As a child, my emphasis was to memorize these prayers. I had no clue what "Masmoor 91" meant. Later, in America, I started hearing the English version of this prayer used in Funerals. Only in my adulthood, I realized that these prayers originated from the Book of Psalms and the "Masmoor 91" indeed is Psalm 91. (Don't ask me how, but I knew Masmoor 51 was Psalm 51; perhaps because this was a very popular chapter to read in the bible.)

Later, when I started studying the common prayers, I was awe-struck by the beauty of these selections. Psalm 91 is the 'undiscovered gem/nugget' in our prayers. It is a powerful prayer indeed!

1. HE who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
-- Psalm 91:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

The key to discovering the Psalm 91 is understanding the "Secret Place" or secret shelter referred in Psalm 91:1-2. Lemuel Baker, Ph.D, in his commentary on Psalm 91 explained this well:

"The core message of Psalm 91 is a message of protection, safety and security that comes as a result of permanently being in God's secret place. The focus and hub of this Psalm is the secret place. Everything, all the promises and protection of Psalm 91 revolves around the secret place. When we are cognizant of that secret place trust is very high and at a maximum level. Because trust is very high in the secret place then rest, strength and peak performance are also very high.

THE SECRET PLACE is the focus of Psalm 91 because every benefit mentioned in the Psalm is contingent upon being in the secret place. Consequently the secret place must be carefully identified and clarified so everyone can see it clearly, understand it clearly and have the opportunity to sit and to dwell there. The secret place as it relates to the Christian is both positional and experiential.

By faith all Christian converts are placed into the secret place of El Elyon (God Most High) but we soon leave the place experientially as life throws us curves or others talk us out of the secret place. Think back to the time you were first born again and converted how glorious the experience was? Soon after the enemy stole the seed planted and we slowly experientially walked out from the secret place we were placed into by the Holy Spirit.

Positionally we will always be in the secret place with Ha Shem but it does us no earthly good for victorious daily living over coming the traps of the enemy if we are not experiencing the power of the secret place. We tend to act as though there is no secret place as we walk by sight instead of walking by living faith.

The SECRET PLACE is a place in Ha Shem Himself as we are placed into Him at conversion; this is positional. Psalm 91:9-10 states this clearly for us so we cannot miss it."

Why is Psalm 91 so popular? Matthew Stith, Pastor of Round Hill Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, Pa answered the question this way:

"It is not surprising that Psalm 91 is often read, frequently set to music, and much-loved. It offers the reader a straightforward and thorough expression of trust in the providence and protection of God, even and especially under trying or dangerous conditions, and does so using as rich and powerful a set of images as are found anywhere in the Bible. Most readers will have little difficulty apprehending and appreciating the gist of the text. Accordingly, the task of the interpreter of this psalm is not so much one of explanation as it is one of appreciation and application. Exposition should seek to lead the congregation to a deeper understanding of the evident good news offered in the text, and to help them steer clear of pitfalls that may, ironically, trap the reader even as the text celebrates the Lord’s protection against such snares."

Writers and commentators in Internet has described numerous stories/miracles of protection by Psalm 91. Here are a few:

Years ago the Lord impressed upon me to memorize this chapter, since the. I have seen the Lord bring this chapter alive in my life, even saving my life once.

"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."
Psalms 91:11-12 NKJV

I was going at a high rate of speed on my snowmobile when I hit a pressure ridge of ice and was catapulted high in the air. One minute I am high above my sled, the next moment I'm sitting on the ice and then my sled crashes down. I wondered what happened, then the Holy Spirit brought that verse from Psalms 91 to me. I was snatched out of the air by an angle and set on the ice.
-- David Stevens

This chapter is so real to me for i recall how the Angel of the Lord picked me and my brother up out of the way of a car that was to kill us. I will never forget how one full moon night as we walked on the pavement along the road we heard a screeching noise behind us and just us i turned to look behind, the vehicle reached us; but we were pushed by a "force" out of it's way. The people who witnessed this could not believe when they saw us walking. They said there was no way we could have escaped....they were VERY SURE. Our Lord is faithful...He watches over His word to fulfill it. There is no lie in Him. AMEN.
-- Albert Kiambi · Chief Executive Officer at BrightCanvas

This is an indeed a very powerful prayer, it has the power to change our destiny, when ever I encounter a problem or big diffculties, i just pray to God with psalm 91 You can feel the shield of God.
-- Rajesh Ramachandran, Madurai, India

Psalm 91 gives me such a sense of GOD's Presence in my daily life. My prayer is that HE helps me to learn how to dwell with HIM each day no matter the circumstance.
-- Karen Stafford · Realtor/Consultant

WOW! I refer to the 91st Psalm personally as my my direct telephone to God anytime I need to straighten out cofusing situation in my life. Honestly, when I do, the All Highest Glorious God answers positively & timely. Now i know, surely that it's because I know His Name!
-- Patrick Anthony Izeze · ITIS Bernini

Psalm 91 is powerful. Study it. Meditate on it. Due to lack of space, we have only included a few articles in this issue of MWJ. More will follow later. In the mean time, enjoy the company of God in His Secret Place and enjoy the safety and security that comes with his presence.

by Debbie McDaniel

We trudged slowly back to the car through a crowded parking lot in the Texas summer heat. Hot, humid, full sun bearing down. I noticed my daughter matching my steps, walking close by my side the entire way back. Little legs stretching out as far as they could to match my stride. She smiled up at me and said, "Mom, look, I'm walking in your shade." She'd found the shadow, the safe place to walk. I loved that my side was her shield, giving her protection from the heat.

This reminder came…

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

We may not always see it, or feel it, we might forget it's there at times, or even wonder if He's left us to fend for ourselves in the heat of hard situations of life. But His protection is real. He doesn't, He can't, forget us or ignore us. If we belong to Him, His love is too great to leave us on our own.

Is it any coincidence that this is the 9-1-1 verse?

In whatever troubles we face today, God is the place of refuge we can run to, He is our safe place.

The word "dwell" used in this verse actually means, "to take up permanent residence in." He reminds us to stay in His presence, for it's a permanent place of living. His Word says if we do that, we will "rest" in the very "shadow of the Almighty."

Shadows by definition are a place of protection or covering, they provide relief from the direct heat of the sun. If the heat is severe, the shade is the place we run to. It diminishes what we actually feel in the intensity of the heat.

A reminder for us, especially in the tough stuff, that we never walk alone. Full heat of troubles bearing down hard, heavy, it's a struggle at times to keep trudging through it all. Pressure and stress can seem as stifling as a hot afternoon summer sun. Yet God whispers truth, strong and sure, "Walk in my shadow, up close to my side." It's in the safe place that brings confidence; for when we are resting is God's shadow, we will never face the full heat of our difficulties. He shelters from that pain. His shade, His shadow, diminishes what is actually felt in the intensity of all the heat. Rest, peace, and calm rise up strong, right in the struggling mess of life, and we're assured, He's in control.

Sometimes, maybe unintentionally, in the busyness or difficulties of living, we might strive to survive on our own. We forget that what we need most, God's protection and the comfort of His presence, are freely available to those who love Him and walk under His covering.

This entire chapter of Psalm 91 is filled with the goodness and power of God. Great reminders that He faithfully works on behalf of those who love Him. And at the end of it all, God gives 8 reasons of why we do not have to fear.

He promises:

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; 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." Psalm 91:14-16

What God says:

- "I will rescue him..." (deliver, cause to escape)
- "I will protect him..." (set him on a high place)
- "I will answer him..." (respond to, speak)
- "I will be with him in trouble..." (in afflictions, in distress)
- "I will deliver him..." (rescue, to bring into safety)
- "and honor him..." (to make rich, strong, heavy with honor)
- "With long life will I satisfy him..." (to have abundance in the journey)
- "and show him my salvation." (let him see my deliverance & victory)

There is great blessing as we seek after God, and choose to walk in His ways. In the midst of great darkness in this world, living in it all without His Truth and freedom, would be like wallowing in the pit. Not much hope to be found there. The truth is, this world has been dark for generations, since sin first entered the earth at the hiss of the enemy's lies.

Yet God's reminders are sure, strong, and true, assuring us that in all that we walk through in this journey, His call is always to rise above. He reminds us we're not alone. And though He never says that we won't face hard times, He does say He'll be with us in it, rescuing us, and shining His favor over us.

Don't ever doubt it. God works on behalf of those who love Him and honor His name. He is so good to us. We may never fully know, this side of heaven, how very much He has sheltered us from in this life.

"Dear God,

Thank you for your presence with us, thank you for your Almighty Shadow. Thank you that you go before us, and cover us from behind. Thank you that you are in our midst, and that our future is secure in the place you're preparing for us.

Your words bring such hope and comfort. Remind us of your strength today, may we see glimpses of your glory and blessing along the way as we seek after you. For victory and salvation are found in you alone.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus,
Amen."

About The Author:

Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's facebook page for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives.

by Jason Soroski

Psalm 91:1-2 has become one of my favorite passages of Scripture:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

When life is draining and there seems to be no time or place to rest, these words are reassuring, comforting and encouraging. When things appear to be their worst, I tend to get a bit negative, and most of us are like that. Our natural tendency is to get down and miss out on what God may be doing in our situation.

When I find myself in these negative places, my goal becomes reprogramming my mind to fend off the negative, and say of the Lord that He is my God in whom I trust, just as the writer of this Psalm did.

But there is also a deeper meaning in this passage, hidden in plain sight. In these verses there are four names for God: the Most High, the Almighty, the Lord, my God. Why does the writer use four different names in two verses, and what is significant about it?

The first name, the Most High, is the Hebrew word Elyon. It suggests a Supreme monarch, one who is elevated above all things. The name signifies God's majesty, sovereignty, and pre-eminence. It carries a connotation of a Davidic king that reigns above all other kings, and is first used in Scripture in Genesis 14:18, describing Abraham's encounter with the priest/king Melchizedek, "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High." Melchizedek gives us a picture of Christ in several ways, and it is fitting that this story contains the first use of this name of God in Scripture. Verse 1 speaks to the protection of one who 'dwells in the shelter of the Most High,' and it causes us to ask where it is that we dwell. Do we dwell in our own self-doubt? Do we dwell in anger? Do we dwell in what could be or what could have been? Or do we dwell in the shelter of the Most High God, the Holy king of heaven who promises to protect and keep us?

The second name, the Almighty, is translated from the word Shaddai (If you are thinking of the Amy Grant song right now, I assure you you are not alone). Shaddai has many meanings, but it as you may imagine, it primarily suggests a mighty, powerful God who is strong beyond our imagination and is more than capable to supply our every need. He is the God who parted the sea and controls all of creation. In His name and in His power, there is no need that cannot be met, and no circumstance he cannot overcome.

The third name, the LORD, is the personal name for God, revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 6:2). This personal name for God was considered so sacred in Judaism, that the original pronunciation is uncertain, only that it contained the letters YHWH, (JHVH in Latin). It has been translated as Yahweh, Jehovah, and more often as the LORD (in all caps). The significance of this name is that it represents a relatable God who seeks for us to know Him on a deep, personal level. The God who is the all-powerful, Divine ruler of all things is also the God who knows every hair on our heads, every joy and fear in our hearts, and desires us to know Him as intimately as a friend. This God who created the universe and all it contains is not just some far-off unknowable being, but a Father, redeemer and friend.

The fourth name, my God, comes from the Hebrew Elohim. This name first appears at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." When Elohim occurs in Scripture, it is typically translated as "God." In Greek, it is translated as Theos, which is where we get our word theology. It means the one who is first, or the creator, and is technically a plural word. So it is fitting that this is how God is referenced in Genesis 1:1; as a creator who is one, yet plural (Father, Son, Spirit). The Psalmist is proclaiming that the God in whom he trusts is the same God who created all things, the first and the last, and the God who is forever faithful to His creation.

In the span of just two verses we see the beauty of God: His ways are higher than our ways, yet we can speak to Him as friend. What a takeaway! God is at the same time unsearchable yet so very near to us. In His shadow and in His shelter, we find strength, comfort, and rest for our souls.

About The Author:

As a writer and musician, Jason Soroski strives to communicate in a way that is insightful, meaningful, relevant, and mindful of the small things that we may otherwise overlook in our everyday lives. He effectively taps into his experiences as a worship pastor, classroom teacher, husband, and home-schooling father of five to relate poignant stories from real-life experiences. Jason holds an M.Ed. from Missouri Baptist University, has been featured in various print and web publications, and currently resides in Houston, TX.

by Robert L. Deffinbaugh

Introduction

My experiences in my recent trip to India gave me a new appreciation for an article I read on my return.

Of Snakes and Tigers and Sending Churches

We were returning from a meeting at Vanar. It was 10 PM and we had to trek 5 Kms through the thick forest braving the cold in order to reach Pipalpada. A bright flashlight and a petromax lit our path. As we were climbing a steep rugged narrow path, Premakar, our home missionary of Dangs cautioned us, "Wagh, Wagh" (tiger). We stopped and our torches flashed at the beast which was 200 yards away. Its glittering eyes menacingly glared at us. In spite of the blinding lights it was advancing towards us. Helpless we turned to Jesus in prayer. To our great relief the beast slinked away. We continued our journey. But within a few yards our petromax failed. Just imagine our plight! It seemed ages before the petromax was fixed. After a short while a poisonous snake slithered past us and the promises of Psalm 91 sustained us. 145

Thankfully the cobras and other poisonous vipers were in hibernation during my stay in the mountain village of Chikaldara. The tigers and bears, while inhabiting the area, did not harm me either. Nevertheless, my sense of danger was much more intense while walking in the darkness or through the tall grass, where some creatures could be lurking.

Psalm 91 is familiar to us, in its words, for we often sing it in our worship service, and yet both its symbols and its promise of security are foreign to us. First, the poetic portrayals of danger are not common to us. We never fear snakes or wild animals in the streets of Dallas. Neither arrows flying in the daytime nor pestilence stalking at night are a common dread, such as they would be to others of another time or place.

Second, the security of the saint is unesteemed because most Western Christians know little about danger of any kind, and so the safety of which this psalm speaks is rather abstract. In this message I will try to deal with both of these difficulties, and to suggest ways in which we may find this passage more relevant to our own experience. This psalm is also noteworthy because of the fact that Satan quoted it in his temptation of our Lord (Matt. 4:6). Since he sought to misinterpret and misapply it in the life of our Lord, he will likely attempt to distort its message in our lives. Consequently, we will also consider some of the abuses to which the assurance of our safety can be applied. Let us then consider carefully the message and the meaning of Psalm 91.

The Structure of Psalm 91

I have chosen to follow the paragraph structure (and the translation) of the NASB in this exposition.146 Verses 1-4 introduce the theme of the psalm, the security of the saint. Verses 5-10 pursue the implications of the safety which we have in God. Our safety is further explained in verses 11-13; through His angels God intervenes to come to our aid. In the last section, verses 14-16, God Himself assures us of His intimate care for our safety, promising both help in trouble and ultimately, deliverance from trouble.

The Source of the Saints' Safety
(91:1-4)

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. (NASB)

While verses 1-4 introduce the subject of the saints' safety, the major emphasis falls upon God Himself. He is our refuge and strength. It is His love and His power which keep us. In verse 1 God is called the "Most High" and the "Almighty" and both terms stress His position and His limitless power.147

Verse 2 is the psalmist's personal confession of trust. The One in whom the anonymous author148 urges us to place our trust is the One the psalmist has personally found to be trustworthy.

Verses 3 and 4 poetically develop the theme which has been introduced in the first two verses. God is our deliverer (v. 3). His keeping power is portrayed by the use of two images, a mother bird and metal armor (v. 4). The mother bird safely tucks her young under her wings. There they are secure. There is a very tender touch here, stressing the warmth of God's love and concern.149 Not only is there a tenderness in God's care, there is also a toughness, as is seen in the imagery of the metal armor (v. 4). From the perspective of the protected, God is warm and tender; from the vantage point of the attacker, God is as strong as steel.

The dangers are likened to a trapper's snare and a deadly pestilence (v. 3). We should understand these two figures of speech as highly symbolic, emphasizing the elements of surprise and danger.150 The trapper's snare is not seen until it is too late. The deadly pestilence is fatal. Whether the danger is invisible or incurable, God's protection is ever adequate.

The Implications of the Saints' Safety
(91:5-10)

The first four verses have turned our attention to the source of our safety; verses 5-10 urge us to consider the confidence such security inspires. No matter what evil threatens (or appears to), we are safe in the shadow of the Almighty. In these verses the more negative or preventative aspects of our safety are explored. Later on, the more positive dimensions are discussed. The results of resting in the shelter of the Most High can be summarized by two expressions: no fear (vv. 5-6) and no fall (vv. 7-10).

Since the source of our safety is God Almighty, no threat or danger, no matter how great, is mightier than God's keeping power. The dangers which we face are in no way minimized by the psalmist. In fact, a broad range of poetic imagery is employed to encompass the entire range of danger which one might dread. Some have attempted to give a specific interpretation to each image. I do not see this to be either biblically defendable or necessary. The "arrows," "pestilence" and "destruction" are all poetic devices describing danger, rather than specific definitions of the kind of danger we face. In other psalms human opposition is described in terms of "lions," "arrows" and "snares" (cf. Ps. 57:4-6; 64:1-6).

Verses 5 and 6 refer to night and day, the darkness of night and the light of day. I understand the psalm to be assuring the saint that God gives us 24-hour protection. There is no threat, whether seen or unseen, anticipated or unexpected, which can catch God unaware and unable to protect us.

In verse 7 the security of the saint is portrayed in a different way. Even when men are "falling about us like flies" (my liberal paraphrase), God is able to keep us. Insurance companies are very interested in statistics. They want to know if you engage in dangerous activities like skin-diving or sky-diving or motorcycle racing. Statistics don't impress God, nor do they impede His protection. No matter how disproportionate the odds, God's protection is certain.

There is perhaps no better historical illustration of the truth of verse 7 than the exodus. In Exodus 7–12 the plagues were poured out upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians. In every case, the Egyptians suffered, but not the Israelites who trusted in God.

"But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel." And the Lord set a definite time, saying, "Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land." So the Lord did this thing on the morrow, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died (Exod. 9:4-6, NASB).

Hail destroyed the crops, the cattle, and the servants of the unbelieving Egyptians, but the Israelites were not harmed (Exod. 9:18-26). The first-born of the unbelieving were all killed by the death angel, but those who believed God, applying the blood of a lamb to the doorposts and the lintel of their house, were not touched (Exod. 12).

This brings us to another aspect of the dangers from which every saint is secure. Not only are we safe from the opposition of wicked men and the forces of evil, we are also protected from the righteous wrath of God. In Psalm 90:7-10, Moses saw man's suffering as a deserved punishment for sin from the righteous hand of God. Those who "dwell in the shelter of the Most High" need not fear God's wrath, which is the most awesome danger of all. I believe that this is the primary thrust of verses 8-10: "You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent."

The wicked will reap divine wrath, which is their recompense (v. 8), but those who have placed their trust in God (v. 9) will never suffer God's righteous wrath (v. 10).

The protection of those who abide under the shadow of the Almighty should wipe away all unwarranted fear. With God as our shield, we need not dread the opposition of either human or superhuman forces. With God as our refuge we should not fear and we cannot fall. We will certainly not fall under God's wrath and neither will we fall under the terror of any other. In the words of the New Testament:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:31-39).

This does not mean that the saints will never suffer, for Psalm 90 has already spoken of the condition of man in this present world. In verse 5 we are not told that there is no night terror, but only that we need not fear it when we are under the Divine wings of protection. We are not guaranteed success in every venture nor told that we will never fail, only that we will not fall from God's purposes and from His protection.151 Kidner's comments are well worth repeating:

This is, of course, a statement of exact, minute providence, not a charm against adversity. The no less sweeping promise of Romans 8:28 … does not exclude ‘nakedness, or peril, or sword' (8:35); cf. again the paradox of Luke 21:16,18.152

The Instrument and the Implications of God's Protection
(91:11-13)

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, Lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

I have suggested that the broadest range of opposition and danger is implied in the poetic description of verse 3 and verses 5-10. This would include both divine retribution and demonic opposition. While we know that God's judgment is no longer our destiny, how is demonic and other opposition thwarted? Verses 11-13 comfort us by reminding us that God's means of protection are greater than Satan's means of opposing us. God employs His angels to watch over us. They guard us in all our ways (v. 11).

Verse 12 dramatically describes the extent of God's care through His angels. Even in minimal danger ("Lest you strike your foot against a stone"), God's servants, the angels, could bear us up so as to avoid it. Now quite frankly if God is promising that we would never stub our toes, I must be doing something wrong. The promise of protection is stated in a figure of speech to emphasize the minute matters to which God's care extends, but it is not meant to imply that "toe-stubbing" is never the lot of the saint. While God's protection extends to the smallest matters, His prevention may include trials both great and small.

In verses 5-10 we saw that God's protection was intended to put away unhealthy fears and to prevent us from falling (but not from stumbling). These were primarily negative benefits: no fear and no fall. In verse 13 we observe the positive results of the safety that God provides through His angels. Here we find much more than a passive protection. We are told that we will kill cobras and trample down lions.

Now this is something entirely new and exciting. Fear is a paralyzing force. It causes us to become passive, rather than to be aggressive. Fear keeps us from taking initiative and doing anything which isn't "safe." Once our inhibiting fears are swept aside by an appreciation of our safety in God's care, we need not be reticent and retiring. We can boldly confront and even defeat the most fearful opponent. We will take on "lions and cobras" because we know we are safe in God's keeping, even in the midst of danger. This confidence can be taken to unbiblical extremes, as we shall see later in the message.

God's Promise of Protection
(91:14-16)

14 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him. 16 With a long life I will satisfy him, And let him behold My salvation." (NASB)

In the final analysis, our safety is only as certain as the guarantee of the God who promises it. We are not safe because we hope so, but because God says so. Just as a buyer is assured by a written guarantee from the manufacturer, so we are assured by God's personal promise to protect us in verses 14-16. This is the "last word" in terms of our safety. We must be able to answer two questions before we can appreciate the promises found in these verses: "What exactly is God promising to do?" "On what basis does God promise to do it?"

Let us consider what it is that God has promised in verses 14-16. Two terms, "deliver" (v. 14) and "rescue" (v. 15), indicate that God has promised to deliver those who are in danger or great peril. Either God will spare us from a dangerous circumstance or he will bring us safely through the danger. God's promise is that we should not fear for we cannot fall (vv. 5-10), and He cannot fail (vv. 1-4).

More than just to help us, God has promised to honor us. God says of the one who knows His name, "I will set him on high" (v. 14, KJV).153 In verse 15 He promises to honor him. This means that God will do far more than merely "save us by the skin of our teeth"; He will deliver us with dignity and glory. God's deliverance of Israel at the exodus was glorious. David's deliverance from the hand of Gath was divine (1 Sam. 21:10-15; cf. Ps. 34), but it was not dignified.154 In verses 14-16 God promises deliverance and honor.

God promises not only His protection from disaster, but His presence in danger. This is the assurance of the words, "I will be with him in trouble" (v. 15). At times He will pluck us from danger, but when He chooses to preserve us through it He does not abandon us. The three young Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were not alone in Nebuchadnezzar's furnace (Dan. 3:25), nor was Daniel alone in the lion's den (Dan. 6:22). Our Lord personally appeared to Paul during the night as he was imprisoned, threatened by an angry mob (Acts 23:11).

Verse 16 takes God's deliverance one step further. God will not only save us from death, He will give us long life. I believe this promise should be understood in the light of the Mosaic Covenant (e.g. Deut. 28:1-14) and the other Old Testament assurances that faith and obedience toward God tend toward longer life and prosperity. This, however, was not a guarantee nor a simple formula for success. I understand the term "salvation" to cover a very broad range of meaning, from deliverance out of danger, to long life, to the eternal life which the saint has by faith in God (even though the Old Testament saint did not understand this as fully as we do today).

God therefore promises help, honor and a hope for eternal life. To whom do these promises apply? Who may receive them and how are they obtained? Verses 14-16 also answer these questions.

The promise of help, honor and hope are for those who are in peril. The word "deliver" (v. 14) implies danger. Verse 15 promises that God will answer and be with the one in trouble. It is those in peril who receive God's help. That is precisely why the woman caught in the act of adultery was forgiven, but the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees received scathing words of rebuke (cf. John 8:1-11; Matt. 23). Only the sick need to be healed (Mark 2:17) and only those in danger need deliverance.

The promise of God's help is for those who are personally related to Him. "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him" (v. 14). The second half of this verse goes on to explain that God exalts the one who has known His name. It is only those who intimately know God and love Him who "dwell in the shelter of the Most High" (v. 1) and therefore have assurance of God's presence and protection.

Finally, those whom God protects are those who petition Him to do so: "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him" (v. 15). Those who ask will receive, and to those who knock the door will be opened (Matt. 7:7-8). Those who recognize their peril and ask for God's protection, receive it.

Conclusion

Man's most urgent need is deliverance from the ultimate danger - eternal judgment and separation from God's presence forever (2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20:12-15). If you have never come to a personal faith in God, you must first recognize your sinful condition and the danger which this creates (cf. Rom. 1–3). You are a sinner, condemned by God's righteous law, and destined to eternal punishment (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Jesus Christ offers you the forgiveness of your sins and the safety of eternal life in the presence of God by acknowledging your sin and trusting in Christ's death in your place (Rom. 3:21–5:21). By calling upon Him for salvation, you will be delivered from the danger of divine wrath and given the free gift of eternal life in the presence of God (Rom. 10:9-13).

I assume that most of my readers have taken this first step of trusting in Christ and calling upon Him for salvation. If this is not true, what I will now say has no application to your life. If you have experienced the forgiveness of sins in Christ, you can experience the safety and security which this psalm promises by "abiding in the shelter of the Most High" (v. 1).

There are two extremes which Christians should avoid in the application of this psalm to their lives. The first danger is not to take God's protection seriously enough. Psalm 90 has shown us a healthy, life-giving fear, the fear of God. On the other hand, Psalm 91 exposes a paralyzing fear - the fear of failing and falling under opposition. This fear keeps us from serving God and obeying His word.

Abraham's fear caused him to lie concerning the true identity of Sarah as his wife (Gen. 12:11-13; 20:11). Moses was afraid to go to Egypt and lead Israel out of captivity (cf. Exod. 3–4). The Israelites feared the "giants" in Canaan and did not possess the land God promised (Num. 13–14).

While there are those who faint due to fear, most of us live so conservatively that we don't think we have much to fear. We have insurance for our life, our health, our retirement, our wage-earning ability, and so on. We fail to live dangerously and thus we have little danger to fear.

May I suggest to you that living obediently means living dangerously. Discipleship is dangerous. Jesus always discouraged the person who sought the path of least resistance, and encouraged would-be disciples to count the cost (cf. Luke 9:57-62). Paul warned that godly living brings persecution (2 Tim. 3:12), as was evident in his own life (2 Cor. 4:11-13; 2 Tim. 3:10-11).

I want to suggest to you, my Christian friend, that you will never come to appreciate the promises of Psalm 91 until you have experienced the peril of living for God obediently. Look at the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. These are all men and women who lived dangerously by obeying God's commands. Abraham was instructed to leave the refuge of his home and family. Moses left the security of his position in Pharaoh's palace. On and on we find that living by faith is living dangerously.

Have you read through the Sermon on the Mount recently (Matt. 5–7)? If you would dare to live in accordance with our Lord's teaching I can tell you it is dangerous. The reason why most of us fail to appreciate the dangers of this present age, seen and unseen (cf. Eph. 6:10-20), and the safety which God promises (as in Ps. 91) is because we have failed to live in obedience to His word.

To some, I can confidently say, you should live much more dangerously - but not to all. There is another extreme to be avoided. Some seem to love danger for danger's sake. They may not be driving race cars at breath-taking speeds or jumping chasms on a motorcycle, but they always seem to be flirting with disaster. To any who might fall in this category, let me remind you of Satan's abuse of Psalm 91 in the temptation of our Lord, as recorded in Matthew 4. Satan took Jesus into the Holy City and stood Him on the pinnacle of the Temple (Matt. 4:5). In verse 6 we read, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written ‘He will give His angels charge concerning You and on their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" Here Satan is quoting Psalm 91:11-12. Satan is saying to the Lord Jesus, "If You are really the Son of God, then You, of all people, can live dangerously. Do you see this pinnacle here? Jump!" Jesus responded in a very interesting way. His reply indicates that while the servant of God may live dangerously, this is not an excuse to live presumptuously. That is why Jesus spoke to Satan about not tempting God.

The life of faith is obeying God, doing what is right, and trusting God to protect us. God didn't instruct Jesus to "jump," Satan did. If the Lord Jesus had jumped from the pinnacle of the Temple God would have been forced to act.

Some Christians today like to engage in what I call "Christian gambling." They are gamblers at heart who have learned to sanctify their actions with Scripture. They love to live on the thin edge of peril. Every time things get dull they precipitate another crisis. "The Lord has told me that I need to buy this or that thing," they tell us, even though they don't have a penny. They claim they have acted on faith, trusting God to provide for what they presumptuously purchased. In reality, they have jumped off a financial pinnacle.

Now if God said to you "Do this," then whether or not you have the means, you had better do it. But many of us give God credit for jumping off of pinnacles that are simply our way of manipulating God and saying to Him, "I'm going to put Your reputation on the line God, and if You don't come through and do it my way, You are going to look bad." This is putting God to the test, by demanding that He rescue us from self-made danger. That is not faith, but presumption.

Notice that Jesus said to Satan, "On the other hand, it is written …" (Matt. 4:7). Here our Lord reminds us of an important principle in the interpretation of any passage of Scripture. We must always correlate any Scripture with the entire Bible. The great danger of those who love to live dangerously is that they do so on the basis of isolated passages. Often the excesses of some Christians are the result of taking a single verse and leaping from it, without balancing its truth with other truth. Let us be careful not to confuse faith with foolishness.

One final word. This Psalm teaches an important lesson concerning the strengthening of our faith. The most important thing about faith is not its amount, but its author. Many Christians who wish to grow in faith focus on the identity of their faith, rather than in the quality of faith's object. If we want to see our faith grow let us dwell upon the Person in whom our faith is rooted, the Almighty, the Most High. He is our security!

Notes:

145 Reported by V. T. Thomas, Outreach, July 1982, p. 9.

146 One factor that must be taken into account in the study of the structure of Psalm 91 is the change in personal pronouns. In verses 1-4 God is the focus of the psalmist's attention; in verses 5-10 it is the reader who is central; in verses 11-13 we have an interplay between God's angels ("they") and the reader ("you"); in verses 14-16 there is an interplay between God ("I") and the reader ("you"). While a variety of explanations (and translations) result from the change in pronouns, this suggestion is most interesting: "It has also been suggested that the Psalm was intended to be sung antiphonally; one voice or choir chanting vv.1,2, and another answering in vv. 3-8; the first striking in again in v. 9a, and the second again responding in vv. 9b-13, while a third recited the Divine speech in vv. 14-16." A. F. Kirkpatrick, The Book of Psalms (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1982 [reprint]), p. 554.

I should confess that I find the outline proposed by Kidner a very tempting alternative. His view entitles verses 1-2 "my refuge," verses 3-13 "your refuge," and verses 14-16 "God's pledge." This very nicely handles the change of pronouns in the psalm. Cf. Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150 (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1975), pp. 332-333.

147 "Most High is a title which cuts every threat down to size; Almighty (Shaddai) is the name which sustained the homeless patriarchs (Ex. 6:3)." Kidner, p. 332. Kirkpatrick writes of these same two terms, "Significant titles, chosen to emphasize the power of the Sovereign Ruler of the world to defend His people." Kirkpatrick, p. 555.

148 No author is named. Among the list of possible authors I would like to add Moses. The language of all three psalms (90-92) is similar, as Kirkpatrick points out (p. 553). This psalm beautifully compliments Psalm 90, as Kirkpatrick (p. 554) also has noted.

149 Christ also displays His tenderness toward Jerusalem by the figure of a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wing (Matt. 23:37). Tenderness does not rule out toughness, as anyone knows who has ever incurred the wrath of a mother bird by molesting her young.

150 "The language is figurative: all hostility, whether secret or avowed, is meant." Kirkpatrick, p. 556.

151 The mantle of divine protection may sometimes be temporarily removed. Satan was allowed to test Job, for example. Yet this was for Job's ultimate good. So, too, the protection of God is sometimes removed in order to discipline a disobedient Christian, but this, too, is for the good of the wayward saint (cf. 1 Cor. 5:5).

152 Derek Kidner, p. 333.

153 The NASB renders the second line of verse 14 in such a way as to stress the deliverance of God. God lifts us up, as it were, beyond the reach of our adversaries. This is a very legitimate translation and true to the way the Hebrew expression can be rendered. It can also mean "to lift up" in the sense of "exalt" (cf. Ps. 69:30; 148:13). I personally think both senses are intended in Psalm 91:14. God not only lifts us up to deliver us, but to exalt us, as verse 15 ("honor") clearly states.

154 Psalm 34 clearly indicates that God's deliverance from Achish was accomplished supernaturally in spite of his faining insanity. David's rescue from Gath was not dignified because David was not depending upon God but upon his own clever intentions. Psalm 91 teaches us that God delivers and honors those who call upon Him for assistance. When we resort to our own foolish devices, God may graciously deliver us, but He will certainly not honor us.

by Silvia Purdie

Come, my love, come in,
into my shadow, under my shelter,
for I AM

How will you name Me today?
MostHigh, AllMighty?
Refuge, Protector?

Come, my love, come in
rest here … if you dare to trust Me
hide here … if you seek a safe place
as bullets fly, bombs blast and viruses spread.

You need not fear the terror of night
the pestilence that stalks the dark
or the destruction that wastes the day!

Come, my love, come fly with Me
held in my claws as my great wings spread
and together we rise
above the land, above the battle
look down on wild animals and deadly threats
trust in me, hide in my soft under-wing.

Come, my love, be still.
You have made the MostHigh your home.
I am your refuge.
Now be still, be with me, just with Me.

Here in this moment, let the sounds of the world fade,
ignore the tasks that await you,
know only Me.

I hold you. I deliver you. I protect you.
I am with you always, in everything.
I rescue and save you. I will satisfy you with Myself.

by Alistair Begg

You have made the Lord your dwelling place -- the Most High, who is my refuge. - Psalms 91:9

The Israelites in the wilderness were continually exposed to change. Whenever the pillar of cloud stopped, the tents were pitched; but the next day the morning sun arose, the trumpet sounded, the ark was in motion, and the fiery, cloudy pillar was leading the way through the narrow mountain passes, up the hillsides, or along the arid wastes of the wilderness. They scarcely had time to rest a little before they heard the sound of "Onward! this is not your rest; you must keep journeying onward toward Canaan!" They never stayed for long in one place. Even wells and palm trees could not detain them.

They had an abiding home in their God; His cloudy pillar was their roof, and its flame by night their fireplace. They must go onward from place to place, continually changing, never having time to settle or to say, "Now we are secure; we will stay in this place." Moses says, "Though we are always changing, Lord, you have been our dwelling-place throughout all generations." (1)

The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich today and poor tomorrow; he may be sick today and well tomorrow; he may be happy today and sad tomorrow--but there is no change regarding his relationship to God. If He loved me yesterday, He loves me today.

My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord. Even when prospects are few and hopes are squashed and joy is waning, I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is "my refuge" to which I continually return. I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet dwelling place.

References:

1 Psalm 90:1

From Morning & Evening revised and edited by Alistair Begg copyright (c) 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187.

by Lysa Terkeurst

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8a (NKJV)

Does it ever feel like the heartbreak in your life is trying to break you?

I understand. I really, really do. I've been in that place where the pain of heartbreak hits with such sudden and sharp force that it feels like it cuts through skin and bone. It's the kind of pain that leaves us wondering if we'll ever be able to function like a normal person again.

But God has been tenderly reminding me that pain itself is not the enemy. Pain is the indicator that brokenness exists.

Pain is the reminder that the real enemy is trying to take us out and bring us down by keeping us stuck in broken places. Pain is the gift that motivates us to fight with brave tenacity and fierce determination, knowing there's healing on the other side.

And in the in-between? In that desperate place where we aren't quite on the other side of it all yet, and our heart still feels quite raw?

Pain is the invitation for God to move in and replace our faltering strength with His. I'm not writing that to throw out spiritual platitudes that sound good; I write it from the depth of a heart that knows it's the only way.

We must invite God into our pain to help us survive the desperate in-between.

The only other choice is to run from the pain by using some method of numbing. But numbing the pain - with food, achievements, drugs, alcohol or sex - never goes to the source of the real issue to make us healthier. It only silences our screaming need for help.

We think we are freeing ourselves from the pain when, in reality, what numbs us imprisons us. If we avoid the hurt, the hurt creates a void in us. It slowly kills the potential for our hearts to fully feel, fully connect, fully love again. It even steals the best in our relationship with God.

Pain is the sensation that indicates a transformation is needed. There is a weakness where new strength needs to enter in. And we must choose to pursue long-term strength rather than temporary relief.

So how do we get this new strength? How do we stop ourselves from chasing what will numb us when the deepest parts of us scream for some relief? How do we stop the piercing pain of this minute, this hour?

We invite God's closeness.

For me, this means praying. No matter how vast our pit, prayer is big enough to fill us with the realization of His presence like nothing else.

Our key verse (James 4:8a) reminds us that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. When we invite Him close, He always accepts our invitation.

And on the days when my heart feels hurt and my words feel quite flat, I let Scripture guide my prayers - recording His Word in my journal, and then adding my own personal thoughts.

One of my personal favorites to turn to is Psalm 91. I would love to share this verse with you today, as an example for when you prayerfully invite God into your own pain.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1, NIV)

Prayer:

Lord, draw me close.

Your Word promises when I draw close to You, You are there. I want my drawing close to be a permanent dwelling place. At any moment when I feel weak and empty and alone, I pray that I won't let those feelings drag me down into a pit of insecurity. But rather, I want those feelings to be triggers for me to immediately lift those burdensome feelings to You and trade them for the assurance of Your security.

I am not alone, because You are with me. I am not weak, because Your strength is infused in me. I am not empty, because I'm drinking daily from Your fullness. You are my dwelling place. And in You I have shelter from every stormy circumstance and harsh reality. I'm not pretending the hard things don't exist, but I am rejoicing in the fact that Your covering protects me and prevents those hard things from affecting me like they used to.

You, the Most High, have the final say over me. You know me and love me intimately. And today I declare that I will trust You in the midst of my pain. You are my everyday dwelling place, my saving grace.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

And with that I close my prayer journal, feeling a lot less desperate and a lot more whole. I breathe the atmosphere of life His words bring.

I picture Him standing at the door of my future, knocking. If I will let Him enter into the darkness of my hurt today, He will open wide the door to a much brighter tomorrow.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 116:1-2, "I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." (NIV)

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

Read Psalm 91, and choose a verse to pray through in your own personal prayer journal.