God’s Protection Series

The theme of this Psalm is God’s protection.

There is a sense that Psalm 91 stands alone from all other passages of the Bible. It contains the only passage of the Bible quoted by the devil. Scripture teaches us that God protects those who love him and will help them in their trouble. The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness by taking this Psalm with the theme of God’s protection and he misused it.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12)

The devil took this passage to entice Jesus to jump off the pinnacle. Come on Jesus jump, you will be covered by God’s protection. The devil used or misused this text as though it provides unconditional security in any and every circumstance. It is the original prosperity gospel, which is really no gospel at all. Jesus own experience shows that even faithful ones suffer, have emotional anguish and physical pain. It is often in our suffering that we turn to God.

God gives His protection of His faithful believers.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

When I read verse 1 and come to the phrase Shadow of the Almighty I think of the book by Elizabeth Elliott. The book tells of the commitment of this couple to each other and to God. They saw as a sign God speaking this verse to them. Even with this promise we should look what they went through as Jim Elliott being killed and Elizabeth left as a single parent. It is fitting because God’s shadow of protection was there, even in troubling times.

As believers our faith must be grounded in who God is. He is Most High. He is Almighty. There is no greater protection we can imagine, but God’s own shadow. Those who dwell in his shelter are protected by him. C. H. Spurgeon said, “Promises are not for all believers, but for those who maintain a closeness with God. Those who make it a habit to preside in the presence of God.” That is when God is my refuge, my fortress.

What is it that most people rely on for protection and security. Is it bank accounts; alarm systems are some other devices. There is no real security except for those who dwell steadfastly in the Lord. I left a high paying job of a fortune 500 company to follow a path of trusting the Lord.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence. (Psalm 91:2-3)

We have some great word pictures of following God’s protection. There are perils described and how the faithful are rescued. Like a bird from a trap snatched from the snare. Saved from deadly pestilence and unexpected illness.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:4)

The picture of protection is a mother hen covering her chicks under her wings. Don’t be the one to reach your hand and take one of those chicks from the mother. You will find out how powerful those claws and beak can be.

This protection is for those who trust God. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37) God himself spreads his wings over his faithful children. For the faithful God is a shield.

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. (Psalm 91:5-6)

You have no need to fear the terrors of the night. Like a child afraid of the dark whose parents come and offer comforting assurance God is there for you. You are protected from the arrows that fly at you in the day.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you. (Psalm 91:7)

The faithful will be the last man standing. Others may fall around us by the thousands or the ten thousand, but this will not even come near the one who is trusting God. When people experience trouble all around the man of faith experiences protection because God is there for them.

You will only look with your eyes