A Shelter in the time of Storm

In A Shelter in the time of Storm, using references to everyday things like marriage, work, banking, a blind friend, a critical church member, traffic jams, sport, and visits to the dentist, Tripp shows how Psalm 27 constantly affirms hope in God in a world that is broken. There are many challenging ideas here: for instance, he asks the reader where our security lies, how we deal with our anger, whether we are afraid that ultimately God will reject us, what personal sacrifice God may be calling us to make, whether we struggle with waiting on Him, what we hope for which may not be within God’s plan for us. He asks us to think about what would make us happy, pointing out that we then tend to blame God if he does not give us those specific things, forgetting that He may have something better in store for us. The humanity of the writer shines through with references to personal struggles, as in section 32, in a poem based on verse 4, One thing I have asked of the Lord…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord…He says ‘One thing, one thing, one thing! It’s hard to imagine One thing when I seem to be attracted to so many things…I confuse consumption with satisfaction. I confuse satisfied senses with true joy. I confuse a stomach that is full with a heart that is at rest.’

I do not know why Tripp addresses the verses in what appears to be a random order, (verse 11, then 12, then 5 before verse 1), but others may see some logic in it. I recommend this book for keeping by the side of the bed to be dipped in to for realism, challenge and comfort, especially when times are tough.