MY STRONG HABITATION

Be my strong habitation, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress – Psalm 71:3

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation” (Psa.91:9). The God of the Psalmist is the same God whom we who believe have made our habitation – our dwelling place. When like him, you have placed your trust in God, "no evil shall befall you, nor any plague come near your dwelling” (Psa.91:9-10). You have a high habitation; the Most High! In Him, you have a strong, safe, and secure dwelling place. Here, the psalmist was expressing his experience in having made God his refuge. He wanted this to be a ground of exhortation to others to do the same thing.

This is the picture: Israel in the wilderness was continually exposed to change. Whenever the pillar stayed its motion, the tents were pitched; but once the morning sun arose, the trumpet sounded, the ark was in motion, and the fiery, cloudy pillar would lead the way through the narrow gaps of the mountain, or along the arid waste of the wilderness. They had scarcely time to rest a little before they heard the sound of “Away! This is not your rest”! They were never long in one place. Even wells and palm trees could not detain them. Yet they had an abiding home in their God; His cloudy pillar was their covering, and its flame by night their heater. They could declare, “Lord, You have been our dwelling-place throughout all generations.”

The Christian knows no variation with regard to God. No matter the changing scenes of life, there is no change with regard to my relationship to God. He remains my Eternal Father! The Lord is my unmoving mansion of rest. He is “my strong habitation to which I may resort continually.” I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I may wander, but in God my habitation is sure. Oh – that we’ll be stimulated to flee from all false and worldly refuge in which we had confided, and run into the Rock, who alone is our Refuge and Fortress!

Resting confidently in the Most High God, as your Strong Habitation, He’ll stand between you and the violence of every assault. He’ll defend, protect, and preserve you from being overwhelmed. He’ll make you “as a wonder to many” being your strong refuge (Psa.71:7). He’ll embolden you to show His strength to your generation and His power to future generations (v.18). He’ll increase your greatness, and comfort you on every side (v.21). Amen - So be it in Jesus name!