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Psalm 91

The scenario of this psalm is war, and the express need is for safety in the midst of mortal danger.  Blessedly, in the very midst of the sights and sounds of ugly and brutal war the psalmist can say from his own experience that, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."  For that reason he can gladly say, "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in Him will I trust."

Then, because he's already had experience of the safety provided by the Lord, the psalmist can go on to advise the rest of the people as well.  He can confidently say, "Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge . . ."

People fighting a war need to hear something like that. That kind of awareness is a "shield and buckler" - the most basic equipment for the war - and the result of trusting God like that, he says, will be that, "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day." In fact, he says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you . . . with your eyes . . . you shall see the reward of the wicked."

So the psalmist encourages the people.  He says, "Because you have made the Lord, Who is my Refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.  In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."  He's telling all his beloved people that he's had excellent experience with this same Lord they're trusting, so he knows that God will respond to their trust by sending His angels (messengers - of any kind) to keep them from hurt and trouble.

In fact, God Himself says to them, "Because he (Israel) has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My Name." 

Do you see it?  Really loving the Lord just means really trusting Him, and such trust will be rewarded.  Why?  Because trusting Him actually means knowing "His Name," - knowing His character, His trustworthiness, His goodness, and His mercy.  In fact, knowing Him and trusting Him like that actually glorifies Him in the way that He should be glorified.  God, in turn, therefore, blesses the trusting soul.  He says of the man with such trust, "I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Of course there's also one thing we mustn't conclude: we mustn't conclude that God will keep His people from ever experiencing any trouble.  He says He will be with them in trouble, not that He will keep them from ever experiencing trouble.  He means, though, that no ULTIMATE evil can befall them – it is absolutely certain that they will enjoy eternal triumph.  In fact the apostle says a similar thing about trouble when he says, "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

Do you know His Name and its meaning?  Put another way, that is just to ask whether you can say from your heart, "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in Him will I trust."  Are you aware of how trustworthy, how good, how kind, and how powerful - He is?  Only great good can come from such an estimate!

2.30.

I needed to be reminded of this Psalm today....It has been a difficult time again at the hospital with Chris....3rd visit and between these our local doctor gave Chris a change of medication which they say was wrong and of course he's not any better....Praise God we now have some stronger medication which will make him sleepy but they assure us will work!

Only prayer and the awareness of "His wings" has carried us along this past week. I have been aware of angels carrying us and God's perfect timing etc., and I am trusting angels to watch over Chris now as he is sleeping lying down for the first time for over a week.

A few years ago we had a "neighbours from hell" situation and this Psalm was our mainstay during that time...we continued to stand on the precious promise re the "noisome pestilence" because there was such noise and harrassment from youngsters on drugs etc., living above us.

At just the right moment He gave jus an amazing move to where we live now.

I do recommend this Psalm to those in dire straits and I am going to sit and read it now quietly as I need to calm myself down and look again at God's goodness to me.

This Psalm is always included in my daily prayer time. As I pray God' protection over my family and myself. It has special significance for me, as God has protected me so many times from many things. "The Angels will bear me up in thier arms".

And remember that our Lord Jesus had this psalm quoted concerning Himself - by Satan!  Satan was suggesting (he's always "suggesting") that Jesus throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple - because, after all, the angels will keep Him from being hurt.
And the thing is - Satan was correct!  But then, if Jesus had done what was suggested, He would not have been acting as we must act.  He would have quit facing experiences as we must fact them - and He would not have been our substitute.  We must trust God, and He must trust God, rather than taking some easier way.  Thanks be to our Lord!  All our mistrust has been charged to His account, and all of His trust has been now charged to our account!  That's the way this psalm must be fulfilled in us!

Thankyou Al..

Didn't Job say, "That which I have feared has come upon me" ?

I do have a lot of fears and some of them are quite unfounded.  The only way to overcome them is to face them full on, to grasp the nettle as it were. These are all "growing" experiences aren't they Pastor Al?....We either grow up or give up.

Jesus went to the cross for the Glory which He saw ahead of Him and yes we too must endure and by the power of His precious blood we shall overcome.

Jesus said "Be not afraid I have overcome the World". Anything which we may have to suffer is as nothing to the Glory that lies ahead of us when we know and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ...... Thank you Jesus for not giving up on the pinnacle of the Temple .You are our fore-runner.

I like that "satan is always suggesting".....he sure is and what a liar he is.....from the beginning, as Jesus said.  Gosh he's been at it a long time but he hasn't won...I've got news for him.  His days are numbered!!!

Amen!

Thanks Al for the reminder that Jesus did NOT take the easy option. Yet how many Christians today want an easy way out of their difficulties rather than follow the way the master went via the cross.

Jenny thanks for your comments, we do need to face our fears and by God's grace overcome them.

Love to all


ken