God Is Our Refuge

We have visited the Big Island of Hawaii twice. Both times we have explored Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, the City of Refuge. “Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua.”[1]

I like visiting Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau because it reminds me of the cities of refuge God provided for Israel: “The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities” (Numbers 35:6, 19; Exodus 21:13). In these six cities of refuge, the one who committed unintentional murder would find refuge and safety from the victim’s avenging family until the death of the high priest (at the time of the trial). If the manslayer left the city of refuge before the high priest’s death, the avenger had the right to kill the manslayer (Numbers 35:24-28)

These God-established cities of refuge ultimately point to God as our refuge. The Hebrew word for refugemeans a shelter from rain and storm, danger, and falsehood. Like the Old Testament manslayer finding refuge from the penalty of death, we find refuge from eternal death in Christ and His atoning work in our place. For those in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), but we can also find refuge in God daily from effects of a fallen world.

Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau was a place of refuge, but during our visits, we saw sea turtles, yellow tangs, beautiful ponds and foliage, and numerous tidal pools in the hardened lava with crabs, small fish, and hundreds of tiny snail shells. As I thought about God as our refuge, I am thankful that God doesn’t just provide a shelter from bad things. He also lavishes us with good things when we run to Him as our refuge.

Scripture speaks often of God as our refuge.

1  God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

   2      Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

   3      though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah[2]

Psalm 46:1-3

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

           I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you.”

Psalm 16:1-2

The Lord is a stronghold [refuge] for the oppressed,

                  a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 9:9

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

                  my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

                  pour out your heart before him;

                  God is a refuge for us. Selah

Psalm 62:7-8

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

                  than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

                  than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:8-9

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

                  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:8

The Lord redeems the life of his servants;

                  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:22

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;

                  let me never be put to shame;

                  in your righteousness deliver me!

Incline your ear to me;

                  rescue me speedily!

Be a rock of refuge for me,

                  a strong fortress to save me!

Psalm 31:1-2

You are my hiding place [refuge] and my shield;

                  I hope in your word.

Psalm 119:114

The Lord is good,

                  a stronghold in the day of trouble;

He knows those who take refuge in him.

Nahum 1:7

Every word of God proves true;

                  he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:5

But I will sing of your strength;

                  I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

                  and a refuge in the day of my distress

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,

for you, O God, are my fortress,

                  The God who shows me steadfast love.

Psalm 59:16-17

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

                  will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

                  my God, in who I trust.”

He will cover you with his pinions,

                  and under his wings you will find refuge;

                  his faithfulness is a shield and a buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

                  nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

                  nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Psalm 91:1-2, 4-6

This God – his way is perfect,

                  the word of the Lord proves true;

                  he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

                  which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,

                  in the sight of the children of mankind!

Psalm 31:19

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

                  my God, my rock, in who I take refuge,

                  my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

                  and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3

Reflection

1.        What circumstance have you been relying on your own strength or looking to someone or something else instead of running to God as your refuge?

2.        Find all the “God is…” and “God does…” truths in the above verses. How do they encourage you to run to God as your refuge?

[1] Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service). (2020, May 26). National Park Service. Retrieved August 13, 2024, from https://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 46:1–3.