Christ Will Be My Hideaway

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

One of the great trends in hymnody is the use of a recurring phrase. In some hymns, that phrase is loaded on the front of each verse. For example, think of “Christ, the Sure and Steady Anchor” (132). Each verse starts with those words and then applies them to a topic area like doubt, temptation, or death. Today, I want to draw your attention to a hymn that loads its key phrase at the end of each verse.

Hymns of Faith #134 - “Christ Will Be My Hideaway” was composed early in the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why the hymn sings, “Though a sickness (COVID) hides in darkness, though a plague (COVID) destroys by day.”

I will dwell within the shelter of the God who reigns above
I will rest beneath the shadow of the mighty King of love
Though a sickness hides in darkness, though a plague destroys by day
I will stand upon His promises; Christ will be my hideaway

Refrain: In You, my God, I trust, You are strong and here with us
In You, my hope remains; Christ will be my hideaway

Angels gather to protect me when they hear my Savior call
Sovereign hands are ever ready to uphold me should I fall
Safe beneath His wings of refuge, all my fears are kept at bay I am shielded by His faithfulness; Christ will be my hideaway

Though a thousand fall around me, though death looks me in the eye
Evil shall not have the vict’ry while the Lord is at my side
God in power raised my Savior; I no longer fear the grave
Through this fragile life and evermore, Christ will be my hideaway

Wonderful, right? There’s actually something quite complex happening behind the scenes! The hymn is based on Psalm 91. And at first read, that makes perfect sense. Psalm 91:2 says, “I will say to the Lord, ‘my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” That’s where the hymn’s refrain comes from. Then, the rest of Psalm 91 lists the reasons such a declaration is appropriate, and these form the verses of the hymn.

There’s just one problem - “for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (v.11) is quoted later in Scripture. It’s quoted by SATAN as a messianic promise pointing to Christ (Matthew 4:5-6), which Jesus doesn’t deny. Instead, He appeals to another Scripture, refusing to put this psalm’s promise to the test (see verse 11, the promise was true! Angels did come!).

So, at least in part, the psalm points properly to Jesus, not us. Look at verse 9 and verse 14:

“Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—” (Psalm 91:9, ESV)

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.” (Psalm 91:14, ESV)

There’s something of a condition to those statements, isn’t there? We only get those promises if we keep the conditions. So I have to ask, have you really made the Lord your dwelling place? Do you hide away in the refuge of His wings when temptation whispers that losing your patience would be easier? What of doubt in difficulty? When difficult medical realities pile up, bad news after bad news - do you truly perfectly say to the Lord, “My God, in whom I trust?”

Don’t lie to yourself (1 Jn 1:8) - the answer is “No, not always, sometimes maybe, but not always.”

… But Jesus did. Ah, and there’s the good news! Jesus Christ - in perfect humanity - made God His dwelling place, holding fast to Him in love… perfectly. Though trials raged, disciples were dumb, and nails pierced Him through, Jesus Christ looked up to Heaven and said, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46, Ps 31:5)

Do you see how those promises of Psalm 91 find their yes and amen in Jesus Christ? He has been delivered! Delivered from the grave itself!

This, then, is the beautiful complexity behind the hymn. We cannot claim the promise that “no evil shall be allowed to befall you.” Only Jesus can lay claim to that promise, and Christ is your hideaway if you’re a Christian.

He is willing to call you brother (Hebrews 2:11) and friend (John 15:15). What remains for you, in life and in death, through faith and repentance, by the powerful working of His Spirit, hide away in Christ.