The world we live in can be a dangerous one at times. Depending on where one lives, people may have the danger of war threatening their safety. In many big cities one can get hurt or killed by crossfire from gangs or by armed robbery. We know the dangers of viruses and other illnesses that plague the world, and there are the equally dangerous threats from weather and other natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. Yes, the world can be a frighteningly dangerous place, and because of that many people live with stress and anxiety. How can we avoid that? Our psalm today gives us an answer for how to live with peace in such anxious times.
Psalm 91 is a favorite of many people, including myself. We don’t know who wrote the psalm, but whoever he was, he faced many of the same fears that we do. During the time of the Old Testament, the nation of Israel faced constant threats of war and invasion from surrounding nations. There were no “rules of war” with humane treatment for civilians, as armies would slaughter anyone in their path, including women, and children. With no modern medicine or treatments, illnesses were often fatal. There was no fire department, no severe weather warnings, and bandits always on the loose. Life was treacherous. Our psalmist, however, did not live in a state of constant anxiety, as he knew where to put his faith and trust.
The key to having peace in a troubled world, our psalmist instructs, is dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, and abiding in His shadow (vs. 1). Dwelling in the secret place of God means having a saving relationship with Him, having made the Lord Jesus Christ one’s personal Savior. Only then can we truly dwell with God, and find peace and safety in His shadow. When you are in the presence of the Lord, you have nothing to fear. It doesn’t matter if you are going through the flood or the fire, because you know God is with you. As long as you know His arms are around you, everything is alright.
We all go through storms in our life. Sometimes Jesus does not calm those storms. We must be careful to remember that deliverance must still be the will of God, and that even if harm should come, one can still be secure. Many who serve God become targets of demonic assaults. We will face enemies, some with strong attacks, however to calm our fears, we need to cling to faith in who God is, and what He can do. We can take shelter in Him.
Our psalmist describes God as protecting His children just as a mother bird will protect her chicks under her wings (vs. 4). Just as that mother hen or eagle gathers her chicks under her wing for safety, our Savior beckons us to trust Him, and run for protection within His arms. God is covering us so that we can survive anything and everything, if we just trust in Him and hold steadfast to His Word. When we find our security in the Lord, terror and attacks do not have to frighten or intimidate us (vs. 5). God is our safety, and in Him we find rest. With God protecting us, the enemy will have to get past Him before he can get to us! He is the “Most High”. No threat can ever overpower Him!
As we read further, we come to verses 11-12, which Satan quoted to Jesus during the temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6-7). Satan tries to get us to move and live independent of God. Satan tried to get Jesus to act presumptuously in demanding God’s protection, which He rebuked. Throughout our life, we must be dependent on God.
As the psalm closes, God is the speaker (vs. 14-16). He describes the blessings He gives to those who know and love Him. In prayer, we connect with God’s supply. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him (Philippians 4:19). He is always with us, watching over us, even if we cannot see or feel it.
As we look back on Psalm 91, a favorite of so many, we realize that God is a shelter and refuge when we are afraid. Faith in Almighty God as our Protector will carry us through all the dangers and fears of life. We trade all our fears for faith in Him, no matter how intense they are. To do this we must dwell and rest with Jesus. By entrusting ourselves to His protection, and pledging our daily devotion to Him, we will be kept safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment