Sunday, January 13, 2013 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
Abiding in the Shadow of the Almighty
PSALM 91
The message, as most psalms, is timely and also has a message
for us. It is descriptive of
the one who TRULY abides with the Lord – not superficial service.
It also is a psalm referenced in the New Testament as Satan
tempts Jesus. We will
address that as we get to it.
a.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
– when we think of the dwelling place of God in Israel, the temple (or
tabernacle) comes to mind.
For us it is the assembling of the saints to worship God as His church.
(cf. Matt. 18:20)
b.
BUT, the “secret place”
would be more than that. It
is a description of where God is (in heaven), which would certainly
include in the assembly. But
what comes to my mind in this expression is not simply “going to
church”, but rather he who dwells with God continually.
Here we find the one who serves Him day in and day out.
His service to God is a “Sunday only” proposition. The one who
sees the purity of His kingdom as His all.
In all that He does, he is influence by the Kingdom of God.
Phil. 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.”
c.
He will dwell under the shadow of the Almighty
– God will be his influenced and thereby his protector.
As I see this expression I see a two way street.
First we dwell knowing He is able to protect us.
Second, we SEEK TO dwell under His influence.
Is He guiding our lives through His word?
Psa. 119:105 says, “Your word is a
lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Prov. 6:23, “For the commandment
is a lamp, and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of
life.”
d.
In Him I will trust.
Our motto used to be, “In God we trust.”
It may still be on our coins, but we are certainly not a
God-fearing nation anymore.
But what about you? Do you
trust Him fully? Prov. 16:20
says, “He who heeds the word
wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”
a.
The description is of a
trap, perilous pestilence and other things describe different ways of
being caught. IF you
consider this in light of Israel entering Canaan, you find the promise
to a nation if they remain faithful to Him.
God could protect them from war, natural disaster or plague.
And that is in agreement with the promises Moses made to Israel
in Deuteronomy 28 if Israel obeyed God and if they disobeyed Him.
b.
He will cover you under
His wings – an oft used description of His protection.
c.
His truth will be your
shield and buckler. Truth is
a great source of protection.
Jn. 17:17, on behalf of His apostles, Jesus prayed that they be
sanctified by His truth.
Jn. 8:32, “the truth shall make
you free.”
Eph. 1:13, “In Him you also
trusted, after you heard the word of truth, that gospel of your
salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Practically speaking, when we keep the truth, it can preserve us in many
ways. The principles
addressed in scripture are for our good.
But, let us also not forget that whatever God speaks IS truth!
He cannot lie (Heb. 6:17-18, Titus 1:2) and thus His promise is
golden.
d.
You will not need to
fear anything, whether arrow, terror by night or pestilence.
This would be great motivation for a nation about to inhabit a
land filled with enemies greater in every way (except that God was with
Israel).
Personally, that
prompts the type of confidence we find in Hebrews 13:6, “what can man do
to me?”
e.
Vs. 7-8 – while a
thousand around you may fall, even ten thousand.
But, He can protect you. This
could easily be descriptive of Israel as they conquered the land of
Canaan. Recall how powerful their victories were - including Jericho in
which they did not lose a single soul of Israel was lost, their relative
ease of victory in their campaigns against the land as recorded
throughout Joshua.
I am reminded of former victories in Egypt where the Angel of Death
claimed the first born in Egypt, and the crushing of the Egyptian army
in the Red Sea, and the destruction of the Moabites in the wilderness.
f.
You will see “the reward
of the wicked.” Recall how
Abraham was told there would be a 400 year wait because the iniquity of
the land was not fully accomplished.
The conquest was a promise to Israel, but it was also a pouring
out of God’s wrath against ungodly and idolatrous nations.
I am reminded of later
victories such as that of Gideon, who with 300 brave men, defeated the
army of the Midianites with clay pots, lanterns and horns (judges 7-8),
Samson who killed some 3000 Philistines at his death and many more
during his life (Judges 16:28-31), and much later Hezekiah is delivered
from the Assyrian army where in 1 night 185,000 died at the hand of God
(2 Kings 19).
g.
The lesson – if God can
defeat armies like this, what can He do for us?
As Paul said, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
a.
In these verses we find
the friends of the psalmist and his promise from God. IF it be Moses
speaking of Israel, he is hopeful that they WILL trust in Him and He
hopes for them.
b.
Because YOU have made
the Lord your dwelling place – NOTE: It is one of “like precious faith”
that he speaks of. I cannot
help but think of how we cherish and prefer our godly brethren to the
world.
c.
No evil will befall you,
nor any plague come near your dwelling – we have already discussed this.
d.
“For He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you.
In their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot
against a stone.”
i.
Let us put this in its
context. IT deals with one
who is faithful to God and His promise to watch over them.
God is faithful and able to do whatever He wills.
He is almighty God.
ii.
Consider the work of
angels – they are ministering spirits for those who will inherit
salvation (Heb. 1:14).
Some things we read about angles include: 1) They carry the righteous to
Abraham’s bosom (At least that is what we read of Lazarus - Lk. 15:22);
2) They delivered the message of God to Cornelius who was seeking the
truth (Ac. 10:3); 3) They execute God’s will (cf. Rev. 10), etc.
We certainly do not live in the age of miracles and we cannot with
certainty say what their work is today, but whatever they do, perhaps
providentially, is for our good and the execution of God’s will for us.
The POINT was that God can take
care of us and He has legions of helpers to assist Him as needed (cf.
Matt. 26:53).
iii.
These verses (11-12)
were quoted by Satan as Jesus was tempted by Him after 40 days and
nights in the wilderness.
Recorded in both Matthew 4:6 & Luke 4:10-11 where Satan takes Jesus up
to the pinnacle of the temple and tells him to cast Himself down and let
the angels catch him. Then
Satan quoted our text.
BUT, we notice that he TOOK IT OUT OF ITS CONTEXT!
In Psalm 91 the Lord God was NOT telling them to test Him.
Rather it was a PROMISE that He would take care of those who
trusted in Him! The
CONDITION was their faithfulness. (See vs. 9 – they had made the Lord
their refuge and dwelling place)
That is why Jesus quoted Moses saying, “IT
is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” (Matt. 4:7,
cf. Deut. 6:16)
iv.
Interestingly, if you
study the life of Jesus, you find a perfect example of one who trusted
in God and He whom made His Father His refuge.
AND, we see angels comforting and protecting Him according to the
Father’s will. Angels were
present before (in the Garden) and after (at the empty tomb) His death.
e.
You shall tread upon the
lion and cobra. Crushing the poisonous enemy.
More descriptive promises of God being there to protect them (and
us).
a.
In these verses the
conversation changes persons.
Based upon the content of these verses, we find the Lord God
speaking now concerning the faithful.
b.
Of them it is said:
i.
Because he has set his
love upon Me, I will deliver Him.
Notice that the one who will be delivered loves the Lord.
That love is more than an emotional feeling – it is an attitude
of obedience. Jesus said in
John 14:23, “IF anyone loves Me,
he will keep My word…”
Romans 8:28 says, “We know that
all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who
are the called according to His purpose.”
James 1:12 speaks of the one who endures temptations as being blessed
and that “he will receive the
crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
ii.
I will set him on high,
because he has known My name.
God will exalt those faithfully serve Him.
To the faithful stewards in the parable of the talents the master
told them, “Well done good and faithful servants,… enter into the joy of
your Lord.” (Matt. 25:21)
1 Pet. 5:6, humble yourself now that He may exalt you in due time.
iii.
He shall call upon Me,
and I will answer him
– God hears the prayers of His servants (Jas. 5:16).
1 John 5:14-15 also.
iv.
I will be with him in
trouble – we
sometimes sing, “God will take care of you.”
The final words of Jesus recorded in Matthew are, “And
lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20)
v.
I will deliver him and
honor him -
He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation (2 Pet. 2:9)
vi.
With long life I will
satisfy him –
I think of passages like Eph. 6:2-3 where children are commanded to
honor their father and mother, “that
it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Typically, the instructions of God’s word lend to longer and more
productive lives. If we
apply His will, we will be engaged in less risky and damaging behaviors
(drinking, smoking, addictions, etc.), we will live with less stress
over things, we will be at peace more often, etc.
Things that have been proven to extend life.
BUT, even if we don’t live longer, we have another BETTER life to look
forward to. And that cannot
be equaled in this life (2 Cor. 5:1-5, Phil 1:21-24, etc.)
vii.
NOTE:
In all the points made in these verses, we must understand that there is
no guarantee of a longer life or a life free of troubles.
That is not the point!
The point is that if we trust God – in the end all things will
work out for good according to His will.
And that will be profitable for us! (Rom. 8:28)
viii.
I will show him My
salvation –
finally, the promise of salvation.
Physically, as a nation faithfulness would lead to deliverance.
The history of Israel records continued examples of this, some of
which we have mentioned.
Spiritually, our ultimate goal is to see His salvation. Rev. 14:13 says,
“Blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord from now on…”