Devotion for Today: Devotion for Today "Wartburg" Psalm 27

Devotion for Today  "Wartburg"  Psalm 27

        One Saturday I took my family on a two-hour drive to the city

of Eisenach-just over the old iron curtain in the state of Thuringia.

Eisenach is reknown for its history.  We toured the old house where

the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685.  On the

outskirts of the city, high upon a mountain, is the impressive fortress

castle Wartburg.  Up until now we have visited many castles in Germany,

but none so awe-inspiring.  The reason is because this is the castle

where the great reformer Martin Luther resided for ten months in the

year 1521.  After the Diet of Worms where Luther was on trial for heresy

and told to recant his beliefs on the penalty of death, Luther was "kidknapped"

and taken to Wartburg for his protection by his host, Fredrich

the Wise, Elector of Saxony.  Here, in this fortification built high

upon a rock, Luther translated the New Testament into the German language.

Inspired by the impressive castle, Luther wrote the triumphant hymn "A Mighty

Fortress is our God."  To think that

we were walking in the same places where Luther lived nearly 500 years

ago gave me gooseflesh.  Because of Luther's obedience to God's will in

his life, we all have the opportunity to read Scripture for ourselves

and may respond freely to God's salvation by grace through faith in Jesus

Christ.  If ever a period of brief confinement brought true freedom, it

was in Wartburg.

        David, the Psalmist, echoes this statement in Psalm 27:4-6, "One

thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek afer; that I may dwell

in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty

if the Lord, and to enquire in His Temple.  For in the time of trouble

He shall hide me in His pavillion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall

He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be

lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in

His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises

unto the Lord."

        Some prisons are of man's making. You may feel confined, and may

not like where you are or what you are doing. But God can turn these things

into great fortresses of refuge.  He will set you up upon a rock!  Have

a blessed day.

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

jcrussell@liberty.edu

Devotion for Today