talks about trouble by water overtaking him. Thus God is our refuge from the foaming and raging sea – from chaos and life-threatening situations. Another fact of Israel is that they were at the cross-roads of trade and so were often in the sights of other nations who wished to control those roads. That is why the psalmist reminds the Israelites that God makes war to cease. No matter what happens, the psalmist reminds you that God is your refuge and stronghold.

While we live in a different time and place than the psalmist we still are caught up in trouble and turmoil. Whether it be natural disaster, personal illness, or something of our own making, God is our refuge and stronghold. But we are often unable to see it. Sometimes, like the Jews in our Gospel story today, we ignore our troubles by deluding ourselves that it does not exist. Many times we turn to others who promise a solution. Look at the advertisements you see on television. All the offers of help via medicine, financial advisors, and counseling. I am not discrediting any of these. They can help us in our struggle. But they are temporary and partial solutions to the chaos and troubles in your lives, not your savior. Jesus is. As the Israelites learned, life doesn't always turn out the way you want it to. That is why every generation asks that same question of why bad things happen to good people. There is no satisfying answer to the question other than that is the way God made the world. But, having made the world this way God did not abandon it. God has actively guided and guarded the world even while allowing us free will.

You have been made in the image of God and have been called through the blood of the cross to be the people of God – sisters and brothers of Jesus. God does not guarantee an easy care-free life. All you need to do is look to the life of the Apostles, of Luther, even Jesus’ life and you will see lives of struggle. God does not promise it will be easy. God promises that God will be your stronghold and refuge in times of trouble. Yet we often forget that right when we need it. That is why we need to prepare ourselves for times of struggle and chaos. We do that by three things. First we learn to pray. Second we read God’s word. Finally we do God’s work. When we do these three things on a daily basis we, by seeing God’s hand in all the world, are strengthened in our time of need. But, more importantly, we are able to help others in their need as together we lean on God as our refuge and stronghold.