IN GOD WE TRUST (PSALMS 91)
Internet quotes:
Trust God even when life doesn’t make sense (Billy Graham)
Thank God for what you have. Trust God for what you need.
Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God.
Trust God despite how it looks.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6
In God we trust; all others bring cash
In God we trust and for everything else we test!
Psalms is a book of trust. The verb “trust” (batach) occurs 120 times in the Bible, with 66 times in Psalms, second most recorded verb in Psalms other than 94 times the verb “praise” (halal). Merraim-Webster defines trust as “firm belief in the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something · a person or thing in which confidence is placed.” Brittanica says trust is “to believe that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. : to have confidence in (someone or something).” Cambridge Dictionary adds the contrast: “to believe that someone is good and honest and will not harm you.”
Who do you trust in this world? What are our other options? Why is our God more than trustworthy?
Be Given to His Greatness (1-2)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."—
There was a large group of people. On one side of the group stood a man, Jesus. On the other side of the group stood Satan. Separating them, running through the group, was a fence. The scene set, both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group and, one by one - each having made up his or her own mind - each went to either Jesus or Satan. This kept going. Soon enough, Jesus had gathered around him a group of people from the larger crowd, as did Satan.
But one man joined neither group. He climbed the fence that was there and sat on it. Then Jesus and his people left and disappeared. So too did Satan and his people. And the man on the fence sat alone. As this man sat, Satan came back, looking for something which he appeared to have lost. The man said, “Have you lost something?” Satan looked straight at him and replied, “No, there you are. Come with me.” “But”, said the man, “I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor him.” “That’s okay,” said Satan. “I own the fence.”
Right off the bat, four synonymous nouns flood the text in verses 1-2 (1 He who dwells in the “shelter” of the Most High will rest in the “shadow” of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my “refugee” and my “fortress,” my God, in whom I trust). The nouns in verse 1 are slightly different from those in verse 2: the comforting “shelter” and “shadow” in verse 1, and the concrete “refuge” and “fortress” in verse 2.
V 1, Shelter, Shadow V 2, Refuge, Fortress
Personal Physical
Relational Rigid
Immaterial Immovable
The nouns “shelter” and “shadow” features the relational, immaterial and personal, while “refuge” and “fortress” are rigid, immovable and physical.
Four words are attributed to God: “Most High,” “Almighty,” “the Lord” and “my God.” Most High stresses His Superiority, Almighty His strength, the Lord His sovereignty, my God His Support. Second round of contrast: Most High emphasizes His preeminence, Almighty His power, the Lord His priority, my God His provision. Additional round of contrast: Most High for His majesty, Almighty His might, the Lord as master, my God as MVP.
V 1 Most High V 1 Almighty V 2 The Lord V 2 My God
Superiority Strength Sovereignty Support
Preeminence Power Priority Provision
Majestic Might Master MVP
The first main verb in the chapter, however, is not the participle “dwell,” but the main verb “rest/abide” (v 1). Rest is also translated as tarry (Gen 19:2), lodge (Gen 24:23), remain (Deut 21:23), continue (Job 17:2). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance listing includes the translation of “rest” with “abide all night” and “lie all night,” while Brown-Driver-Briggs explain “rest/abide” as “pass the night,” “spending the night” and “remain all night.” This rest or “abide” in KJV is enduring, entire and everlasting. It means to be steadfast, staunch and strong – unfazed, unflinching and unflappable.
Verse 2 is a contrast of “my refuge” and “my fortress.” “Refuge” is for shelter while “fortress” is for strength. Refuge (v 2) did not appear in the Bible till the long-suffering Job’s situation (Job 24:8), but popularized in the Psalms. More than anyone, Job understood the soulful, serene, still, sacred and sufficient rest in God. Twelve of the 20 occurrences of “refuge” in the Bible are from the Psalms, of which Psalm 91 occurs the most (vv 2, 9). Fortress (v 2) occurs seven times in Psalms, but four of it with the addition of “rock.” Fortress and rock (fossils) imply strong, solid and secure.
It might surprise or even shock you to know that the statement “I trust in the Lord” (v 2 “in Him will I trust” (KJV) or “I trust in Him” is missing in the Bible until the book of Psalms, and uncommon in the Bible. The most common expressions of trust in the Bible is “trust in Thee” (12x) and “trust in the Lord” (8x), not in world powers, earthly possessions, social platforms or emotional peace.
Be Guarded by His Goodness (3-9)
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the Lord, who is my refuge
When evangelist Gypsy Smith got saved, an elderly gentleman explained to him the importance of trusting Christ alone. Gypsy Smith replied, “I cannot trust myself, for I am nothing; and I cannot trust in what I have, for I have nothing; and I cannot trust in what I know, for I know nothing.” The only thing left for him to trust in was Jesus Christ.
The verb “natsal” or “save” in verse 3 (Surely he will save you from the “fowler's snare” and from the “deadly pestilence”) tells the reason for the psalmist’s confidence. “Save” is more “deliver” or “rescue” than the general “save” for the name Joshua. This verb “natsal” is paired about 50 times with the phrase “deliver + out of the hands of…” It is tense, tested and timely but triumphant involvement and intervention. The terms “fowler’s snare” (v 3) and “deadly pestilence” (v 3) are the contrast of man (fowler) and mischief (“deadly” meaning), man’s net versus his naughtiness, a wicked scheme versus widespread sickness from pestilence.
Verse 4 (He will “cover” you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find “refuge”) “cover” and “find refuge” are a contrast. Cover is also translated as hedge (Job 3:23), fence (Job 10:11), shut up (Job 38:8) and join together (Isa 9:11). His defense is air-sealed tight. “Cover” is the “home,” whereas “find refuge” is also translated as the “hope” (Prov 14:32). It is to call on Him, confide in Him and commit to Him. Cover is to be encircled, enclosed and encompassed by Him, but “find refuge” is to be encouraged, edified and established by Him.
Verse 5 and 6 (5 You will not fear the terror of NIGHT,” nor the arrow that flies by DAY, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at MIDDAY) are a pair, a progression – night, day (v 5) and midday (v 6). Verse 6 (arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday ) “fly,” “talk/walk” and “destroy” are a progression of speed, from fast (fly) to slow (walk) and finally destroy (strike). One (terror) is subjective, another (arrow) is objective and the last (destruction) is collective.
Verse 7’s “a thousand” and “ten thousand” are a contrast, “side” and “right hand” are contrasted with “not near you.” Not near (“not come near you”) is not brought near, draw near (ex 20:21), approach (Jer 30:21) or overtake (Amos 9:10).
V 3 “Who” V 5 “When” V 7 “Where”
Fowler Night, day, midday Side, right hand, near
Verse 8 (You will only “observe” with your eyes and “see” the punishment of the wicked) is a beautiful verse obscured by the verb “observe” (nabat). This “observe (nabat = prophet) + see (raah)” equation occurs 18 times in the Bible, all in the same sequences, first observe, then see. These “eyes” (v 8) are the penetrative eyes of faith, eyes of understanding and eyes of insight.
The correct translation for verse 9 (“If” you make the Most High your dwelling — even the Lord, who is my refuge) is “because” as in KJV, ESV and RSV or “for” as in NASB and not “if” as in NIV. The Most High, the Lord and my refuge are repetitions from verses 1-2. “Because” makes the promise definite, decisive, done! Refuge and dwelling (v 9) are a contrast. Refuge is provisional, while dwelling is permanent. Refuge is harbor and dwelling is home. Refuge is asylum but habitation is abode.
Be Grounded in His Genuineness (10-16)
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will 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 show him my salvation."
Internet quotes:
“The Devil’s Math:
1. He ADDS extra biblical sources of authority.
2. He SUBTRACTS from the person and work of Jesus Christ.
3. He MULTIPLIES the requirements for salvation.
4. He DIVIDES your loyalty from God and Christ by emphasizing the importance of another ‘religious figure.’”
“I was good at Math until Satan added letters.” (The devil is in the alphabets)
“Since Satan cannot destroy the gospel, he has too often neutralized its usefulness by addition, subtraction, or substitution.” (J. C. Ryle)
Psalm 91 must be the devil’s favorite psalm. Similar to his part in Job 1 in the Old Testament, the devil had the most dialogue in Matthew 4 in the New Testament in tempting Jesus, with the context of Psalm 91 the central piece of his argument and accusation to Jesus. The original text of verse 10 in Hebrew begins a new paragraph with the statement: “There shall be no evil,” (v 10), without “then” (NIV) connecting verse 9 and 10.
Matthew 4 Psalm 91
V 1 "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
11 he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.) 14 "BECAUSE he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, FOR he acknowledges my name.
Psalm 91 is such a precious, passionate and pivotal passage because the devil purposely left out the two all-important reasons “because/for” in the original text of verse 14 (“BECAUSE he loves me… FOR he acknowledges my name”). The first focuses on the Son’s passion for the Father, including the priority of the Father in his life, meaning the primacy, prominence and perfection in their relationship.
The two reasons (v 14, why) are more important than the results (v 11, what). Reason is the foundation, the footing, the fundamentals, the fact, and focus - the truth versus the evidence.
It’s been said: “Why” is the one thing that will help motivate you when things get tough. It’s your reason for keeping going. In short, it’s your anchor that enables you to effectively continue your journey … you will keep coming back to it, time and again.
The major translations see the “love” in verse 14 differently:
“Because he hath SET his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him” (KJV)
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him” (NASU)
“Because he HOLDS FAST to me in love, I will deliver him” (ESV)
“Because he CLEAVES to me in love, I will deliver him” (RSV).
The Son’s love for the Father is not just love, but steadfast, single-minded love, staunch, and stubborn love - zoomed in, zeroed in, zoned in. “He acknowledges/knows My name” (v 14) means a profound, permanent and perfect relationship with God the Father. It signifies an infallible, identifiable and insightful understanding of the people involved – a deep, dear and direct of God.
HE KNOWS MY NAME: A Holy and Heavenly Relationship
Profound Precious Perfect
Infallible Identifiable Insightful
Deep Dear Direct
Do you TRUST GOD…
Emotional Troubles. Loss of relationships and loved ones.
Financial Ruin. Loss of job and safety net.
Political Uncertainty. Loss of friends
Physical Sickness. Loss of mobility and motivation.
Life’s Transitions. Loss of work and discipline.
