Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Psalms 90-95, and my focus will be on Psalm 91. Before Psalm 90, my Bible says it is a prayer of Moses. There are no other indications of author, so I believe the entire reading today is Moses' prayer.
So, Psalm 91 says:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a bulwark.
I love how this compares God to a great bird, who shelters its children under its wings. When we dwell in God's shelter, we are also in His shadow.
Take a minute to imagine that. When you stand in the shadow of something, and if it covers you completely, it's usually bigger than you, isn't it? It's between you and the sun's rays, sheltering you from them for a time, often giving relief from the heat. Just picture standing in God's shadow where you are protected.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
There is no need to fear when God is our refuge.
For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
Now, there are a few things I want to discuss in this part.
First, a lot of people use the "He will give His angels charge concerning you" verse, sometimes incorrectly. What I want to point out is the part before it and after it, which is how one should read any verse. They aren't meant to stand alone, though sometimes they can without the meaning changing at all.
But the verse before this one mentions making God our dwelling place, our refuge. Then He will send His angels to protect us and guard our steps.
To me, this is really important. If we are not even trying to serve God, or if we have not trusted Him with our lives and committed our ways to Him, He will not act on our behalf. Or rather, our choices won't allow Him to. Remember we have free will. He may protect us from harm, and He will speak to our spirits so that He may draw us back to Him, but He will not bless actions that do not glorify Him.
So, be careful to use this verse correctly. God does send His angels to protect and guard His people, and just because we stray doesn't mean He stops. But if we continually disregard Him, He will allow our choices to stand.
Oh, and I have heard of some Christian denominations who take the snake thing literally and use them in services to prove how protected they are. Don't do that. We are not meant to showcase our power, but God's glory.
In addition, the Bible says not to tempt or test God. And to me that seems to be what that practice is doing.
What that verse actually means is that God will protect us from things that harm us. It's using symbolism. A lion that would devour us or a serpent that would poison us (as Satan tries to do to our minds).
"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."
God takes care of those who love Him. He rewards those who serve Him. Did you catch what He promised here?
To those who love God, He promised: security, elevation, deliverance, help, rescue, honor, long live, and His salvation.
That sounds wonderful to me.
God is always with those who love Him. He will always protect us and help us when we ask.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Psalms 96-102.
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