THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - November 11, 2014 - Day 91 - Psalm 91

Where do I go if a riot breaks out? How do I avoid catching Ebola and dying? These are hot topics today especially if you live and work in the St. Louis area. Yesterday I heard on the news that there are currently no active cases of Ebola in America. There were rumors all weekend that the Grand Jury results would be in on the Michael Brown shooting by Officer Wilson and they were going to be announced. The police have spent thousands of dollars on more riot gear. Gun sales this past weekend went through the roof and the stores report that many of the buyers were new gun buyers who had previously not owned a gun. People are nervous and worried. What will they do and where will they go? News flash people…you cannot predict danger. Every minute of our lives we face death. You cannot hide from life. However you can find a place of refuge from your fear. Psalm 91 explains.

Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

The writer of this psalm used four different names for God in that statement. In the original language we find the names Elyon, Shaddai, Jehovah, and Elohim.

Elyon means God is the most high and the possessor of both heaven and earth. God owns everything and every place is His. The enemy may reside in a place but only because God has allowed him too. There is no place on this earth where God is not. Even if we think we stand on our enemies ground God is right there. An army can plant its flag on a hill thinking it has the coveted high ground but that hill is still God’s. God has the ultimate high ground. We can rest on that name.

Shaddai speaks of God as the Almighty and the provider of all. It is God who provides all our needs. We like to thank our veterans for our freedom on this day we call Veterans Day, and that is fine, but ultimately our freedom came from God who uses men to exert His will. We can trust God will provide.

Jehovah was the name the Jews held in highest esteem. In that name we see that God is a god of covenant. It speaks of God who not only makes a promise but always keeps it. This is why we can trust Him and have faith.

Elohim speaks of God the creator who can merely speak things into existence. That is unequalled power. Man has no such ability.

In those four names we see in God we have a refuge, a fortress which has possession, provision, promise, and power. What a place to dwell.

Psalm 91:3-6
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

If it be God’s will nothing can touch a believer. Repeatedly the Bible tells us not to fear. It really doesn’t matter how many times God said fear not, if He said it once we should not fear. We can believe Him for He cannot lie and has promised to take care of us. But the truth is that God does allow bad things to happen to us. But in building our faith and allowing Christians to face danger we can be a light to the unsaved through our faith in spite of the physical dangers of the world.

Psalm 91:7-8
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

We may not always see the wicked get what we think they deserve. 2 Peter 3:9 explains
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

That does mean judgment won’t come to those who in the end reject Him.

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

No matter what you face a Christian can stand in faith; God is watching over us.

Psalm 91:11-14
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

Yes, we can be confident God has angels watching over us. We know that according to Ephesians 6:12 “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” There are things going on we simply do not see.

But we know this; Jesus came to save us for all eternity. What happens to us here will work out for the good if we have chosen to love God (Romans 8:28).

Psalm 91:15-16
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Are you looking for a place to hide from all this chaos and tired of being afraid? Then cry out to God and let Jesus be your shepherd. He will lead you through the valley of the shadow of death. Did you catch that quote from the well known 23^rd Psalm? He won’t lead you around or away from the valley of the shadow of death; He will lead you through it. And it’s only the shadow of death. Jesus defeated death on the cross. You need not fear a shadow. So call on the name of Jesus and be one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Then rest easy and praise His name.