A shelter of Strength (#2 in Safe & Secure series) Psalm 91:5-8
As a hurricane quickly approached a small coastal town, all the people had hurried to the town’s shelter. There they were huddled together in a dark with the winds howling, sheets of rain beating down & the door of the shelter just about to rattle of its hinges!
Everyone huddled in the shelter had their eyes fixed on the door for they knew that is it were to blow off that everyone would be sucked out of the shelter by the hurricane.
The town’s elderly pastor stood up in their midst & began to pray w/ great oratorical effects... crying out he prayed “Lord...
-Send us the spirit of the children of Israel. -The spirit of the children of Moses and -The spirit of the children of the Promised Land."
At this, an old man not as polished but certainly direct cried out in prayer..
"Lord, don’t send nobody....You Come yourself !...This ain’t no job for children."
I don’t know if you can relate but I can! There have been times in my life when I desperately needed God & God alone!
Life has its twists...turns...twirls & trills leaving one feeling helpless & hopeless in desperate need of a shelter...a shelter that’s Safe & Secure
Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 -words to note here that very important: shelter, refuge, & fortress.
* The Hebrew word "Shelter" means "a place to hide from your enemies."
* The Hebrew word "Refuge" means, "A place to run to for safety."
* The Hebrew word “Fortress” means "the one who keeps me”
The Psalmist found in God a hiding place...a safe place...a resting place...from the trails...troubles...temptations...& terror of this world.
• We have considered that God is a “Refuge of Rest.”
• But understand that He is also a “Shelter of Strength.”
God is our Shelter! He guards us on all sides! -God is before us & behind us.........Isa 48:17/30:21 -He’s on our right & left. Ps. 16:8/Job 23:9 -God is above & beneath us........Ps 36:7/Dt. 33:27 -His Spirit is within us I Cor. 3:16
God is our Refuge of Rest...&...Shelter of Strength!
II. A Shelter of Strength: Courage! v 5-8 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
Quote: Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do...There can be no courage unless you’re scared! -unknown
Courage is something we all need whether we realize it or not for life can be a scary at times!
We all on some level at some point in life have had a bout w/ FEAR!
-Fear steels our Joy... depletes our strength...& paralyzes w/ terror.
-Fact is, we all have to encounter fear...but...you don’t have to be overcome by fear!
*Sometimes the Lord calms the storm *Sometimes he lets the storm rage & calms his child. -unknown
Courage is running toward your fears...not...from them!
Quote: Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. - John Wayne
Psalm 56:3 TLB “When I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you.”
Soooo, there are something’s about courage you need to understand.
a. The Source of Courage: - It’s point of origin.
In verses 1 the Psalmist calls God... El-yon....“The Most High” or Possession -The implication is that God is the owner of everything! -In heaven & on earth our God owns it all, for he created it all.
El yon.....The Most High....The God of Possession...is the source of Courage!
Joshua 1:6-9 "Be strong and courageous...Be strong and very courageous...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
* God wants you to live w/ assurance, confidence, faith & hope. * He is your hiding place...your safe place...your resting place! * God is the shelter of courage for He is the source of courage.
Illustration: lunch w/ a man who has lost everything, wife, home, children, vocation GONE! He made a profound statement, “Be sure that when the storm hits that what your holding onto want move.”
My friend, be very careful in whom or what you take refuge
Be sure that when the storm hits that what you’re holding onto want move!
God is the source of courage....He is also....
b. The Sentry of Courage: - to guard; to watch over.
A sentry is a solider posted to prevent unauthorized persons passage. God’s Spirit is the sentry of courage posted over your mind & heart!
Our text tells us: vs. 5-8 paraphrased God’s word says not to be afraid of the terrors of night...nor fear the dangers of day...not to fear disease, darkness or disaster in the midday. Even tough thousands fall around you these evils will not touch you, but you will see with your eyes the protection of God who stands guard over your life.
Paul speaks of this Divine Sentry who stands guard:
Philippians 4:6-8
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Notice verse 8...Paul says don’t let the fears of this world occupy your mind... but... rather the things of God!
-In verse 2 the Psalmist calls God...Elohim...“My God”or Power -It speaks of the Sovereignty...Majesty...Splendor...& Power of God!
Illustration: During the Civil War a Union soldier from Ohio was shot in the arm.
His captain saw he was wounded and barked out an order, “Gimme your gun, Private, and get to the rear!” The private handed over his rifle and ran toward the north, seeking safety. But after gong only about two or three hundred yards, he came upon another skirmish.So he ran to the east, and found himself in another part of the battle. Then he ran west, but encountered more fighting there. Finally, he ran back to the front lines shouting, “Gimme back my rifle, Cap’n. There ain’t no rear to this battle nowhere!”
My friend, just in case you haven’t discovered this yet... “there ain’t no rear to this battle called life!”
But there is a shelter, refuge & fortress...God Himself!
c. The Sustainer of Courage: - To keep in existence; to maintain.
In verse 1 the Psalmist calls God...El Shaddia...“The Amighty” or Provision.
-The implication is that God supplies all our needs. -That He is the one who sustains us in life. -He is the provider of all and for all.
In verse 2 the Psalmist calls God...Jehovah...”The Lord” or Promise. -The idea here is that God is the absolute, eternal, & unchanging one. -Therefore, He will sustain His own for that is what He has promise to do.
* God is the source of courage * The sentry of courage and * He’s the sustainer of courage for He has promised to provide for His own!
Verse 8: “you will see it with your eyes....”
Illustration: you heard about the Desert Storm soldier who while he was overseas received a Dear John letter from his girlfriend back home in the states. To add insult to injury, she wrote, "Will you please return my favorite photograph of myself-- I need it for my engagement picture in the local newspaper."
The poor guy was devastated, but all the soldiers came to his rescue. They went throughout the entire camp and collected pictures of all the guys’ girlfriends. They filled up an entire shoe box and sent it to the girl along with a note from the guy saying, "Please find your picture, and return the rest, for the life of me, I can’t remember which one you were!!"
Aren’t you glad that God knows which one you are & that He has promised to care, guide & provide for you all the days of your life!
God is a Shelter of Strength for all who will abide in the shadow of the Almighty!
Psalm 31:24 David said...
Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD
