Festive Season Celebrations - Psalm 91

Over the next four weeks we will revisit some of our most popular topics. Today's episode is tilted - Psalm 91. 

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:20 Speaker

Over the next four weeks we will revisit some of the most popular topics. Today's episode is titled Psalm 91.

Over the centuries Psalm 91 has provided comfort in times of trouble. It is full of revelation and awe and wonder of God. Like all Psalms it has a specific structure and rhythm, therefore it must be read in it’s entirety. So let us go to Psalm 91.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 

A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

The structure of this Psalm consists of 3 parts. The first part is verses 1-2. The second is verses 3-13 and the third is verses 14-16. Each part together forms the whole expression of the Psalm. 

In the first part of this Psalm in verses 1-2 the Psalmist uses 4 different words for God. The first is the Most High. That is the Most High being the supreme and ultimate ruler of the universe. 

The first time the creator of heaven and earth and all things good referred to as the Most High is in Genesis 14:18 where the king and priest Melchizedek blessed Abram. He said in verses 19-20 ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ 

Here Melchizedek links the description of the Most High to God being the possessor of heaven and earth. Who amazingly blesses humanity by giving all of Himself and His once perfect world to humanity. In this passage of scripture in Genesis God blesses Abram and also brings deliverance from his enemies. God does all this because He so loves. 

Using this term Most High for God in Psalm 91 is coming from a fabulous revelation of who God is and His heart for humanity. For He is the possessor of heaven and earth who has no need of anything. Yet He desires us and has a secret place deep in His heart for each individual throughout the ages. A place of intimacy, gentleness, refuge and perfect love. 

The next description used for God in Psalm 91 is Almighty. That is the most powerful. The first instance that this word that has been translated as Almighty was used is in Genesis 17:1-2. God appeared to Abram and said, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you…’

So God, links His description of Himself as the Almighty, that is the most powerful, to making a covenant of perfect love. For a deeper understanding of God’s covenant please listen to our podcast titled, A Covenant of Love, Sealed in Blood. 

The Most High not only the possesses heaven and earth, who blesses with His presence but is the most powerful who uses His power for benefit of others. As the most powerful, He makes a way for each individual to be His treasured possession. To not only have a secret place in His heart to dwell in, but empowers those who choose Him to be able to abide, that is live, remain and be at home with Him. To live in that place of intimacy, acceptance and in a covenant bond of perfect love. 

The third word used for God in verses 1-2 is LORD. This word means the eternal, self-exisiting one. God is the great I AM, eternal, unchanging, self-existing. Only God is eternal, unchanging, self-exisiting. He exists because He is. 

The first mention of this word is in Genesis 2:4 and connected with God’s relationship with His creation. It is in the history of the heavens and the earth. The text goes on to state that the LORD formed the man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostril the breath of life. The eternal self-existing one is intimate and His breath is life itself.

In Psalm 91 the Psalmist links the eternal, self-exisiting one, to God being a personal refuge or shelter and a strong tower or fortress. We are safe and secure in His love. A perfect love that will never fail or depart from us. A fortress of perfect love. 

The fourth term the Psalmist used for God is the Hebrew word Elohiym, which has been translated as God. It is plural in from, but singular in meaning. Plural in the sense of God who is within Himself, that is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is singular in use in that He is the one God who created the heavens and the earth as stated in Genesis 1:1. 

The Psalmist declares His allegiance to God who is the creator of heaven and earth. Father, Son and Spirit who created and are one. For it is in Him the Psalmist will put His trust. 

The second section of the Psalm is verses 3-13, where the Psalmist expresses his confidence in God’s deliverance.

In verses 3-4 the Psalmist boldly declares that because of who God is and how He loves, He will deliver from evil. Not only will God bring deliverance, but He will nurture and cover each one who chooses Him with His wings of love. 

God’s truth will be the shield that protects and repels the lies of the evil one. Knowing God’s truth and receiving God, for only He is truth, is what sets people free. 

As a result of knowing the truth of who God is and what He has done, the Psalmist declares that there is no need to be afraid of evil or its destructive forces. For they do not have ownership or identity with anyone who has given their allegiance to God. 

The Psalmist in verse 9 states that in giving allegiance to the eternal one, we dwell with Him and have our identity with Him. 

So regardless of the storms of this life, the evil one has no place or authority over anyone who aligns themselves with God. Satan has to bow to God and is a defeated enemy. Jesus disarmed the powers of evil on the cross and they have no place or claim on anyone who has received Jesus. We need not fear. The fruit or reward of the wicked is evil, eternal death and torment. The reward of those who have given their allegiance to God is Jesus and everything associated with Him. Forever with God. Living in the fullness of His kingdom of eternal life, unending love and perfect peace.

Verses 10-13 completes this second part of Psalm 91. In these verses the Psalmist continues to declare God’s salvation in deliverance from evil and judgement.

Both in the Old and New Testament God’s judgement is upon evil and those who choose to align themselves with evil, in doing so are effectively declaring war on God. In the Old Testament God judged the gods of ancient Egypt. He exposed their lies and deceptions. The plagues of judgement did not effect the ancient Israelites or anyone who aligned themselves with God. 

When we align ourselves with God, give our allegiance to Him, we are free from judgement of evil. We become one with God and only good. For our home is with God and He makes His home in us. We have nothing to fear of judgement. Evil has already been judged as such by God and is defeated. There will come a day when evil will be totally eliminated. This will receive the fullness of our inheritance and salvation. 

In verse 11 the Psalmist states that God shall give His ministers to those who choose God to help and guide in all His ways. The Psalmist is reminding the first hearers how God sent His ministers to certain individuals to speak to them. This was at a time when people didn’t necessarily hear directly from God. For us today God has sent His Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us in all His ways. He personally leads us into all truth and testifies of who God is and what He given us in Jesus.

In the time when Jesus walked the earth as a man, the evil one tried to tempt Jesus in His humanity by misinterpreting Psalm 91:11. Jesus not only is the one who brings salvation but in His humanity triumphed over the lies of the evil one and the three temptations of the flesh. After which Matthews’s gospel account tells us that  angels ministered to Jesus. 

Verse 13 concludes the second section of Psalm 91 and the victory over evil and selfish desires. The Psalmist declares you shall tread upon the lion and the cobra. These are word pictures which are symbolic and rich in meaning. The lion throughout the Old Testament of which the first hearers would be familiar with represents power in ruling over and devouring of an enemy. The lion also represented God’s judgement upon evil and those nations and individuals who aligned themselves with evil. The cobra represented the deadly poison of aligning oneself with evil and the lies of the evil one.  

The Psalmist knows and understands that having given his allegiance to God, the creator of heaven and earth and all things good, he is now one with only good. Free from God’s judgement of evil and set free of the destructive controlling forces of evil and selfish desires. Such a powerful revelation. 

The Psalmist in verses 14-16 sums up the entire theme of Psalm 91. It is about eternal salvation and the deliverance from evil. Let’s read the third and final section once again. 

Psalms 91:14-16 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” 

God provides salvation and deliverance. He has shown His salvation in Jesus. In His life, death and resurrection He publicly defeated death, paid the cost of humanity’s selfish desires and by His Spirit empowers us to rule and reign over them. 

By choosing to give total allegiance to God, the creator of heaven and earth and all things good, we receive our salvation. 

God is with us in times of trouble, as we continue to be in this world that is damaged by evil. We have not yet received our resurrected glorified bodies that never get sick, never wear out and never die. But we are guaranteed of that day when Jesus returns in all His glory. 

All of heaven and earth and under the earth throughout the ages will witness that moment. God will honour us with His reward of Himself. We have His name, His victory and the assurance of His eternal salvation gift to us. 

As the Psalmist revealed in the beginning of this Psalm, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!