A Safe Place To Hide

 

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ike most of the houses in the neighborhood, ours had a full basement.  It was full in both senses of the word.  It ran the full length of the house, and it was filled with all types of things that we considered essential.  Dad kept all his tools in the basement, mom had her freezer down there, and we had our vast treasure of important toys, games, bicycles, and whatever else we considered too important to throw away. 

 

Every once in a while, my parents would have enough of our collecting so many of these “important things” and would decide to clean out the basement.  This was an all-day affair.  My dad would park a large truck just outside the basement door and we would fill it with all types of “important stuff.”  When the truck was full, he would take it away to the local landfill and discard its contents.  Sometimes, it took more than one truckload to effectively clean our basement! 

 

But the basement was also more than just a holding tank for unwanted items.  We used to play in the basement as kids.  It was a wonderful place to explore but we were convinced it was haunted.  Even during the day, there was something overwhelming about the basement and pity the poor soul who had to venture down there after dark!  I was usually the poor soul asked to go down there and get a jar of green beans, or to make sure the lights were out, or to find something for my dad. 

 

In addition to all this, however, the basement was also a place of safety.  Dad had told us in the event of a tornado, the basement was the safest place for us to go.  At the very back of the basement was a very small room.  It was directly under our front porch and had no windows.  In fact, the only opening to the outside was small air vent.  We adopted this space as our clubhouse and we painted the door with a warning sign and we would hold high-level, secret meetings there.  Most of the world’s problems were solved in that little room and many more were created!!! 

 

Dad chose this room because it was the most secure.  Due to its location at the front of the house (which was the back of the basement), it was completely underground.  The roof was a solid slab of concrete which also served as our front porch.  The rest of the house could collapse or be taken from its foundation, but that little room was secure and would protect our family no matter what.  We never had to use it, but it was comforting to know it was there. 

 

King David knew all too well the importance of a safe hiding place.  When Saul was searching to kill him, David fled into the surrounding hills and caves for safety.  He hid in the wilderness, using it as shelter and protection against his enemy.  It was also in the wilderness that David learned the safety and importance of hiding in God. 

 

Psalm 32 speaks to this time in David’s life.  There were times when David’s sin caused him to go into hiding; and there were times when he felt God’s hand was “heavy upon” him (verse 4).  But David also knew the joy of hiding in God, of seeking shelter and safety in His presence, and of running to him in times of trouble, distress, or danger. 

 

Psalm 32:7 is a short statement.  In fact, it is only five words long; but what a wonderful promise this is for those who know God as their father.  David writes, “You are my hiding place.”  And that is exactly what God is for us.  He is the place we flee to when life becomes too difficult.  He is the place we flee to when people around us misunderstand and misuse us.  He is the shelter we seek when we are afraid, and he is the place of safety when we need to rest.  God is our hiding place!  He is also our refuge and our strength.  Like the room in our basement, God is solid, sturdy, well-fortified.  When everything else around us crumbles, God is the one shelter that stands secure.  His love and His protection remain intact, constant, ever at our disposal, ever ready for us to enter in. 

 

In order to escape a tornado or any other natural disaster, Dad told us to meet in that little room.  It was in the very back of the basement and took a few seconds to get to.  Once inside, however, we were safe, dry, and protected.  The further into the basement we ventured, the safer we were.  It is exactly the same with God.  There is safety in him and the further into him and into his word we go, the safer we are.  The more we have of him, the more we know about him, and the more we trust him, the more secure we become.  There is safety and security in no other!  Do you have a special hiding place?  Is it in God?  When was the last time you visited there?  Don’t you think you’re due for a visit today?