“There’ll be no shelter here! The front line is everywhere.”
That’s the memorable chorus to Rage Against The Machine’s song “No Shelter”, referring to – believe it or not – pop culture:
“Cinema, simulated life, ill drama
Fourth reich culture, Americana
Chained to the dream they got you searchin for
The thin line between entertainment and warThere’ll be no shelter here!
The front line is everywhere.”
But you don’t need just entertainment culture to remind you there’s not much shelter round here. In the news there’s talk about sending more Aussie troops to Afghanistan – on top of the ones in Iraq. Or – to mention the incredibly obvious – bushfires in Victoria. For those living in bushfire areas, it could become a legal requirement to have a shelter – not unlike a bomb shelter – to hide in when (not if – when) the fires come again. I just finished a book about a compassionate German family hiding a Jew in their basement during World War II – but the problem was, when they needed to flee to the local bomb shelter during air raids, they had to leave their Jewish friend unprotected in the basement. No one wanted to provide shelter for him. Again, no shelter.
But whether we’re hiding from pop culture, war, natural disasters (it’s flood season in Lismore isn’t it?), even hiding from yourself maybe – whatever it is you’re hiding from, there’s good news: shelter is available. There’s a place to hide from all of your fears: in Jesus. Romans 8:1 declares that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Condemnation is what you deserve. But for those in Christ Jesus, condemnation is not what you get. Your greatest fears can be avoided. There is a shelter from the storm, a place to hide.
Our new song – “I Have a Shelter” – celebrates this truth (keep an eye on the “Featured Items” page – it’s coming soon). It’s a meditation on what it means to hide in Jesus. We hope it helps you rejoice in Jesus all the more. You can download a free (legal!) copy here. You can buy the album – called “Come Weary Saints” by Sovereign Grace Music – here. Please – do meditate on the words. You’ll be thankful you did.
“I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securelyO Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love
That comforts all my sorrowsI have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse meO Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds
For there I find salvationI have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake meO Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven”
Thanks Yocky for your ongoing hard work sourcing fresh biblical songs to help our church family sing words that are in fact the Word of Christ dwelling in us richly (Col 3:17). There have been some wonderful new songs in recent months but this one is one of those ‘pure gospel’ songs (“I find my refuge in your wounds…”) that simply lift our hearts to the Lord.
Thanks Peter for the work you do to try and make our music not only biblical, but also enjoyable and contemporary. I really like the line in the above song “For in my weakness, I have learned, Your strength will not forsake me”. I certainly can identify with feeling weak, but God has shown himself to me as faithful in helping me cope with life’s hardships. What a wonderful Savior and comforter we have in Jesus.
PS Happy birthday for the other day Steve! Welcome to “the club”.
Thanks for the encouragement guys. It’s funny though – it was David R who found the song, and Steve who confirmed that it’d be a good one for church… but hey, I’ll take the credit…
“No trial is deeper than Your love, that comforts all my sorrows”. Rich words – that’s the line which speaks to me the most.
The first 5 verses of Ps 91 also nail the ‘shelter’ thing with God. The power of God as our refuge and fortress is contrasted with the beautiful tender image of us being able to nestle intimately against God, who covers us with his feathers and gives us refuge under his wings, like a baby bird with its parents.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Hi Yocky (and everyone)
Sounds like you’ve read “The Book Thief” – what a great read! It’d be good to chat about it some day. I confess I cried though I tried hard not to – it brought home to me so strongly how much I hate DEATH – what an enemy it is! AND YET thanks be to Christ who gives us a shelter and in the end, the victory!
I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
This is the most powerful part of the song for me right now…I love the WHOLE song though (nice choice guys!)
How great to have the promise and sure hope of God’s grace…no matter what we’ve done in the past. All praise be to the God who ‘forgives and forgets’ and sent His son to take our place. Here’s praying that we all continue to focus our our lives on the cross, and live in response to the great grace and love that we were so underservingly shown there.
Thanks to all who put so much time and thought into choosing theologically sound songs for us to sing. I’m sure you put in far more work than we are aware of…so, thank you!
Thanks for the great reminder. It is great to know that we have a sure shelter in Jesus. I really enjoyed reading your blog while listening to Rage Against The Machine.
Glad to hear people are enjoying the new song – we’re singing it again this Sunday.
Pete – yep, I really enjoyed ‘The Book Thief’, and Amen to the striking picture it paints of how rotten death is.
Rachael – it’s unfortunate that finding good Christian music IS such hard work – there’s just so much BAD stuff out there! But it’s rewarding to find and enjoy the good stuff (the stuff that’s theologically sound, and ALSO poetic, and ALSO has good music!). There are 7 new songs yet to come this year (plus a rockin new kid’s song from Colin, of course), and for every decent song that’s found, there’s a much higher pile of ‘other’ congregational songs that the world should just never see…
Simon – you keep listening to that stuff mate. There’s no replacement for Quality.