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#4.
"The God of Jacob is our refuge" (Psa. 46: 7, 11).
pp. 61, 62
We have learned from the Scriptures that:
(1)
"The eternal God is our refuge";
(2)
"God is our refuge and strength", and we now add
(3)
"The God of Jacob is our refuge."
The God of Israel and the God of Jacob are, of course, the same Person, but the two
titles present two different aspects of truth. Jacob was frail, erring and sinful, the man
who lied and deceived. Israel, on the other hand, was a princely title. And yet, though
the name Jacob is associated with weakness and need, it is "the God of Jacob", and not
"the God of Israel", Who is the Refuge of Psalm. 46: This title--"The God of
Jacob"--is very much like the N.T. "God of all grace", for it was grace indeed that chose
and forgave and blessed Jacob.
This leads us to another truth. We read once or twice the title "The God of Abraham,
Isaac and Israel", but the usual title is "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob". This is
God's great covenant name. The church, of course is not blessed under the terms of this
covenant, but rather in accordance with His purpose and grace, that chose every member
in Christ "before the foundation of the world". Nevertheless it is certainly true that if
"Jacob" could find his refuge in God, so may those who, though "aliens" and "strangers",
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
The fact that underlies the title
we are considering
is well expressed in
Psalm 135: 4:
"The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure"
(Psalm 135: 4).
The opening verses of Psalm 20: are also relevant:
"The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: The name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion" (Psa. 20: 1, 2).
The title "The God of Jacob" must not be taught of, however, as purely defensive in
character, for in Psalm 76: we read:
"At Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep"
(Psa. 76: 6).
Returning to Psalm 46: we note that in verses 7 and 11 there is a twofold title given
to the Lord:
"The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."