The safest place
by Pastor Mark Gierus
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Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge (Psalm 16:1).
Read Psalm 16
Have you ever received produce in a preserving jar? Perhaps you have relatives who preserve the wonderful fruits and vegetables from their harvest, or maybe you preserve them yourself. If you are familiar with preserves, you’ll notice that they often don’t have a true expiration date, as preserved items are typically safe to eat for a long time.
The first verse of Psalm 16 finds David asking God to preserve his life or to keep him safe. David writes this psalm, perhaps generally asking God for ongoing preservation from enemies and that which would attack his life, as there is no imminent threat mentioned.
It is the same for us when we hear the words of Psalm 16. We, too, call out to God, asking to be preserved and kept safe in his name because we put our hope in him. We can trust in his promises that his love never fails nor ends. By his love, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for our sins so that in his name, we are assured of forgiveness, life and salvation. In all things, we, by faith, take refuge in the living God, knowing that we are his children, and he will keep us safe.
Although the preserved produce mentioned earlier does, of course, finally stop being preserved, we, in God’s care, are preserved, protected and kept – always. We are protected and kept safe from all danger, evil, or lack of food, clothing, family or work – the things that Martin Luther reminded us of when we pray, ‘Give us today our daily bread’. We are loved, cared for, made new in Jesus daily and safe in his loving arms.
Lord, my safety and protection, preserve and keep me this day as I put my trust in you that nothing I will face today will be without you. Please remind me that I am always in your care. Let me see with eyes of faith that I am in the safest place with you. Open my heart to hear your word daily so I may grow in you and know you will never let me go. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Mark Gierus currently serves as a Lutheran pastor in Redland Bay, Alberton and Woongoolba in Queensland. He has three beautiful girls aged 8, 11 and 21, and he enjoys hiking with them, going to the beach, singing and jamming, looking after their pets as a family and going on road trips. Mark prays that God will continue to bless you as you grow in him and come to know him more and more through his life-giving eternal word.
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