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Psalm 31:1-5

Psalm 31:¹ Yahveh , I seek refuge in you; let me not be disgraced permanently. Save me by your righteousness.

Psalm 31:2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a boulder of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me

Psalm 31:3 because you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake.

Psalm 31:4 You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, because you are my refuge.

Psalm 31:5 Into your hand I entrust my breath; you have redeemed me, Yahveh, God of truth.

boulder of refuge

On New Year’s Day my wife and I went hiking in Virginia. It was cold and windy, and we chose a particularly steep mountain. We were several miles into the hike when we took our first rest. We found a boulder that would give us a bit of protection from the wind. We sat down behind it, and rested for a few minutes. We had a snack from our backpacks. It was glorious.

David’s boulder of refuge was God himself. Even though he had enemies that sought to destroy him, he could find rest, because he had entrusted his breath into God’s hands.

Jesus and Stephen quoted these words at the time of their deaths. They both trusted God to give them victory over the ultimate defeat. We can too.

Lord, you are our boulder of refuge. We trust in you for the ultimate victory over all our enemies – even the enemy of death.

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¹superscription: A psalm of David.