Psalm 17: Take Refuge In Christ

Psalm 17: No Room at the Inn of Earthly Comforts

Take refuge in Jesus Christ, who justifies your standing before God, 
delivers your soul from judgment, and grants eternal satisfaction in His 
likeness.

The world offers a fragile shelter that collapses the moment eternity 
knocks. Psalm 17 presents David turning away from the temporary portions 
of the wicked to cast his entire defense upon God alone. True security 
is never found in earthly vindication or fleeting riches, but in the 
enduring sanctuary of the Redeemer who justifies, delivers, and 
satisfies forever.

You should take refuge in Christ

Because He makes you right (17:1-5)

David invited God to examine his heart and vindicate him. He mentioned 
how he walked with integrity. Positionally, when you take refuge in 
Christ as Savior, God declares you right. He puts your sin to Christ's 
account, and Christ's righteousness to your account (2 Corinthians 
5:21). This gives you a right standing with God, and delivers you from 
condemnation (Romans 8:1).

David said it was by the word of God's lips that he avoided the ways of 
the violent. In your daily walk, Christ is the word which examines you 
and discerns the thoughts and intentions of your heart (Hebrews 4:12). 
Peter shows that it is through the knowledge of Christ that you become a 
partaker of the divine nature, learn how to escape the corruption of the 
world, and to grow in the fruits of godliness and love (2 Peter 1:3-8). 
Allowing the word of God to examine your heart and guide you in the way 
you walk, through the knowledge of Christ, results in you walking in the 
righteous ways of those who are saved. Yoiu should take refuge in 
Christ, because He makes you right in your position and walk.

Because He delivers your soul (17:6-14)

David asked God to deliver his soul from the wicket. 2 Thessalonians 
1:8-9 says that those who reject the truth of the gospel to persecute 
believers, will be punished with everlasting destruction, away from the 
presence of God. We should not fear what men can do to us. Once they 
kill the body, they cannot touch our soul (Matthew 10:28). God is the 
one who, after He has killed the body, has power to cast the soul into 
the lake of fire (Luke 12:4-5).

Ephesians 6 shows that God also protects believers from the spiritual 
enemies. When you put on the armor of God in prayer, it protects you 
from Satanic forces. God provides a helmet of hope for salvation, a 
shield of faith, loins girt with truth, the sword of the Spirit which is 
the word of God, and feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of 
peace (Ephesians 6:14-17). He provides deliverance from spiritual forces 
in your daily life, through this armor and prayer and supplication for 
all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

Ultimately, God is the one who justifies. No one can condemn the one God 
has justified through faith in Christ (Romans 8:33). Christ is also 
seated at the right hand of God, to advocate for believers against the 
spiritual accusations of the devil (Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1). He defends 
you on the basis that His death met God's righteous demands against your 
sins (Romans 3:24-26, 1 John 2:2). You should take refute in Christ, 
because He delivers your soul.

Because He offers eternal contentment (17:15)

Those who persecute believers have their portion in "this life" on 
earth. Esau received his kingdom in Edom before Jacob's seed inherited 
the land and kingdom. The poor beggar was tormented in this life on 
earth, but comforted after death (Luke 16:25). The rich man had his 
comfort in this life, but then went to conscious, eternal torment (Luke 
16:23-24).

While God allows men to enjoy some temporary benefits on this earth, 
those who refuse to take refuge in Christ will suffer the just, eternal, 
conscious torment in the lake of fire which they deserve, after their 
time on earth is done (Revelation 20:14-15).

David put his hope in beholding God's face in righteousness. He looked 
forward to being satisfied with God's likeness (Psalm 17:15). For the 
believer, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 
Corinthians 5:8). Paul warned the rich not to seek fulfillment in 
earthly goods, because we can't take them with us. Godliness with 
contentment, however, is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6-7). On earth, moth 
and rust corrupt worldly treasures. Thieves break in and steal them 
(Matthew 6:19). Store up for yourself treasure in heaven instead 
(Matthew 6:20). Fix your hope on God (1 Timothy 6:17). God blesses those 
who take refuge in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly 
places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). Paul said the sufferings of this 
present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory to be revealed 
in those who take refute in Christ (Romans 8:18). You should take refuge 
in Christ, because He offers eternal, lasting rewards and contentment.

Invitation

Turn to Jesus Christ today as your only refuge. Jesus Christ died for 
your sins on the cross, was buried, and rose bodily from the dead to 
deliver you from wrath and justify you before God. Place your complete 
faith in Him alone, receiving full forgiveness of sins, eternal 
deliverance from condemnation, and the absolute assurance of awakening 
in His likeness for all eternity.


-- 
Good News †

By dying on the cross, Christ canceled the legal debt of our sins 
against God (Colossians 2:14), and God validated this victory by raising 
Him from the grave (Romans 1:4). God is now able to justly declare 
sinners righteous (Romans 3:26) and spare them from His future wrath (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). This grace is freely given to all who place their 
trust in Him (Romans 6:23). Put your faith in the Lord and call on His 
name to be saved (Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation