Under the Shelter

I chose this picture today for our look at God being our shelter because we were taking shelter under a tree to avoid the hot sun! I'm still meditating in Psalm 62:5-6. I'm looking at how David said God is our rock, shelter, and fortress and how each of these provides a different level of protection. Yesterday, we looked at the rock - which can be beneficial to hide behind or get on top to see what the enemy is up to and which way he's coming from. Today, we'll look at how God is our shelter.

A shelter protects us differently than a rock or fortress can. Job 24:8 says this: they are wet with the mountain rains and hug the rock for want of a shelter. In other words, whoever "they" is in this reference didn't have a shelter and hugging a rock won't protect you from getting wet. lol It also won't protect you from the heat of the sun when it bears down on you. But a shelter will.

A shelter is something you get up under. I've been in the woods when drenching rains came through and tried to shelter up under the trees to keep from getting too wet. If you've ever watched survival shows like Bear Grylls, you know he talks about how to make a shelter in different settings. Why is that? It protects you from sunstroke in the heat and from getting soaked in the rain or snow.

Two scriptures come to mind when I think about how God provides a shelter. The first is Psalm 91:1-4 which says,

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!”

3 

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper

And from the deadly pestilence.

4 

He will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wings you may seek refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

I love that one! It's an old favorite. But notice it doesn't guarantee trouble won't come. It does say He will cover us. Our souls won't die from the heat or drown in the rain that life brings our way when we stay hidden under His wings. Psalm 57:1 is my other favorite:

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

For my soul takes refuge in You;

And in the shadow of Your wings, I will take refuge

Until destruction passes by.

Notice again there are no promises that trouble won't come. Just that when it does come - we have a safe place for our souls to hide. This does require that we stay under His protection, that we stay put under His wings.

Today, I'm going to be thankful that my soul has a place to hide in Him. My meditation will be on how I can stay put under His shelter when the day gets out of hand or I get discouraged. I'll turn my thoughts to how He protects my soul willingly and all I have to do is trust and stay there, hidden in Him. I plan on staying put under His shelter will you join me?