Today's guide is written by our intern and guest preacher, Tyler Horiuchi
Listen up, little ones
Listen for the word You.
Reading
Psalm 5:11-12—Shelter in God
Optional Reading
Luke 23:44–49
Keys for kids
- The world can be scary at times. Lots of times.
- Christians can always find shelter in God.
- God’s protection was secured for us in Jesus.
Questions
- What does it mean to shelter in place?
- What does it mean to shelter in God?
- How can we know we have God’s protection?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors. )
At times in this fallen world in which we live, we might hear of a shelter-in-place warning (sometimes called lockdown, though the two are not identical). The idea is don’t go out, stay where you are, and, sometimes, do whatever you can to seal up access from outside. As Psalm 5 ends, having spoken of God’s judgment on the wicked, the Psalmist concludes a call to shelter in God. That is, he will delight in God being his refuge. And he calls all who love God to do the same. And, if we are in Christ, God is our refuge, we can shelter in Him.
Three words are used here to describe God’s care. Shelter, as we have already discussed, carries the sense of a place of protection or a covering of protection. Refuge is also a place of protection from danger. Finally, God surrounds us with His favor. In Christ, as we shelter in God, we are triply protected. Psalm 91:4 uses one different word but still speaks of this triple protection.
Let’s remember, no matter what the wicked are doing, even toward us, we are triply protected by, as Kidner puts it, God’s encircling, providential care. Since we trust God, we don’t need to be afraid, and when we are afraid, we renew our trust in God. (see Psalm 56:3-4).
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 5a, 65d
Prayer
- Rejoice that God shelters us in Jesus.
- Pray for the hearing of God’s word preached this Lord's Day.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.