I'm reading this passage twice a day as a prescription instruction from a Bishop. Find out how you can be at peace with God for eternity as John MacArthur shows you fifteen words that sum up the most powerful truth in all of Scripture. Take a look at another study and commentary: 6 Important Reasons To Bring Hidden Hurts To God For Healing, 7 Sample Prayers Before Surgery or a Medical Procedure, 25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength, Words of Encouragement: 30 Uplifting Quotes, Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Relationships: The Role of Gods Grace and Mercy, The Trinitarian Nature of Effectual Calling, Why So Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen, Christian Dating: A Guide to Navigating Relationships with Faith, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island Movie Review. 91:9. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: Does God take notice of our poor love? That he will not only keep them from evil, but from the fear of evil, v. 5, 6. On their hands they will bear you up,lest you strike your foot against a stone. The second meaning (equipping, to include equipping for war) has God providing us with the resources to handle the situation ourselves. When God takes his people to dwell in nearness to himself, and they have faith in this promise, I make no doubt that, literally, in the time of actual pestilence, they will be preserved. There may be unseen influences that would ruin us, or cause us dishonour, or distress; but when we dwell with God, we shall not be afraid of them. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. In this case, the psalmist emphasizes its deadly character. You can also change some of your preferences. but it will not come near you. Whatever the case, these verses assure us that God will deliver us. Chicks taking refuge under their mothers wings serve as a metaphor for people finding refuge in Gods presence. D, The Duration And Nature Of Future Punishment - Henry Constable. This article is also available and sold as a booklet. I. 4. The Christian & Politics: Has the Contemporary Church Become Obsessed With Political Solutions? One is that often God amazingly delivers them physically when others around them are falling. of the Traditional "Sermon" Concept, A Biblical Defense of Conditional Immortality, Biblically Dispelling the Myth of Eternal Torture. In my father's house there are many mansions, one needs not crowd another, much less crowd out another. Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is my refuge: any other is a refuge of lies. quotation, for he left out the words in all thy ways. God will help us in our ways if we keep in his ways. The care which the angels take of the saints, pursuant to this charge: They shall bear thee up in their hands, which denotes both their great ability and their great affection. Theologian Paul on Life, Death, and Immortality - Froom, Gravity of Ascribing False Teachings to Christ - (refernce to Dives and Lazarus), The Old Testament Use of the Word Sheol (Hell), The Rich Man and Lazarus: An Intermediate State? Final Judgment, Identifying True Israel: Following God's Faithful Down the Ages, The Significance of A.D. 70 in the Prophecies of Christ, Biblical Hermeneutics - Qualifications Of An Interpreter - M. S. Terry, Biblical Hermeneutics - Special Hermeneutics - M. S. Terry, Of Justification by Faith and Works - William Law, Sanctification - Its Nature - by J.C. Ryle, Sanctification - The Growth of the New Man, Scriptural Evidence for the Deity of Christ, The Carnal Christian - by Ernest C. Reisinger, The Christian's Relationship To The Mosaic Law w/audio, The Lordship Controversy and Repentance - Ernest Reisinger, The Word-Faith Movement - Christian Research Institute, A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness - Burroughs, Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross - James P. Shelly. "Nothing can ultimately hurt me." If Christ's life is the interpretive lens through which we read Psalm 91, then the promises of protection found in that psalm must have something to do with resurrection. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. Here at Grace to You Europe we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and, as you would expect, have undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that we are ready for this important legislative change. If these verses sound familiar, it is probably because Satan quoted them as part of Jesus second temptation. God hides not his people in a casing of iron; their shelter is stronger than iron, yet it is soft as the downy wings of a bird for ease and comfort. {"lang_button_processing":"Please Wait..","lang_button_notify":"Subscribe","lang_heading_notify":"Notifications","lang_text_notify_info":"Notify me of new comments\u003Cspan class=\"cmtx_info_extra\"\u003E via email\u003C\/span\u003E","lang_title_cancel_notify":"Cancel this notification","lang_link_cancel":"[Cancel]"}, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","page_id":948015,"is_permalink":false,"lang_text_view":"View","lang_text_reply":"reply","lang_text_replies":"replies","lang_text_replying_to":"You are replying to","lang_title_cancel_reply":"Cancel this reply","lang_link_cancel":"[Cancel]","lang_text_privacy":"Privacy","lang_text_terms":"Terms","lang_text_agree":"[1] \/ [2]","lang_text_not_replying":"You are not replying to anyone","lang_button_loading":"Loading..","lang_button_more":"More Comments","lang_button_edit":"Edit Comment","lang_button_reply":"Add Reply","lang_link_reply":"Switch to full reply","lang_link_refresh":"[Refresh]","date_auto":false,"show_pagination":true,"quick_reply":false,"pagination_type":"button","timeago_suffixAgo":"ago","timeago_inPast":"a moment","timeago_seconds":"less than a minute","timeago_minute":"a minute","timeago_minutes":"%d minutes","timeago_hour":"an hour","timeago_hours":"%d hours","timeago_day":"a day","timeago_days":"%d days","timeago_month":"a month","timeago_months":"%d months","timeago_year":"a year","timeago_years":"%d years"}, JavaScript must be enabled for certain features to work, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","page_id":948015,"enabled_country":false,"country_id":0,"enabled_state":false,"state_id":0,"enabled_upload":false,"maximum_upload_amount":3,"maximum_upload_size":5,"maximum_upload_total":5,"captcha":true,"captcha_url":"https:\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/frontend\/index.php?route=main\/form\/captcha&page_id=948015","cmtx_wait_for_comment":"cmtx_wait_for_comment","lang_error_file_num":"A maximum of %d files are allowed to be uploaded","lang_error_file_size":"Please upload files no bigger than %.1f MB in size","lang_error_file_total":"The total size of all files must be less than %.1f MB","lang_error_file_type":"Only image file types are allowed to be uploaded","lang_text_loading":"Loading ..","lang_placeholder_country":"Country","lang_placeholder_state":"State","lang_text_country_first":"Please select a country first","lang_button_submit":"Add Comment","lang_button_preview":"Preview","lang_button_remove":"Remove","lang_button_processing":"Please Wait.."}, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","auto_detect":false}, Pop-up verses - "Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. But, (2.) Should Pastors Be Salaried? A soldier would be equipped with one shield or the other, but the psalmist perceives Yahwehs truth as embodying the advantages of both. Yahweh is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. They are such as make the Most High their habitation (v. 9), as are continually with God and rest in him, as make his name both their temple and their strong tower, as dwell in love and so dwell in God. Strength and mastery may be united. ): Surely he shall deliver thee. However, as noted in these verses, daylight often ushers in daily battles, whether with spear and sword or pen and PowerPointso we feel vulnerable by night or by day. It also means preparing, to include equipping for war. Lions serve as a metaphor for powerful forces that can take us apart with one swipe of their claws. The charge given to the angels concerning the saints. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. The ending of all of this is the most powerful of all as God says He will show him [or her], His salvation. If you have salvation, all of these other serious circumstances of plagues, night terrors, thousands dropping at your sides or any other threat are only temporary because ultimately, God is our refuge, our fortress, our shield, our buckler, and His love overshadows us and will bring us safely into the kingdom someday. (3.) 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High - Hal Licino, Why Modern Liberalism is Contrary to Christianity, Matthew 24 The End of the Holy City - Morrison Lee, Scripture Charts As Relates to the Second Coming, The Beast of Revelation Revealed - Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry, The Destruction of Jerusalem - Proof of Christianity, The Last Days According to Jesus - R. C. Sproul, All the N.T. I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The psalmist can feel secure, because he is confident that Yahweh will deliver him from the snare (pah) of the fowler (a person who sets traps to catch birds, usually for eating). I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge (Hebrew: manseh) and my fortress (Hebrew: mesudah); my God, in whom I trust' (Hebrew: batah) (v. 2). 2. God Himself becomes like a mighty refuge and fortress for the believer. Psalms 91:2. Can any comfort be surer? We know whom we have trusted. John MacArthur) BRAIN GAMES. The Great Lie: What about the Immortal soul? Angels are Gods messengers (Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 1:1)part of the created order and therefore wholly subordinate to God. They shall be delivered from the malice of the powers of darkness (ver 3, 5, 6), and that by a distinguishing preservation, ver 7, 8. Prayer: The Believer's Constant Conversation (Ephesians 6:18-24) Pastor John MacArthur. Those of us who live in first world countries have almost forgotten the dangers of deadly diseases that spread rapidly and kill large numbers of people. The Septuagint (LXX: Greek version of the Old Testament) attributes this psalm to David, but that remains in question. I will set him on high (Hebrew: sagab), because he has known (Hebrew: yada) my name (Hebrew: sem) (v. 14b). That brings us back to v. 13. Yahweh is speaking about those who attach themselves to himbind themselves to himlove himtake delight in him. If we are to keep our equilibrium in such circumstances, we need assurance that God is with usthat God loves us and is committed to helping usthat God will redeem even our darkest day. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. 11-12). Surely, oh, blessed word! Christianity: The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Women, The Pursuit of God - A W Tozer - Complete Book. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Nay, not thy person only, but thy dwelling, shall be taken under the divine protection: There shall no plague come nigh that, nothing to do thee or thine any damage." He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. See the comments on verse 3b (above) for an explanation of deber (pestilence). Can any thought be more profound? Satan said, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will put his angels in charge of you. and, On their hands they will bear you up, so that you dont dash your foot against a stone' (Matthew 4:6). 16 I will satisfy him with long life, All rights reserved. Their Worm Does Not Die: Annihilation and Mark 9:48, Evidence for the Resurrection - William Lane Craig -Text and Audio, The Evidence for Jesus - William Lane Craig - Text and Video. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Oh, yes, he values the love of his people, for he knows where it came from; it is a part of his own love; the creation of his grace! I will be with him in trouble: Again God speaks and acts like a tender-hearted mother towards a sickly child. Such a message is timeless. So the psalmist is talking about a serious threat when he uses the word deber. Historically, more soldiers have died from disease than from swords, spears, and bullets. God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. Salem Media Group. What is Psalm 91 all about? The New Testament Documents: Are they Reliable? What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? O death! But God says, I will deliver him, and honour him.. Yahweh (Hebrew: YHWH or yahweh). The Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament) translates the Hebrew word sadday as the Greek word protokrator, which literally means all power or all dominion, and is usually translated Almighty One. Yahweh was Gods personal name for the Israelites. He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Come here, Gabriel, Michael, and all the rest of you, says the great King of kings to the angels around his throne; and when they come at his call, he says, Take care of my child. II. There is need to fear the night filled with terror or the arrows that are visibly seen flying during the day. That is worth noting. Some of the most powerful evidence that proves Jesus to be Whom he claimed to be is found in the historical fulfillment of the prophsies He foretold in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. We arent certain of the time and circumstances of its writing. The seashore or forest where nature calms our souls and draws us to God. That he will, in the mean time, be with them in trouble, v. 15. All Rights Reserved. The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his keeper ( Ps. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. In this study, Dr. MacArthur examines the book of Psalms and reveals how the hymns it contains points to an all-powerful God who is to be respected, worshiped, and praised for his loving care of his peopleand to whom we can turn to help in times of need. Globally, we are faced with wars and rumors of warplagues and pestilenceenemies equipped with the Bombtyrants and corrupt politiciansa world changing so rapidly that it makes our heads spinand a host of other problems. ), Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000), Mounce, William D., (ed. Viewing things from God's vantage point--that is true comfort. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. : A Closer Look At A Popular Tradition, Audio of "Church Leaders and the Use of Honorific Titles", The Nativity Story - Download A 16min Edited Version for Christmas, Binding and Loosing (Matthew 16:19) - w/audio, What does "God blesses those who bless Israel really mean? Even if he should have but few years, yet he shall have a long life; for life is to be measured by the life that is in it, not by the length along which it drags. 1. (4.) Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . He is a refuge that will not fail me; for he is my fortress and strong-hold." Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. If they were, no one would ever die. It denotes the great care God takes of the saints, in that the angels themselves shall be charged with them, and employed for them. 10 no evil shall happen to you, However, we must guard against angel worship and the trivialization of angels popular in some circles today. When I lived in New York City years ago, I learned not to walk close to buildings when I was walking at night. God does bothdelivering us and equipping us. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. 2 I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and my fortress; Truth is real, dependable, stablethat which we can trust. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Wings and feathers, though spread with the greatest tenderness, are yet weak, and easily broken through, and therefore it is added, His truth shall be thy shield and buckler, a strong defence. It would have served them well when King Cyrus of Persia defeated Babylon and freed Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city, where they found a ruined city and were faced with many enemies. Thank you. Great danger supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us; night and day we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous will in neither period think themselves safe. Individually, we are faced with financial challengesfears of losing a job or finding ourselves unable to compete in a rapidly changing worldchildren gone astrayaddictionsillnessdeath (our own or that of loved ones). GOD IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS. It is probable that this psalm also was penned by David; it is a writ of protection for all true believers, not in the name of king David, or under his broad seal; he needed it himself, especially if the psalm was penned, as some conjecture it was, at the time of the pestilence which was sent for his numbering the people; but in the name of the King of kings, and under the broad seal of Heaven. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. In verses 1-2, the psalmist uses four names for God: The Most High (Hebrew: elyon). These thousands and tens of thousands are most likely the victims of pestilence and destruction mentioned in verse 6? That is a wonderful promise: Thou shalt not be afraid. If it had said, Thou shalt have no cause for fear, it would have been a very comforting word; but this is even more cheering, Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night.. However, when Elohim refers to Yahweh, that is called the intensive plural or the majestic plural, acknowledging that all that constitutes deity is summed in Yahweh. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. No locks nor bars can shut out diseases, while we carry about with us in our bodies the seeds of them. The other is that God often wills for his children to suffer, but forbids that the suffering hurts them in the end. They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. The wonderful thing is that God is love (1 John 4:16). 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befal thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. nor of the arrow that flies by day; This crowns the blessedness: I will show him my salvation, show him the Messiah (so some); good old Simeon was then satisfied with long life when he could say, My eyes have seen thy salvation, nor was there any greater joy to the Old-Testament saints than to see Christ's day, though at a distance. He shall cover thee with his feathers, The psalmist uses a wonderful metaphor when he ascribes feathers to God, and compares him to a hen, or some mother-bird, under whose wings her young find shelter. Psalms 91:5. He assures us that we can enjoy the same confidence if we dwell in he secret place of the Most High (v. 1). will rest (Heb. It might be chinks in my faith that leave me vulnerable to fearbut I dont know anyone who has no chinks in their faith. We read of fear in the night, Cant 3 8. Those who have themselves found the comfort of making God their refuge cannot but desire that others may do so. Study to show thyself approved . His faithfulness (emettruth) is your shield (Hebrew: sinnah) and rampart (Hebrew: soherahbuckler) (v. 4c). Psalm 91:1. The angels keep the charge of the Lord their God; and this is the charge they receive from him. These verses include conditional promises. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nervous as you are, and naturally timid, when you dwell near to God, your fears shall all go to sleep. Again at the end of day. The spiritual life, which is protected by divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is the noisome pestilence. Children and the Rod of Correction - Dave Miller, Ph.D. Christian Practice - Evidence of Grace - Edwards, Meditating On The Future Life - John Calvin w/ audio, Others May, You Cannot - by G. D. Watson w/audio, The Bible Doctrine of the Separated Life - by Johannes G. Vos, The Christian and Entertainment - Rev. However, when I was a child in the 1940s and 50s, before the polio vaccine became available, I had friends who had suffered from polio. PSALM 91:1-2. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. It is not an evil, an only evil, but there is a mixture of good in it and a product of good by it. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. That herein he will answer their prayers: He shall call upon me; I will pour upon him the spirit of prayer, and then I will answer, answer by promises (Ps 85 8), answer by providences, bringing in seasonable relief, and answer by graces, strengthening them with strength in their souls (Ps 138 3); thus he answered Paul with grace sufficient, 2 Cor 12 9. 2. When we talk about trusting God to deliver us, thats the bottom lineconfidence that God is with us both in life and in death. God Bless. Home. Log In After clicking 'Register', you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. Both are appropriate in this verse. We know that death and taxes are the two certainties in lifedeath being the most certain of the two. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. In Vietnam, our soldiers had to watch for punji sticks and trip wires. It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he shelters them, and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They shall be taken under the peculiar care of Heaven, ver 1, 4. to guard you in all your ways. The natural life, and is often fulfilled in our preservation from those dangers which are very threatening and very near, while yet we ourselves are not apprehensive of them, any more than the bird is of the snare of the fowler. But the psalmist wrote these verses to reassure the faithful that Yahweh will send his angels to guard themto bear them upto protect them from dangers large and small (dashing ones foot against a stone sounds small compared to some dangers). 2. Yahweh is promising to bless the person who knows him in this intimate way. Can any language be loftier? The buckler is also part of the protection and this device is a defensive piece of armor used in ancient times when close range attacks occurred. I will be with him in trouble (v. 15ab). Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Psalm 91 appears to be a psalm in the setting of warfare with threats of an imminent battle that is about to, has or is currently taking place between solders that may be facing impossible odds. Observe, I. Does God value such feeble and imperfect knowledge of his name as we possess? The Almighty (Hebrew: sadday). III. The voice shifts with this verse. The promises which are here made, in God's name, to all those that do so in sincerity. Dale Kuiper, The Christian and the Mosaic Law - Philip Mauro, The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It. Commentaries for Psalm Chapter 91 The safety of those who have God for their refuge. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, If you dwell near to God, you will not be deceived by Satan. Even there, God is present. The Immortality of the Soul: It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude. lin) in the shadow (Hebrew: sel) of the Almighty (v. 1). Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, There shall no evil befall thee. It may have the appearance of evil; but it shall turn out to thy good. So first, Psalm 91 means I'm invincible till God is done with me. Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow, as knowing that though it may hit thee it cannot hurt thee; if it take away the natural life, yet it shall be so far from doing any prejudice to the spiritual life that it shall be its perfection." 13 You will tread on the lion and cobra. There are some who come to God's house; but the man mentioned here dwells with the God of the house.