You Are Not the Only One

Psalm Chapter 91 (KJV)

Context

This psalm appears to be written an army that is facing a battle. The military is the congregation of Israel that is going out to battle.  Many times we forget that the people of God looked to God to fight their battles. It also seems as if they have been exposed to a disease in the camp. This psalm of confidence has strands of wisdom theology in it too.

You are my protector, Lord.

² I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Can you imagine having such a close relationship with God that you know that you have lived in his secret place and that you are under his shadow? There is no way for one to exegesis this scripture. To someone who does not believe that God is all that and some, it will not be a theological conundrum.

 In the middle of all of the chatter about the pandemic, sickness, health, death, and resurrection, I know that he is my fortress, and I will trust him. Unlike Moses and the priests of his time, we do not have to wait for a specific time of the year to enter into the Holy of Holies. We can do it at any time all day long. GLORY!!  He is our protector. He will keep us safe ( See Pss 27:5; 31:21; 32:7; 61:4). 1 Peter 1:5 (NIV) tells us that he is our shield. “who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

To trust IS NOT talking about faith. It is declaring to the world, ‘I will rest in the knowledge that the Lord is making it all well. Notice the determination of the psalmist in saying, “I will say of the Lord.” He has made a definite stand. Notice also the use of “my.” He may not be refuge and fortress for the world, but He is my refuge and my fortress. Shadowed by the Lord, no harm will come near you. To feel absolutely secure in the knowledge that God is protecting you brings perfect peace. I will not fear what man can do, with God, my refuge, and fortress. Ps. 121:5; Isa. 16:3

Yah will save you.

³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. ⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. ⁵ Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; ⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. ⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. ⁸ Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

The psalmist is telling the congregational army that God can save them in their current circumstances, which is described metaphorically as a snare that is obstruction their way.  The third colon of verse 3 then mentions a deadly pestilence. Look at verse 6. He also refers to this pestilence there too. The pair darkness may explicitly indicate midnight. Midday constitutes a ‘merism,” which means ‘all the time.’ The people are experiencing the type of disease that is normal for warfare during that time. So, they needed assurance that they would be saved from the disease. Thus the need for the psalmist to assure the congregation that God will not let illness sack their energies or take their lives, nor will he allow the war that they are fighting to destroy them. They were being threatened in the camp at night as well as during the day while they were in battle (v. 5). The psalmist declares that people will die in the battle, but not the faithful people of God. Remember that as you face your dragons today.

Nothing can ever harm you.

⁹ Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; ¹⁰ There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. ¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. ¹² They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. ¹³ Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

The psalmist continues to assure the army/congregation that their affirmation of God as their refuge, and they actually make him their dwelling ( mā‘ôn ), then they will be spared harm (v. 10). God will charge his angels to protect his people. They will avoid minor injuries (strike your foot against a stone ) as well as huge dangers, identified by the threat of wild animals. They will survive the threat of the lion, cobra, great lion, and serpent See Ps. 74:13-14).

I will rescue him

¹⁴ Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. ¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The psalmist ends the psalm with what appears to be an oracle from the Lord. He assures all people who love him that he will protect him. The psalm addresses people who feel that they are in harm’s way. God tells them that he will be protected and will live long lives.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my protector.