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THE SECURITY OF THOSE WHO DWELL IN GOD
IT is scarcely possible to conceive any terms more strong, or any images more lively, than those in which the Scripture represents the privileges of believers. We need look no further than to the psalm before us for a confirmation of this truth. Indeed, according to the view given of this psalm by a learned prelate, there is, in the first verses of it, an emphasis which cannot be surpassed [Note: Bishop Horne reads the two first verses thus: “He that dwelleth &c. who abideth under &c, who saith of the Lord,” &c. Then at the end of ver. 2, he supposes the Psalmist to break off abruptly, and, instead of continuing his description, to address himself to the person before described; “Surely he shall deliver thee.”]. And the whole may be considered as the believer’s charter, in which all his privileges are contained, from his first acceptance with God to the consummation of his happiness in glory.
We have in the words of our text a just description of the believer:
I. His experience—
The true Christian is one who has been “turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” Being once brought to God, he “makes the Most High his habitation.” He regards God, not merely as reconciled to him, but as affording him (what a dwelling-house affords to its possessor),
1. Free access—
[A person goes familiarly to his house at all times, not doubting but that he shall gain a ready admission into it. He considers it as his own, and feels that it exists only for his accommodation. It is thus that the believer goes to God as his God: he has “access to him with boldness and confidence:” he is certain that, when he calls, he shall receive an answer; and “when he knocks, the door will be opened to him.” In this precise view the Psalmist speaks of God; “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort [Note: Psa_71:3.].”]
2. Necessary provision—
[Every man, whatever be his situation in life, expects to find in his own house the things suited to his necessities. He does not seek his meals at the houses of his neighbours, but in his own; and he returns home at stated seasons to partake of them. And whither does the believer go for daily supplies of bread for his soul? It is in Christ Jesus that his fulness is treasured up; and in him the believer expects to find the “grace that is sufficient for him.” God invites him to come to him for the express purpose, that he may be filled and satisfied with good things: “Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [Note: Isa_55:2.].”]
3. Sure protection—
[If storms descend, or dangers menac, we take refuge in our house, and find it a place of safety. Thus “The name of God also is a strong tower, into which the righteous runneth and is safe [Note: Pro_18:10.].” It is to himself that God invites us, when he says, “Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, shut the door about thee, and hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast [Note: Isa_26:20.].” And that this was a primary idea in the mind of the Psalmist, appears from the very words of the text, wherein he calls God “his Refuge,” and from the whole scope of the psalm, from the beginning to the end. With this also agrees the beautiful description given of Jesus by the Prophet, as “an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest [Note: Isa_32:2.].”]
4. Sweet repose—
[To his house a man retires from the noise and bustle of the world; and there he lays himself down to rest after the fatigues of the day. Home, though inferior in many respects to places of temporary residence, is to almost all persons the most agreeable, because they are most at ease. And such is God to the believer. “In every place, God is to him as a little sanctuary [Note: Eze_11:16.],” where he finds himself at rest. He carries his wants to God, and “casts all his care on him,” and enjoys that peace which passeth all understanding. In this sense he says for his own encouragement, “Return unto thy Rest, O my soul:” and attests for the glory of his God, “Lord thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations [Note: Psa_90:1.].”]
In connexion with this experience of the believer, let us consider,
II. His privilege—
The expression in the text seems to exceed the bounds of truth: but the more it is examined, the more will it be found to be strictly true. The man who makes God his habitation shall have no evil befall him:
1. None here—
[No casual evil shall befall him. There is no such thing as chance; every thing, even to the falling of a sparrow, is ordered of the Lord. As for the children of God, “their heavenly Father hath given his angels charge over them, to keep them in all their ways [Note: ver. 11, 12.];” and if any thing were to happen to them, they (the angels) would contract a fearful responsibility for their neglect. We must not however imagine that Believers are at liberty to rush into needless dangers; for our Lord, when tempted by Satan to cast himself from a pinnacle of the Temple in expectation that the angels would preserve him from injury, replied, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God:” but nothing can happen to them except by the Divine appointment: they are hid in the shadow of their Father’s hand, and “their very hairs are all numbered.”
But it may be thought that penal evil may come to them. This however we utterly deny. That they may be “visited with the rod,” we readily acknowledge: but there is a great difference between the vindictive arm of an incensed judge, and the gentle chastisements of an indulgent parent. The cup that may at any time be put into their hands may be bitter; but it has not in it one drop of wrath: it is altogether mixed by love; and not an ingredient can be found in it, which they themselves shall not one day confess to have been salutary and beneficial.
In short, no real evil shall befall them. That they may have troubles, is certain: that their troubles may be heavy and accumulated, is also certain. But who accounts even the amputation of a limb evil, if it be the only and infallible method of preserving life? Much less then are any sufferings to be accounted evil, which the Believer can ever be called to sustain: for he shall never endure any, which shall not work for good to him in this life, and be the means of increasing his weight of glory in the next [Note: Rom_8:28 and 2Co_4:17.].”]
2. None hereafter—
[It is in this life only that the Believer can meet with even the semblance of evil: when he goes hence, he is instantly placed beyond the reach of harm. No sin, no sorrow, no pain, no temptation, no weariness, no want, can ever be felt by him in the mansions of bliss. He will there enjoy for ever one unclouded day! and his happiness will be without alloy, without intermission, without end [Note: Rev_21:4.].”]
To render this subject more instructive, we shall add a word,
1. Of direction—
[Christ, in reference to the sheepfold of his church, says, “I am the door; if any man enter in by me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture [Note: Joh_10:9.].” The same figure we may apply to the subject before us: “Christ is the door;” he is “the way to the Father;” and “no man cometh unto the Father, but by him.” To those who come to God in any other way, he is not “a Refuge,” or “Habitation,” but “a consuming fire [Note: Heb_12:29.].” But if we believe in Christ, then “will he dwell in us, and we shall dwell in him [Note: Joh_6:56.]:” yea, “he will be our house of defence, to save us for ever [Note: Psa_31:2.].”]
2. Of warning—
[Who, except the believer, can apply to himself the promise in the text? As for the unbelieving and disobedient, they are in danger every hour: they know not but that God’s wrath may break forth against them the very next moment to their destruction. Of this they are certain, (whether they will believe it or not,) that in a little time his judgments shall overtake them, and the greatest of all evils shall befall them, unless they repent. O that they would be prevailed upon to flee for refuge to the hope that is set before them! O that they would now seek to be “found in Christ!” Then should the destroying angel pass over them, and “they should dwell safely, and be quiet from the fear of evil [Note: Pro_1:33.].”]
3. Of encouragement—
[The weakness of men’s faith often robs them of the comfort which it is their privilege to enjoy. Why should a believer be afraid of thunder and lightning? Were he but sensible what a Protector he has, he would feel assured that no evil could come unto him. How varied are God’s promises to him in the psalm before us! How diversified also are the assurances given him by Eliphaz in the book of Job [Note: Job_5:19-24.]! Let him only commit himself to God, and he has nothing to fear. Let us then, beloved, have faith in God; and let those words of David be our song in this land of our pilgrimage; “God is our refuge, &c.; therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the waters be carried into the midst of the sea [Note: Psa_46:1-4.]: &c.”]