Psalm 91

A couple of weeks ago, some friends and I were studying Psalm 91 in relation to spending time in the "secret place." And, while prayerfully reading and thinking about Psalm 91, and finding ones refuge in the Most High, I began to see the formation of a couple of lists:

Four things God is to those who find refuge in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty:
1.) A refuge (v.2)
2.) A fortress (v.2)
3.) Our faithful God (v.2)
4.) A place of security -- "trust" (v.2)

What God will do for those who find refuge in the shelter of the Most High:
1.) Save from the snare of the fowler (v.3)
2.) Deliver from the deadly pestilence (v.3)
3.) Cover with His feathers (v.4)
4.) Protect under His wings -- "under His wings you will find refuge" (v.4)
5.) His faithfulness will be a shield and rampart (v4)

The result for the believer who finds their refuge in the Most High:
1.) Will not fear the terror of the night (v.5)
2.) Not afraid of arrows that fly during the day (v.5)
3.) Not afraid of pestilence (v.6)
4.) Though thousands may fall, destruction will not come near (v.7)
6.) Sees the punishment of the wicked (v.8)

Psalm 91 doesn't guarantee that arrows and terror and pestilence won't happen. Rather, when these happen, the first list of who God is gives all of the confidence and hope that we need while facing storms and trials. The Lord says in Isaiah 43:2-3,

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

The final three verses of Psalm 91 are words of promise directly from the Lord -- they are words of consecration from the Lord for those who find themselves in Him. Notice throughout these verses how often the Lord says, "I will":

"'Because he loves Me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will 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 will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.'" (v.14-16)

The "I will" here, however, is a condition -- verse nine begins with one of the biggest words in the Bible: "IF." And, verse fourteen begins with "Because." In these verses we see the evidence of a cause and effect relationship. He will be the refuge. He will be the stronghold and deliverer in times of trouble. He is altogether trustworthy. He is altogether able.

If.

Verse one also begins in the present tense -- "He who dwells..." you see, it is not merely going to Him in our times of trouble and heartache. Those times will come. But, our hope must be "built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness." How is this hope built? We've gotta live there. In the Secret Place -- the Shelter of the Most High. Everyday. And, as we come to know Christ and Him Crucified in a greater way, we can fully trust Him because we know that He is able. The trust has been established. But we have to dwell. The beauty of the word, "dwell," though, is that it is a communal word. As I live in Him, He will be there. For, verse one of Psalm 91 is closely tied to verse one of Psalm 90: "Lord, You have been our dwelling place." And as we make Him our dwelling place, He will pass through the waters with us. Not to crush us, but to refine us. We don't have to fear the arrows and pestilence. He will be with us. And, the goal is the same as that for gold and silver -- He cleanses the impurities found within our hearts and lives and molds us into greater reflections of Him. For His Glory. For His Honor.

The wording in the King James Version for verse 14 is beautiful. The Lord says: "Because he [the believer] hath set his love upon Me..." Friends, let us set our love upon Jesus. And as we do so, let us dwell in the shelter of the Most High. And as that happens, the Lord says, "I will." It is His promise.