“FLEE TO GOD” (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 4/15/25

“Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.” (Psalm 143:9)

What a blessing it has been for us all that David, who endured many severe trials, was “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (II Sam. 23:1) We have all been enriched by his painful experiences as he recorded them in sacred songs along with his one constant recourse: “I will flee unto thee to hide me.” It is not a comfort to us when we are tried to have the psalmist remind us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”? (Psa. 46:1) As we receive encouragement from David, may we also imitate him in his habitual way of escaping from his enemies, by fleeing to God. In imitating this great warrior, we too will profit from our foes, and also, like him, be an encouragement to others. The great point is, however, not only to see what David did, but to do the like promptly and constantly.

This means that we must first perceive and recognize danger. None flee unless they are afraid. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psa. 56:3) There must be a knowledge and apprehension of danger, or there will be no flight taken. To not sense danger, when it is near can be deadly. Men perish in many instances for their lack of perception. We have carbon monoxide detectors in our homes because it is a silent killer that human senses can fail to detect. Many vessels are equipped with radar in order to avoid disaster resulting from unseen objects or other kinds of hidden threats.

Ignorance of danger has caused many a spiritual shipwreck. Ignorance of danger makes the danger inevitable. Men will dare to die without a fear of hell. Men will sin and have no dread of any ill consequences; they will play with evil habits while seemingly oblivious to their power to enslave and destroy. How many will toy with temptation, refusing to see how certain it is to lead them into actual grievous sin.

Some dangers are slowly perceived, such as those connected with “sweet sin,” or those which develop out of a boastful mind, or those which are countenanced by the example of others. The more dangerous the serpent, the less likely to be seen. Once, as my brother and I were walking through a wooded area in route to our swimming hole, he suddenly yelled, “Stop!” And grabbing me by my shoulder, pulled me backward. I was about to step on a copperhead snake. Not only had I not seen the snake, but it so blended in with its habitat that it took a while for me to spot it even after knowing it was there. Being aware of how seductive and deadly these sins are, we need to sound the alarm when we see others treading such a dangerous path, so that they might flee. But where should they flee for safety? David said, “I flee unto thee to hide me.” The Scripture tells us to “Flee the wrath to come.” There is only one place to flee - flee to Christ! He is the only place of refuge.

In addition to fleeing because of the perception of danger, we also flee out of a sense of weakness. No man flees for hiding who feels able to face the threat in his own strength. But, concerning the things which threaten our souls, it is a good thing when we come to see the danger, and it is also good when we realize our inability to cope with sin. Some want to boast of their strength of will, but past failure should teach us not to deceive ourselves. When we see that we are weak, only then are we strong; and that in imagined strength lays the worst form of weakness.

True wisdom will say, “I flee to thee (God) to hide me.” You can do this in full confidence that he will receive you and hide you. He will be your refuge and your strength. “The confidence of the feeble secures the guardianship of the strong.” (James Large) A child in fear will flee to the arms of a totally strange man. Some of us know this by personal experience. A little girl about three years old ran in fear from something that frightened her straight into my arms. Only a brute would refuse protection to such simple reliance. Surely our great God will receive all who in child-like faith flee to Him seeking refuge from a fearful enemy that seeks to destroy them; an enemy against whom they are helpless to defend themselves. David also said, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.” (Psa. 18:17) No doubt, many, many times the Lord heard him cry, “I flee unto thee to hide me.” Let us do likewise.