“I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”” (Psalm 55:8, ESV)

This morning, I am sitting outside watching the clouds roll in. A storm is coming. There is a hurricane off of Baja California that is headed my way. It is a powerful storm that is expected to do damage in Mexico. And all of the signs and predictions indicate it will arrive in Arizona soon. Not sure yet what to expect.

I read Psalm 55 this morning. It is a Psalm about a storm, a hurricane of destruction. It is an emotional and spiritual storm. It is a tempest caused by evil people who are opposing righteousness and truth. The evildoer is threatening to bring ruin and the Psalmist cry’s out to God for help and salvation.

This passage really spoke to my heart. “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.” (Psalm 55:4–5, ESV) My heart was in anguish this week. As I saw the anger, hatred and evil that is pervasive in the American culture and media, horror overwhelmed me. I grew fearful this past week as I observed the storm rolling in.

Like King David, the author of this song, I cried out to God. “And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”” (Psalm 55:6–8, ESV) I just wanted to go and hide. I wanted fly away to a place of safety. I wanted to avoid the storm.

My next thought also mirrored David’s thinking. Get rid of the sin and evildoer. Stop the enemy. Stop the madness. “Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.” (Psalm 55:9, ESV) Keep the storm at bay, Lord. But it isn’t that easy. We can’t just shut it out.

As the storm rises and the threat grows, we realize it isn’t something far away in another country or place. It is right here causing pain and suffering. The storm isn’t just the media and those outside the church. The distorted and perverse thinking has come home. It is in our families and churches. Evil is insidious and the lies are permeating the institutions that once stood for truth.

David laments, “For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.” (Psalm 55:12–15, ESV)

As I watch the storm of evil flood our society, it grieves me. The destruction that is left in its wake is painful to witness. It is even more painful to see those that I have worshipped with opposing the truth of God. Some of my familiar friends are standing with our fallen culture. I feel afraid and worried. I must find shelter and safety from this raging storm.

Thankfully I have a safe place. “But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.” (Psalm 55:16, ESV) And if you are looking for a safe place to in the wake of the disaster that the storm of evil is bringing, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22, ESV)

I see the storm coming. I am not sure how it will affect me. I don’t know exactly what to expect, but I know how to prepare. It is simple. It’s all summed up in the last verse of Psalm 55. “But I will trust in you.” (Psalm 55:23, ESV)