The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed.
The refuge of the oppressed
I. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed.
1. What is a refuge? Shelter--in the cities of refuge; strongholds (2 Samuel 22:23); a harbour of refuge, as on a rocky, dangerous coast. Thus the leading idea is shelter. Now the Lord Jehovah as Father, Son, and Spirit is such refuge.
2. But who are the oppressed? Not only those who are oppressed in natural things, as many are; but in things spiritual. The heavy burden of sin. By Satan. Daily conflict with sin. Now the Lord is a refuge for such.
II. A refuge in times of trouble. The Scriptures always put together the malady and the remedy. As to these times of trouble, they are sometimes--
1. Seasons of temporal trouble;
2. Of spiritual trouble. These make us know that the Lord is our refuge, for we can find none elsewhere. There is no definition of what troubles, so that in all trouble we may claim this promise.
III. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee. The name means the revealed perfections of God. His eternal faithfulness. His loving kindness and tender mercy. His infinite wisdom. But who are they that know His name? They to whom the name of God has been revealed to their consciences. It is an experimental knowledge, and here is the grand line betwixt life and death.
IV. For Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee. This takes in the poor, the halt, the lame, the little ones of God’s family. In order to seeking God--
1. We must have a desire to find something; and then,
2. Know that God, from whom we seek what we would find. (J. C. Philpot.)
The Lord our refuge
It is reported of the Egyptians that, living in the fens, and being vexed with gnats, they used to sleep in high towers, whereby, these creatures not being able to soar so high, they were delivered from the biting of them. So would it be with us when bitten with cares and fear, did we but run to God for refuge, and rest confident of His help. (John Trapp.)
A free refuge
The Hospice of St. Bernard, and the wild scenery surrounding it. The place is so cold that fish will not live in the lake, and we have seen the snow lying knee deep at mid-summer. The Hospice is a refuge from the storm in which many travellers have rested securely, who otherwise might have been lost in the snow. This noble institution receives all passers freely, whoever they may be, without money and without price; and in this respect it is like the salvation of our Lord Jesus, for Jesus gives freely of His grace to those who have nothing to offer in return.