Verse of the Day 8/26

Verse of the Day 8/26

Deuteronomy 33:27   The eternal God is your dwelling place,

    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
    and said, 'Destroy.'   English Standard Version (ESV)

We've all heard it said and probably said these words ourselves "there's no place like home" or "home is where the heart is".  There are many reasons why we have these feelings, part of it is that there is comfort, familiarity, safety and more importantly love to be found in those "friendly confines".

Recently my wife Jean and I went on a trip for vacation, unfortunately, we arrived at our destination only to find out that the trip had been cancelled to to fires and the resulting smoke across much of western Canada.  What it meant was another long day from morning until after midnight to get home.  Weary from travel, it felt good to be home and to go to sleep in our own beds.  Spiritually there is no One like God, there is no place that we can find true rest in than Him.  God has placed eternity into our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and our hearts will remain restless until we find our rest, our home, in Him.

I read the following from Charles Spurgeon in the "Grace Gems" devotional this morning.  Today's verses and Spurgeon's words led me to the song which follows the quote, "O God Our Help in Ages Past".  Read them and think about them in connection with today's verse.  Consider what it means that

The word "refuge" may be translated "abiding place"--which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home.

There is a fullness and sweetness in the metaphor, for our home is dear to our hearts--although it may be the humblest cottage or the scantiest garret. But dearer far is our blessed God, who is our eternal refuge.

It is at home that we are safe--here we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. Just so, God is our shelter and retreat--our abiding refuge.

It is at home that we take our rest--it is there that we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. In the same way, our hearts find rest in God when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease.

At home, also, we let our hearts loose--we are not afraid of being misunderstood nor of our words being misconstrued. Just so, when we are with God--we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hidden desires.

Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness. In the same way, it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight.  - charles spurgeon

1. O God, our help in ages past,
   Our hope for years to come,
   Our shelter from the stormy blast,
   And our eternal home.
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
   Thy saints have dwelt secure;
   Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
   And our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood,
   Or earth received her frame,
   From everlasting Thou art God,
   To endless years the same.

May God be your dwelling place, your shelter from the stormy blast and your eternal home.  He's there for you with "everlasting arms".

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Deuteronomy 33:26-28 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁶ "There is no one like the God of Israel.^[a]
    He rides across the heavens to help you,
    across the skies in majestic splendor.
²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge,
    and his everlasting arms are under you.
He drives out the enemy before you;
    he cries out, 'Destroy them!'
²⁸ So Israel will live in safety,
    prosperous Jacob in security,
in a land of grain and new wine,
    while the heavens drop down dew.