Who of mature years, after buffeting with the world and its disappointments, finding more of failure than success, more of sorrow than joy, had not longed for some sure refuge from the intrusion of material discords? All about us is seen the result of these discords. Sin, sickness, and death furnish evidence of material decay, reminding mortals of an untimely end. Accepting these material evidences as the realities of life, mankind have been seeking to escape from them since the world began. Ruled largely by fear, and having little faith in the power of God, good, to deliver them from the seeming power of evil, they have tried every material means possible to alleviate their suffering. "They have sought out many inventions," as the wise man explained it, but with little hope of deliverance, and only to find themselves very far from the desired refuge.
The Standard dictionary gives as one definition of refuge, "shelter or protection from danger or distress," and then refers to II Samuel xxii. 3, where God is spoken of as "my high tower, and my refuge." Following up this lead, we find much interesting data regarding refuge and protection for certain unfortunate lawbreakers. For instance, in the Levitical law provision was made for "cities of refuge," where unwitting lawbreakers might find shelter and safety. Christianity adopted these usages early in the Christian era, and the church increased the scope of these privileges to include the buildings and grounds under its jurisdiction, until its practice became much abused and widely separated from the purpose for which it was originally intended.
David's song of praise for deliverance out of the hands of his enemies gives us an idea of spiritual refuge and protection, which we instinctively associate with strength, stability, and power. "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in him will I trust," he sings, "he is my shield, ... my high tower, and my refuge, my savior." The human mind, so preverse in its reasoning, refuses to accept anything that cannot be seen or handled, that has not length or breadth, height or depth. Whether it is plague or famine, persecution or oppression, from which it is seeking deliverance, its refuge must be dimensional, or the senses reject it as unreliable and unsafe.
