HIDING PLACE, a phrase alluding to some den, cave, or secret chamber, where men have found, and may find safety in times of danger; according to what is said, Isaiah 26:20, “me, 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 overpast.” The saints of old hid themselves in dens, in caves, mountains, and wilderness, from the rage of men, Hebrews 11:38: were sometimes sheltered by the providence of God, when there was a general combination against them; therefore called God’s hidden ones, Psalm 83:3, because covered by him, when Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, and the Hagarenes, Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre, took crafty counsel, and consulted mischief against them.

And inasmuch as a hiding-place is a borrowed speech from a rock, mountain, cave, or den, secret chamber, or place of shelter; we may consider the conveniency of the metaphor, and bring in a parallel from God.

METAPHOR

PARALLEL

I. An Hiding-place is usually a strong Place; men will not adventure themselves in it, or think themselves safe, without some considerable strength.

I. God, the good man’s Hiding-place, is a strong God, as a rock in time of need, nay, as the Shelter of a great rock, as the Security of many rocks: “He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks:” Isaiah 33:16. He is as a Place built on purpose for safety. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10. He is hence said to be the Almighty, the Lord strong and mighty; “be thou my strong rock” Psalm 31:2. “Strong habitation,” Psalm 71:3. Strong refuge, Psalm 71:7. Strong Lord, Psalm 84. Mighty in power, Isaiah 40:26.

II. An Hiding-place is an invisible and obscure Place, not known to everybody, a Place that enemies have much ado to find.

II. God is an invisible Being in respect of his essence: “No man hath seen God at any time,” John 1:18, 46. No man hath beheld his form, or seen his shape, Colossians 1:15, 1Timothy 1:17. He is invisible also as he is his people’s Hiding-place: Pharaoh saw not the covering Israel had, “The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.” Exodus 15:9. The enemies of David saw not the cave, the rock, his Hiding-place, when they said “There is no help for him in God. Selah.” Psalm 3:2. Haman was unacquainted with this covering, when he designed destruction to all Israel,  Esther 3:9. The wicked plot against the just, because they know not where their safety is, Psalm 37:12. “truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.” Jeremiah 3:23.

III. An Hiding-place is a covering or shelter from many evils; from the scorching heat of the sun, the blustering storms of wind and hail.

III. God is no less a covering to his people, than the best of Hiding-places have been, or are unto any people. He secures from the hurt of persecution, when men rage, and rise up against them. He secures from Satan’s temptations, as well when he appears like a serpent, as when he acts like a Lion, or great red dragon. So that not only David could say, “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick,” Psalm 124:2-3. “Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.”  Psalms 74:14. But even the church now may say,” He that is our God is the God of salvation;” “Thou art my hiding place,” Psalm 68:20, 32:7.  

IV. An Hiding-place frees from fear, and much abates the hurries and discomposures of the mind, because men do imagine themselves safe, when they have taken sanctuary in some secret rock or cave.

IV. This advantage is most eminently enjoyed by the godly, who have made God their sanctuary and Hiding-place; they are freed from the fear that wicked men are surprised with; their hurries and discomposures are much abated. It is said of Moses, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27. And David saith, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Psalms 56:3, 91:5, 112:7-8, 3:6. I will discharge myself of fears and discomposures, and account myself safe in God, my sanctuary and Hiding-place.“ I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6. “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26. “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:” Psalms 112:7.

V. An Hiding-place doth disappoint the enemies, who please themselves in the thoughts of preying upon the righteous; as Pharaoh said of Israel, “My lust shall be satisfied!” The enemies of David cry, “Let us persecute his soul, and take it. Aha! thus would we have it.”

V. God hath throughout all ages, as the Hiding-place of his people, disappointed their enemies, and secured them from being a prey to their teeth. He saved Israel, when Pharaoh pursued them, Exodus 14:30. He saved David, when Saul hunted him, like a partridge upon the mountains. He destroyed the hosts of the Philistines and Assyrians, when their expectations were very high. “That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad;” Isaiah 44:25, by catching the wise in their own craftiness. In the things wherein they deal proudly, he is above them.

INFERENCES

I. If God be an Hiding-place, then let all godly men flee to him in times or trouble and danger, by faith and prayer. This David, “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.” Psalms 143:9. There is reason for it, for good men cannot be secure without him:

  1. Because they are weak themselves.

  2. They are pursued and hunted after by potent and subtle enemies.

II. Let them that have taken God for their Hiding-place, abide in him; for in him there is safety, and no where else.  It is vain to put trust in men, or put confidence in princes; to look for safety from the hills, or multitude of mountains: for in the Lord alone is the salvation of Israel.