[Biblemat] S) PSALM 91

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my files.
Use to the glory of God.

PSALM 91

       Have you ever seen a person whose faith could not be shak-
en no matter what came their way?  Have you ever stood amaz-
ed at their calmness in the midst of the storm?  Have you ever
wondered what they had tapped into that somehow you had missed?  Psalm 91 
reveals the secret.

       The psalmist is one whose "cage can't be rattled" because
he knows God's protection is not for everyone but only for those in close 
communion with God -- "who dwell in the secret
place of the Most High" (vs. 1).  Daily they go to the secret place
to be with Him (Matt. 6:6).  They pray, study, meditate, and praise
in His presence.  Solitude comes natural for them.  Simply put,
they adore God.  He is not distant to them.  They speak intimate-
ly of Him.  "He is may refuge adn my fortress; He is my God" (vs.
2).  A sacred flame burns within them.  And because it does, they
enjoy special benefits that are missed by those who follow God
at a distance.  Those in the outer court will never know what be-
longs to this inner sanctuary.

Heavenly Protection: -- God's heart melts at this kind of devotion
and love and He rewards this kind of saint with His special pro-
tection.  He says they will 'abide under the shadow of the Almigh-
ty" (vs. 1).  As this shadow moves over them, they know He is
near and they care not what trouble may come.  They are not
afraid of the terrors of the night or of arrows by day (vs. 5).  He
sets His heart on them for three reasons.  First, they have made
God their refuge (vs. 9a).  In danger, a bird flies to the thicket, a
fox runs to his hole and these people run to God.  It is like second nature 
to them.  In times of trouble, He is their first thoug-
ht.  Second, He is their dwelling place (vs. 9b).  It matters not if
they live in a shack or a palace; their real home is with Him.  Third, they 
have set their love on Him and they know Him.

       Mountaintop blessings come to this kind of saint.  Listen to
the "I will" promises in vss. 14-16:

       "I will deliver him."  "I will set him on high."  "I will answer
him."  "I will be with him in trouble."  "I will honor him."  "I will
satisfy him."  "I will show him My salvation."  No wonder these
people stay calm and steady!

       God promises that His angels will be used to "keep you in
all your ways" (vs. 11; Heb. 1:14).  I don't know all the ways ang-
els are involved in our care but perhaps one day we will be amaz-ed at all 
they have done under God's direction to help us.  I think
of Hezekiah who had every reason to be terrified of the Assyria-ns.  The king 
went to the temple, where the wings of the cherub-
im overshadowed the place and prayed to God.  That night the
angel of the the Lord struck and killed 185,000 Assyrians (2 Kgs.
19:35-37).  God rewarded Hezekiah for dwelling in the secret
place.  That's what this Psalm proclaims:  "A thousand may fall
at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not
come near you" (vs. 7).

       Do these passages mean that the Christian will never have
trouble, get sick or die a martyr's death?  No.  They do mean,
however, that we are always under God's care and as long as we are devoted to 
Him, no lasting harm can come our way.

       Do we not stand amazed at the care and protection God gave Peter and 
James on numerous occasions?  And even as
James is killed as a martyr (Acts 12), we are not shaken.  He was
invincible until God was done with him.  Even then, no lasting
harm came to James, for he is just fine.

       Satan tried to abuse the contest of these passages when he
tempted Jesus to jump from the temple.  After all, Scripture said
tht  God's angels wouldn't allow Him to dash His foot against a
stone.  What a perverter of Scripture he is!  Jesus knew the real
meaning of these passages.  He didn't throw Himself  down but
let us marvel at God's overriding protection in His life.  Many
times the enemies of Jesus sought to take Him but His hour had
not yet come (Jno.7:30).  God was running that timetable and 
they would not take Him until the Father was ready.  Psalm 91
held true in the life of Jesus.

Oh, What A Foretaste Of Glory Divine: -- Set your heart on God
and He will set His heart on you.  Live in the secret place under
His shadow.  On the mountaintop we will rejoice in God as He 
sets us on high (vs. 14).  Despite all of Satan's efforts to alarm us
and beset us with fear, we will tread upon the lion and the serp-
ent as God crushes the devil beneath our feet (vs. 13).  Won't it
be wonderful to forever dwell in His presence while our great
enemy burns with fire and brimstone?  What blessed assurance!
Praise be to our refuge, our fortress, and our God!   ----- Jeff May
in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2008.   </HTML>
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