Taking shelter

 This week's verses are Psalm 118:7-9:

 The Lord is on my side as my helper.
I look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in people.
It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

 These verses are written by King David. You would think he would be boasting about his power and connections. Yet with all he had, he points to his faith as his strongest protection. It's not what you would expect from a king.

He says it is better to take shelter in the Lord than to trust in people, better even than trusting in princes. People are unreliable. They scheme. They let their emotions get the better of them. They lie and forget.

People are also weak. They grow old. They run out of money and time. They get injured and sick and die. They misunderstand. They have hearts that get hardened by sin and refuse to listen. They are selfish and demanding.

Even princes, who have more resources than most, who are likely trained in good behavior and wisdom, who have an interest in maintaining peaceful relations with their neighbors, even their support is not as reliable as taking shelter in God. If princes were trustworthy, we wouldn't have had thousands of years of wars between countries and even within them.

God, on the other hand, is trustworthy. He is eternal and unconstrained. His love is genuine. He even proved it by sacrificing his only son to ensure we would have the best chance at life.

When things turn against us, we naturally seek the help of other people. We form alliances and political parties and coalitions. We make phone calls. And that is wise to do. People can help. That's what friends are for. But God is able to help us in ways people simply can't.

So why do we put all of our energy and focus in seeking shelter in crowds and friendships and coalitions when we are in need of protection? Why do we rarely consider that God himself can be of help? Of all of the sources of shelter, he is the biggest and most durable of them all.

David says that God is on his side as his helper. We don't necessarily think of God as taking our side when people are against us. But here David makes it sound as if they've teamed up, like David and God against the world. In practice, as we get closer to God we will find ourselves valuing the same things and working towards the same goals. We become friends over time. So we can imagine when we are on God's side that we too can say "God is on my side as my helper." 

David also says that he looks in triumph on those who hate him. He is confident enough in God's advocacy and protection that he no longer fears or hates those who are against him. The people who rebel against him or speak bad things or refuse to be nice simply do not matter. God is his helper and his defender and shelter.

So, this week try to navigate danger and conflict the way that King David did. Draw close to God and try to take his side. Take shelter in him more than in untrustworthy people. And look in triumph over those who hate you, because Jesus loves you.