Always Available

Axbridge Methodist Page 1
22nd June 2003 AM
Always available
“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go; …”
Psalm 71 v 3
Want to get away from it all? Want to escape the stresses of modern life?
Want to find a safe place in a troubled world?
The idea of a SAFE HAVEN – a place to run to in times of trouble – is

common in the Psalms. Perhaps the most notable reference is:
Proverbs 18 v 10
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous run to it and are safe.
But the idea is very common in scripture – and always the attention of the
reader or the worshipper is drawn to the LORD Himself who is a constant
refuge for His people. For, whatever our circumstances He offers the only
constantly available place of safety – he is “ALWAYS AVAILABLE”
“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go…”
This Psalm might be called the “Asylum Seeker’s Psalm” – for certainly in
its opening verses that is the prevailing theme.
(Someone has suggested that this is peculiarly a Psalm of an old man. He

reflects on his life – and gathers together in a haphazard manner
references to his past, and quotations from other psalms.)
But, as I look at theses verses I am also struck by another feature of the

writing: see the several references to age:
v6 from my birth
v5 & 17 since my youth
v9 when I am old
v18 even when I am old and grey
The Psalmist surveys his life and concludes in verse 14: “as for me I shall
ALWAYS have hope…”
I notice too that the Psalmist refers to several different situations:
/var/www/apps/scribd/scribd/tmp/scratch9/14901113.doc
22nd June 2003 AM
1,2 in need of salvation

7, 10a when despised
10-13 when accused
20,21 in trouble and bitterness
And finally I see that his time scale is not only in years but in days – he
uses the phrase several times:
8, 15 and 24 all day long
AS A CHILD I came to know the Saviour. Then He quietened my early fears

and gave me security
AS A YOUTH He gave me purpose and direction – and taught me to

recognise the dangers of temptation
AS A YOUNG MAN He called me into His service – and gave me a specific

ministry
AS AN OLDER MAN He has redirected my life and broadened my horizons
AS I GET OLDER AND GREYER He surprises me with His faithfulness and

with new views of His service
He is :
“my rock of refuge to which I can always go…”
And so I recommend Him to you this morning – whatever your age or

situation, in a troubled world we have a REFUGE who is ALWAYS
AVAILABLE.
• In all ages
• In all circumstances
• All day long
In all ages verses 6,5+17,9 and 18
22nd June 2003 AM
• v6 from my birth
• v5 & 17 since my youth
• v9 when I am old
• v18 even when I am old and grey
It is the psalmist’s testimony – and ours as well, that the Lord’s power is
applicable at all ages.
5
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
6
From my birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
17
Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.
18
Even when I am old and grey,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
From the supreme trauma of birth – to the “old and grey” each age has it’s
own peculiar problems and God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE to each of these.
In Church work we often make unnecessary distinctions between the work

with children, with youth and with parents and the elderly.
As a general observation I believe that Christians often target the most

vulnerable age groups for evangelism – feeling that positive results will be
more evident there.
True – more come to faith as young people than the middle-aged and the
elderly – but God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE at each stage.
Perhaps you are particularly concerned about children – or teens – or that

missing group in so many churches the 30s and 40s.
THE YOUNG are especially precious to us – they have the whole of their life
before them – so we must make sure that they know the Christ who is
ALWAYS AVAILABLE for them.
YOUTH need so much help with the temptations of a mixed-up world.
22nd June 2003 AM
YOUNG PARENTS need particular guidance in their responsibilities
The middle aged do seem to have a crisis…
The old and grey increasingly look frailty and decline in the face
For ALL of these MY GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
In all circumstances verses 1,2 7+10 20,21
• 1,2 in need of salvation

• 7, 10a when despised
o when accused
• 20,21 in trouble and bitterness
The “spiritual asylum seeker” looks for a refuge for freedom from attack
and hardship and persecution:
1
In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2
Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3
Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
7
I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
10
For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11
They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no-one will rescue him.”
let me never be put to shame 1

rescue me and deliver me 2
I may also be “like a portent to many” 7
22nd June 2003 AM
I am the subject of ridicule and abuse – the prospect of misunderstanding

and a low self image.
My life may have taken a turn in which it is less easy for me to recognise
that He who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE is walking beside me.
In times of trouble and bitterness, despair, regret, grief and sorrow

20
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21
You will increase my honour
and comfort me once again.
In ALL of these circumstances God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE
and the result can be praise and joy
14
But as for me, I shall always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15
My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
16
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17
19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,

you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
22 I will praise you with the harp

for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
22nd June 2003 AM
for those who wanted to harm me

have been put to shame and confusion.
and finally ….
All day long 8, 15 24

8
My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendour all day long.
15
My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
24
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
In this repeated phrase the psalmist reduces the passage of time to a

DAILY PERSPECTIVE
and in each case the response is one of PRAISE
He has proved that GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
This is the conclusion of the matter – from a man who looks back over a
long life lived in the confidence that God gives
He considers the God who is his REFUGE
and he concludes that he has more cause to PRAISE than to lament

more reason to WITNESS than to WHINE
more reason to SING than to sigh
And his testimony is bang up to date:

17
18
Even when I am old and grey,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
22nd June 2003 AM
your might to all who are to come.
He reflects on the past – and as he gets older he does this more often – but
DAILY he takes stock and concludes that GOD who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE
offers him a future whatever his age:
20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,

you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honour
and comfort me once again.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
Notice how his closing words are sung to musical accompaniment:
the harp
the lyre
shout
sing
Our GOD is ALWAYS AVAILABLE – take refuge in Him and in Him alone.
www.davidagreen.com

Always Available

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Descrição original:

Título original

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Always Available

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Axbridge Methodist Page 1

22nd June 2003 AM

“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go; …”

The idea of a SAFE HAVEN – a place to run to in times of trouble – is

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go…”

(Someone has suggested that this is peculiarly a Psalm of an old man. He

But, as I look at theses verses I am also struck by another feature of the

I notice too that the Psalmist refers to several different situations:

1,2 in need of salvation

8, 15 and 24 all day long

AS A CHILD I came to know the Saviour. Then He quietened my early fears

AS A YOUTH He gave me purpose and direction – and taught me to

AS A YOUNG MAN He called me into His service – and gave me a specific

AS AN OLDER MAN He has redirected my life and broadened my horizons

AS I GET OLDER AND GREYER He surprises me with His faithfulness and

And so I recommend Him to you this morning – whatever your age or

In all ages verses 6,5+17,9 and 18

In Church work we often make unnecessary distinctions between the work

As a general observation I believe that Christians often target the most

Perhaps you are particularly concerned about children – or teens – or that

YOUTH need so much help with the temptations of a mixed-up world.

YOUNG PARENTS need particular guidance in their responsibilities

The middle aged do seem to have a crisis…

For ALL of these MY GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

In all circumstances verses 1,2 7+10 20,21

• 1,2 in need of salvation

let me never be put to shame 1

I may also be “like a portent to many” 7

I am the subject of ridicule and abuse – the prospect of misunderstanding

In times of trouble and bitterness, despair, regret, grief and sorrow

In ALL of these circumstances God is ALWAYS AVAILABLE

and the result can be praise and joy

19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,

22 I will praise you with the harp

for those who wanted to harm me

All day long 8, 15 24

In this repeated phrase the psalmist reduces the passage of time to a

and in each case the response is one of PRAISE

He has proved that GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

He considers the God who is his REFUGE

and he concludes that he has more cause to PRAISE than to lament

And his testimony is bang up to date:

your might to all who are to come.

20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,

Notice how his closing words are sung to musical accompaniment:

Você também pode gostar