Psalm 91:2

"I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:2

"My refuge . . . " A refuge is a safe zone - a place where the refugee is not supposed to be touched. Animals that dwell in a refuge are protected by law. Open hunting is not allowed. The habitat is protected. Anyone found in the area with a weapon is hauled off to jail and dealt severely with by the courts. The believer who has the Lord as his refuge is in a very safe, protected, and managed area.

". . . my fortress . . ." A fortress is safer yet. In the Middle Ages Lords built fortresses for protection from attacking enemies. When an attack was eminent, all the villagers would make their way into the fort and there would be protected by the Lord's soldiers. Sure, some still lost their lives, but most found safety.

Now notice the progression of the provisions of God. First we have a a refuge - a place where we are off limits to the poachers of satan. There is no hunting season on Christians who are in the refuge of God. Then, we have the fortress - the most secure of all God's protective structures. In short, here are two lines of defense. In addition, I know that a fortress is much better than a fox hole.

God provides all the protection we need in the fight against evil. When one is overwhelmed, we can fall back to the next. There is not better position to be in. As a matter of fact, that type of defensive position gives confidence to the soldier who is on the offensive. He is more willing to move ahead if he knows there is good backing. He is also more likely to be victorious.

Of course there is one problem with these defenses. We have to be willing to use them. They do us no good if we are not there. The refuge is worthless if we are on the wrong side of the fence. And the fortress may as well be nonexistent if we fail to go into it when we are attacked. Think about it. Are you using all the defenses God provides? Or are you being a "lone ranger" trying to do it all yourself? Your answers are critical. Your use of the protections of God are life and death. You should be able to say with the psalmist "My God, in whom I trust!" Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.