Finding Refuge in God's Unchanging Nature

 

Summary

In times of trouble, God calls His people to seek refuge in Him, as expressed in Isaiah 26:20. This divine invitation is a reminder of God's special care for His children, akin to a shepherd tending to his flock or a father protecting his children. Throughout history, God has demonstrated His mercy by safeguarding His faithful ones even amidst widespread calamity. Believers are encouraged to draw near to God, especially during challenging times, to find solace and strength in His presence.

God's foresight and wisdom are unmatched, and He often provides His children with warnings and guidance before trials arise. This divine foresight is a source of comfort, as believers can trust that God is aware of all that is to come and has already prepared a refuge for them. The call to "enter into thy chambers" is an invitation to seek shelter in God's power, wisdom, love, faithfulness, immutability, and salvation. These chambers represent the various aspects of God's character and promises that provide security and peace.

Believers are urged to shut the doors of these chambers, symbolizing the need to block out doubt and fear, and to fully trust in God's provision and protection. By doing so, they can find rest and assurance in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to their well-being. The troubles of this world are temporary, described as lasting only "a little moment," and believers are reminded that their ultimate hope lies in the eternal joy and peace that await them in God's presence.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Special Care for His People: In times of trouble, God calls His people to seek refuge in Him, highlighting His special care and protection. This divine invitation is a reminder that God is always aware of our circumstances and has prepared a place of safety for us. Trusting in His foresight and wisdom allows us to find peace amidst life's storms. [00:34]

- Divine Foresight and Guidance: God often provides His children with warnings and guidance before trials arise, demonstrating His unmatched foresight and wisdom. By drawing near to God and seeking His counsel, believers can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that He has already prepared a refuge for them. [02:41]

- Entering the Chambers of God's Character: The call to "enter into thy chambers" is an invitation to seek shelter in God's power, wisdom, love, faithfulness, immutability, and salvation. These chambers represent the various aspects of God's character and promises that provide security and peace. [14:18]

- Shutting the Doors to Doubt and Fear: Believers are urged to shut the doors of these chambers, symbolizing the need to block out doubt and fear, and to fully trust in God's provision and protection. By doing so, they can find rest and assurance in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to their well-being. [24:22]

- The Temporary Nature of Earthly Troubles: The troubles of this world are temporary, described as lasting only "a little moment." Believers are reminded that their ultimate hope lies in the eternal joy and peace that await them in God's presence, encouraging them to endure present trials with faith and patience. [31:12]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - God's Care in Troublous Times
[00:34] - Divine Protection and Mercy
[01:08] - The Father's Loving Eye
[01:57] - Foresight and Guidance
[02:41] - Shelter in the Storm
[04:41] - Drawing Near to God
[06:23] - Spreading Our Case Before God
[07:46] - Considering God's Mind
[09:24] - Securing the Greatest Matters
[12:06] - Leaving Little Matters with God
[14:18] - Entering the Chambers of Security
[19:17] - The Muniment Room of Faithfulness
[21:13] - The Strong Room of Immutability
[22:40] - The Best Chamber of Salvation
[24:22] - Shutting the Doors to Doubt
[31:12] - The Temporary Nature of Troubles
[35:08] - Eternal Joy and Peace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 26:20

Observation Questions:
1. What does Isaiah 26:20 suggest about God's role during times of trouble? How does this align with the sermon’s message about God’s care for His people? [00:12]
2. How does the sermon describe God's actions towards Noah and Lot during times of judgment? What does this reveal about God's character? [00:51]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of God’s foresight and how does it benefit believers? [02:41]
4. What are the "chambers" mentioned in the sermon, and what do they symbolize in the context of God's protection? [14:18]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "enter into thy chambers" in Isaiah 26:20, and what practical steps does it suggest for believers facing trials? [14:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest believers can "shut the doors" to doubt and fear? How might this be applied in a believer's life? [24:22]
3. The sermon mentions the temporary nature of earthly troubles. How does this perspective influence a believer's response to current challenges? [31:12]
4. How does the sermon use the metaphor of a hen gathering her chicks to illustrate God's invitation to His people? What does this imply about God's relationship with believers? [05:13]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you seek refuge in God during that time, and what could you do differently in the future to draw nearer to Him? [04:57]
2. Consider a situation where you felt overwhelmed by fear or doubt. What specific steps can you take to "shut the doors" to these feelings and trust in God's provision? [24:22]
3. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to see God's foresight and wisdom. How can you remind yourself of His guidance and prepare for future trials? [02:41]
4. The sermon emphasizes the temporary nature of earthly troubles. How can this perspective help you endure current difficulties with faith and patience? [31:12]
5. Think of a time when you felt God's special care and protection. How can you share this experience with others to encourage them in their faith journey? [00:34]
6. What are some practical ways you can "enter into the chambers" of God's character, such as His love and faithfulness, in your daily life? [14:18]
7. How can you cultivate a habit of spreading your concerns before God, as Hezekiah did, rather than relying solely on human advice? [06:56]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Special Care
In times of trouble, God invites His people to seek refuge in Him, emphasizing His special care and protection. This divine invitation is a reminder that God is always aware of our circumstances and has prepared a place of safety for us. Just as a shepherd tends to his flock or a father protects his children, God demonstrates His mercy by safeguarding His faithful ones even amidst widespread calamity. Trusting in His foresight and wisdom allows us to find peace amidst life's storms, knowing that He is our ultimate refuge. [00:34]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to trust in God's special care today, and how can you actively seek His refuge in that situation?


Day 2: Embracing Divine Foresight and Guidance
God often provides His children with warnings and guidance before trials arise, demonstrating His unmatched foresight and wisdom. By drawing near to God and seeking His counsel, believers can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that He has already prepared a refuge for them. This divine foresight is a source of comfort, as it reassures us that God is aware of all that is to come and has already made provisions for our safety and well-being. [02:41]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God's guidance in a decision you are currently facing, and what steps will you take to listen for His direction?


Day 3: Entering the Chambers of God's Character
The call to "enter into thy chambers" is an invitation to seek shelter in God's power, wisdom, love, faithfulness, immutability, and salvation. These chambers represent the various aspects of God's character and promises that provide security and peace. By entering these chambers, believers can find rest and assurance in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to their well-being. This act of entering is a conscious decision to dwell in the safety and security of God's presence. [14:18]

Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV): "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

Reflection: Which aspect of God's character do you need to focus on today to find peace and security, and how can you practically dwell in that truth?


Day 4: Shutting the Doors to Doubt and Fear
Believers are urged to shut the doors of these chambers, symbolizing the need to block out doubt and fear, and to fully trust in God's provision and protection. By doing so, they can find rest and assurance in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to their well-being. This act of shutting the doors is a deliberate choice to reject fear and embrace faith, allowing God's peace to reign in our hearts. [24:22]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Reflection: What specific doubts or fears are you currently facing, and how can you actively shut the door on them to embrace God's peace and trust?


Day 5: Recognizing the Temporary Nature of Earthly Troubles
The troubles of this world are temporary, described as lasting only "a little moment." Believers are reminded that their ultimate hope lies in the eternal joy and peace that await them in God's presence, encouraging them to endure present trials with faith and patience. This perspective helps us to focus on the eternal rather than the temporary, finding strength in the promise of God's everlasting peace. [31:12]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary troubles to the eternal promises of God, and what practical steps can you take to cultivate patience and faith in your current situation?

Quotes

The Lord has a very peculiar care for his own people he is their Shepherd and he feeds them like a flock he is their father and he guards them as his own dear children whenever times of great trouble come he thinks especially of them he drowned the anti- deluvian world but not till Noah was safely in the ark he burned Sodom and Gomorrah but not till lot had escaped to the little city called zor in all his judgments he remembers his Mercy towards his believing people he does not suffer them to be destroyed even in the day of the destruction of the ungodly. [00:28:72]

Whenever there is any evil to come upon the land God knows all about it for he knows everything he foresees all that is going to happen he sometimes gives foresight to men as in the case of his prophet and I do not doubt that even now believing men when they live very near to God see farther into the future than others can there were several occasions in the life of John Knox when he expressly foretold the deaths of certain men and similar power has been given to other eminent Saints who have walked on the hilltop with God. [01:08:24]

But whether we can see into the future or not is of little consequence for the Lord can see if the father of the family knows what is to occur his children will not be without due warning therefore God when he foresees that his judgments will be abroad in the Earth takes care to forwarn his children and when any great Calamity is coming he provides for them a shelter in the time of storm let us thank God for this. [02:32:72]

Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpassed my first observation upon these words shall be that before or in times of trouble It is Well to draw near to God is not that a sweet call from God come my people come my people as the hen gives her peculiar cluck when the hawk Is in the Air to bid her chicks come and hide under her wings so does God here give a gentle loving note of alarm and a gracious call of invitation as he says come my people. [04:43:88]

Come my people nay linger not halt not through fear be not paralyzed with apprehension come my people come to me come to your God come to your father come to your friend for what purpose should we come to the Lord I think that in times of trouble or or when we are apprehending trial we should come to spread our case before God you fear that you are going to be very ill or that your dear wife is likely to die you are afraid that your property will be taken from you or that something else that is Dreadful will happen then come and tell it All to Jesus. [06:10:39]

The next thing you should do in coming to God is to consider his mind about such a case have you ever done that when we consult a councel it is because we want to have his judgment upon some difficult point of law we expect that he has had to decide something like it before he knows the precedents that bear upon the case and we therefore ask his judgment I love to see a man turning to his Bible when a trouble is coming to see what God has to say about such a case as his. [07:41:36]

You are going to lose your little money are you well well that is bad enough but you have some Jewels which you are not going to lose you remember little faith being robbed down Dead Man's Lane bunion says that when the three sturdy Rogues faint heart mistrust and guilt fell upon him they robbed him of most of his spending money but he had certain jewels that they never found and of which therefore they could not Rob him so the world may come and take away many of our external and temporary Comforts but we have a treasure that it never gave us and cannot take away from us. [09:39:00]

Come my people enter th into thy Chambers my business in this second part of my discourse is to bring a candle and to show you the way along the passages leading to the rooms provided for you enter thou into thy Chambers it is a time of trouble with you enter thou into thy Chambers what Chambers you ask I'm going to show you here is the candle to light your way take it and follow me Come Thou into thy Chambers one of the rooms into which a man should enter in times of trouble is the store chamber of divine power. [14:24:59]

God is able to Bear you through every trial God is able to bring good out of all evil God is able to comfort you God is able either to prevent the trouble or to make you strong enough to Bear it nothing can happen to you which will be Beyond the power of God and according to his mighty power he will certainly deliver you he will show himself strong on your behalf if you do but trust him and you shall be able to sing the Lord is my shepherd and my shield come my people get into this chamber this wellu guarded room of the Lord. [15:07:19]

God is true God is faithful God keeps his promises my dear friends do you study the promises recorded in the Bible if you do not I'm sorry for you the promises of God should be the constant subject of study by the child of God because when you get a hold of a promise from God it is as good as the thing itself God's promise to pay is always at par with those who trust him they want no discount on a Divine promise it is as good as the thing itself to their believing Hearts oh what an innumerable company of promises there is in this blessed book. [19:25:44]

God is always the same we wax and Wayne like the moon God is the sun without Parallax or Tropic blessed is the immutability of God what a chamber to get into when I enter it I feel like a man in the strong room of the bank of England I hear a voice saying I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed there is only one more room which I will mention at this time though I could have described many more and that is the best chamber of divine salvation. [21:59:39]

Come my people enter into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about Thee I think that we must first shut the doors to shut out all doubts but we must also shut the doors to shut ourselves in to shut ourselves in with God now my Lord a great storm is coming but I am shut in with thee I trust thy power I trust thy wisdom I trust thy love I trust Thy Faithfulness I trust thine immutability I trust thy salvation I trust nothing else but I Repose wholly in thee. [27:16:33]

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Transcript
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