This psalm is a very
special word from God to the believer today in light of the times in which we
live. Our nation, as well as the rest of
the world, is descending further and further into spiritual darkness as the
influence of the “god of this world,” Satan in his many deceptive forms, are on
the rise. In my opinion, this was to be
expected according to scripture as the time draws near for the return of Jesus
to establish His kingdom. Every child of
God should feel the urgency of getting out the truth of the gospel to as many
as possible as soon as possible. I
believe the time is coming sooner rather than later when the ability to freely
share that truth will be severely restricted and those who try to share that
truth will face persecution. It is during
that time that the word of God will prove more precious to the child of God than ever before.
Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place
of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
The “secret place” is a
reference to a place of covering or protection, a hiding place. To dwell in the secret place of the most High is to dwell in the most secure place
available. I see that as being hidden in
plain view under cover of the protective hand of God. Webster defines dwell as “to linger…to continue…to abide as a permanent
resident.” This describes a person who
has fully committed his life to God in submission and obedience. The word linger
gave me the idea of someone who likes where he is, he is comfortable there;
there is nowhere else he would rather be.
The second part of this
verse is basically a restatement of the first, a characteristic of Hebrew
poetry. Abiding in the shelter of the
Almighty is another way of saying that you are living under the protection of God
Almighty. The Hebrew for shadow references being shaded or
defended from a root that states “through the idea of hovering over.” It gives me the picture of a loving Father
Who is very attentive to the smallest needs of his child.
Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust.
Now the psalmist makes
it personal—“He is my refuge and my fortress: my
God.” Refuge speaks of a place of shelter provided by someone you
trust. Fortress speaks of a defense or a strong place. “My God” refers back to LORD (YHWH), the
self-existent, eternal Supreme Being.
The psalmist is declaring a personal relationship with the LORD—a relationship
based on trust or faith in the God who gives him security, confidence and
hope. This is a man whose mind is at
rest or peace because he has faith in God’s protection of him.
Psalm 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the
snare of the fowler, and from the
noisome pestilence.
The “snare of the
fowler” speaks of an enemy who is out to trap you. Who else could that be but Satan, the god of
this world, and his army of evil spiritual forces and the wicked men and women
who serve him.
In looking at the Hebrew
for “noisome pestilence” it seems that the psalmist is referencing a sudden
onset of plague or disease that affects many people or cattle. It seems to allow for application in today’s
world of an evil attack using chemical or biological weapons to bring about the
destruction of many. In fact, it could
reference a sudden overwhelming destruction of any kind that is a result of
evil forces whether spiritual or physical.
The psalmist is
convinced that God will deliver His people from such evil. I believe that is true. I also believe that God’s deliverance can
come in unexpected ways. I thought it
was interesting that the Hebrew for deliver
included a variety of possibilities—to snatch away, escape, preserve, recover,
rescue. In my mind that allows for Him
to take us home to escape being touched by the evil, to preserve us through the
evil to recovery, or to rescue us physically from danger.
Notice that the psalmist
switched from first person to third person.
He is speaking on behalf of all those who trust in God the same way he
does.
Psalm 91:4 He shall cover thee with his
feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
In this verse the
psalmist is comparing God’s protection of people of faith to a bird that is
protecting its young by covering them with its wings. God is compared to an eagle in scripture. I believe the psalmist was thinking of the
words of Moses in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 32:9-12 For the LORD’S portion is
his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the
waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as
the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest,
fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth
them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god
with him.
A shield is a reference to protection from a specific point of
attack, while a buckler seems to
reference a protective surrounding.
God’s truth, His Word, provides us with a defense from spiritual attack
in particular. The Lord Jesus exampled
this truth when he faced the temptations of Satan in the wilderness. God’s word also provides people of faith with
a protective hedge if they will but live according to its truth. When we step out of God’s revealed will for
us as established by His word, we are inviting danger.
(to be continued…)
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