Sermon – The Believer’s Security in a Dangerous World
Ps 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 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. 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.
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 honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. (KJV)
Most scholar credit nine Psalms to Moses, Psalms 90-99. They believe that Moses thinking about the security, protection, and care the people of God had experienced since creation. We see the miraculous act God used to saved Noah and his family amidst a drowning world. This Psalms lead us to consider the special protection which the Lord grants to his own people under many circumstances. The psalmist sings so sweetly in Ps 91:1-16. God is a place of refuge and safety for his believing children. God doesn’t promise a world free from danger, yet He does promise His help when we face danger.
Just as a believer, when through the blood of Jesus is brought into sweet fellowship with God, the real dangers are all over; and the believing soul for ever safe. Noah was secure the moment he entered the ark, and so are we as soon as we are in Christ. We are safe from dangers seen and unseen. God will protect us from apparent dangers and from concealed evils. God's people are preserved.
The believer’s security may be experienced by those who abide under God’s protection. Protection is promised because protection will be need. There are heresies preached which would, if it were possible, deceive even the very elect; but we need not be deceived. The Lord is our keeper. (1) Some say, we don’t need to do anything, because will do everything (2) We Christians have a kind of immunity, both are untrue. The Psalms gives many clues about the dangers of this present world. “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.” Notice the word “deliver” indicates escaping from a trap, release from bondage. Then only people in battle need a shield and buckler. Then consider the assignment of Noah who saw the utter ruin of the ungodly world. Noah was called to participate in his deliverance. He must build an ark, without training or experience, he and his family worked tirelessly. Then when the ark was ready, he must gather everything to be saved under the cover of the ark.
I mention this because there are many who refuse to participate in their own deliverance. They know pestilence is all around, thousands have fallen on the right and the left. They refuse to wear a mask or receive a vaccination. They claim the promise of this Psalm. Out of all the Scriptures Satan could have used to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ, he choose this Psalms. Read Mt 4:6, 7 “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Jesus knew that God could do anything but fail. God never promised the ability of Jesus to fly. Satan suggested since you are the son of God, since you are down God’s protection, jump! Jesus responded, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. This experience cause Jesus to be more devout and to bless appreciate the grace of God, not abuse it. Then God sent His angels to rescue him and sustain Him. Though Satan sought the destruction of Jesus, Jesus was preserved and Satan’s power was overthrown.
Trouble must be experienced by all, there is no immunity from that, but prayer meets every case, and brings suitable comfort under all dangers. Conquered trials allows us to honor the Lord who helps us through them, but they also put the honors of experience upon those who have been exercised by them. The years of the righteous may sometimes be few, and yet they may live long, for men's lives are not to be measured by the years through which they breathe, but by the good they accomplish, the favor of God which they enjoy.
As the family of God, we should thank God that our lives have been preserved from infectious diseases. God’s protection and security is a part of our inheritance. We should thank God for a place of prayer. The throne of grace and a promise of being accepted when we approach it are among our choicest treasures. We should thank God for a place of prayer. If we be indeed God's children, angel guards are hovering over us at this hour; and we may rest assured that whatever ills may be abroad, we are safe beneath the wings of God. We ought, therefore, as Christians, to be very calm in troublous times, and show by our holy courage that we have a sure ground of confidence. We must ask ourselves some simple question. Does locking our doors and turning on the alarm means that you have no faith? Does wearing a seat belt mean that you have no faith? What about going to the doctor or taking medication? What having insurance? The answer is no, but does mean that we are willing to participate in our deliverance.
We should store this Psalm in our hearts. Parents should store Ps 91:1-16 in your hearts, and teach their children and young people treasure it in your memories; it is more precious than much fine gold. The Psalmist encourages us to know that God is our refuge, a shelter when we are afraid. God is our protector who will carry us safely through the cares of life. Yet the promise of this Psalm cannot be claimed by everyone, only those who choose to dwell in the secret place of the most high. The word of God is our safe place, standing on its promises, walking upright as we take hold of its provision.
1.The Believer’s Security in a Dangerous World is in the Presence of God. Ps 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. The presence includes abiding in the known will of God, His word and seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Every child needs an inner sanctuary in the times of trouble. We can find peace and rest as we walk obediently to God’s word. That just what Noah did. Noah had never built an ark or seen rain. He had never gathered animals or food supplies, but humble obedience, he worked on. He and his family gave the world a new beginning. God promises to be there through every test and trial, for every person who chooses to abide in his presence through His word, prayer and constant obedience.
2.The Believer’s Security in a Dangerous World is experienced because We Recognize Who He is. “The LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Notice the firsthand knowledge of who God is. The Psalmist repeats the pronoun “my” over and over! The person who is in intimate, personal, and abiding communion with God will enjoy the blest privilege of being a guest of God. Living under his protection, refreshed by his presence, and comforted him. The Psalmist uses four unique names of God in the first two verses: The Most High, the Almighty, Jehovah, the Lord and the Almighty God. These verse celebrates God as a creator and a comfort, as a father and a fellow shipper, and El Shaddiah to El Elon. It is the Psalmist’s way of saying, nobody greater, nobody mightier and nobody closer! The Believer’s Security in a Dangerous World is found in the Presence of God and in the personal knowledge of who God is. Finally, the Believer’s Security in a Dangerous World is found in his confidence to trust the provisions of God.
3.The Believer’s Security in a Dangerous World is Found in his confidence to trust the provisions of God. In verses 4 and 11, 4 “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler….. 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.”
God provides for His children compassion that will cover them and truth that will keep. Besides that Angel who has charge over them. God’s compassion is shown in the illustration of a bird covering her chicks. As a farmer, I am well aware of that word picture. God’s word is both a shield against the enemy’s weapon and our weapon to pull down strongholds of our mind that would crippled our faith. Then there are legions of angels watch for us and watching over every step of the believer. We can be confident that God will take care of you. Those who abide under his shadow, recognize who he is, trust in his provisions and understand how to please God.
4.The Believer is Secure in a Dangerous World because He Set His Love on God. Believers know how to please God. 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 honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
Lest, we should be misled, God in the last verses sets the record straight. God himself speaks and clarifies His reasons for his supreme care and special love for his abiding children. Some have set their love on this present world which left them frustrated or temporarily satisfied. Because the believer knows his name and set their love on God, God will take care of His own. Please know that I understand that God loves the whole world and rains of the just and the unjust, yet He make a special promise in this text. …”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 honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
God makes a profound promise to his saints who choose to abide under the shadow of the Almighty, who really recognize who he is; trust in his divine provisions and set their love upon him. Notice the six “I wills” of God in the text. That God will, in due time, deliver them out of trouble, I will deliver him period, I will set Him on high, I will answer when He prays, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. God promises double deliverance, whether we live or die; whether we are going into trouble, coming of trouble or going through trouble.
Ps 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Yes, whenever his abiding Children, cry out, God will hear their cry! God promises sufficiency of Life in this world and exaltation in the next. Only God can set us on high! God can put us a place of victory. They will have life long enough to complete their God-given assignment. God knows how to satisfy us. A believer may die young, and yet die full of days. Enjoy many days of satisfied living. A wicked, worldly man, living apart from God, is not satisfied. No matter how long he lives, still cries give, give, more, more! Those who have their treasures and heart in another, longing for a new heaven and a new earth, they live to hear one thing “well done thy good a faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of the Lord.
This has been a very different week for me for two reasons, first a fellow pastor went home to be with his Lord and then a call today, about a dear woman of God getting ready to cross over. In spent time with a few week as she share her testimony of God’s faithfulness to her. Then to sit with my friend’s wife and hear her talk about his last moment of earth, she was a witness to this Psalm that God will deliver you out of trouble, He will deliver on time. God will set you on high, God will answer when we pray. She said, “God was with us in that hospital room.” She said, “I prayed the God would shows us His glory. Then she said, I saw the glory of God on my husband’s face. She said, “I saw it and the children saw it. Then she said, look at me, God gave me peace that passes understanding! She had been reading this Psalms. Yes, God will be with you in trouble, God will deliver you and honor you. God promises double deliverance, whether we live or die; whether we are going into trouble, coming of trouble or going through trouble. I will be with you!
