He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
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 look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,a]”>[a]
the Most High your habitation,
10 no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.11 For he will give his angels charge of you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
and show him my salvation.Psalm 91 RSV
“I Don’t Feel Safe!”
That’s what she said. My student didn’t feel safe anymore. She’s heard so many stories that she no longer feels safe going to school. Can you blame her?
So many today have reason not to feel safe. At home, at school, at church, at work; it all seems to be unprotected an unpredictable. Mommy and daddy aren’t staying together and now I don’t feel like I’m part of a family. My home is broken. People are pressured and suddenly lash out and leave devastation in their path. Their is so much hate speech and division everywhere you turn. The school is a war zone. If gun violence doesn’t get them the unkind words of their so called friends already have stabbed them repeatedly until they have become the walking wounded.
Won’t you please pause and spend some time weeping before the Lord and interceding for our children? Life is so much harder when you don’t feel safe.
This evening I got a taste of not feeling safe. My mom told me there was a murder not far from where I live. When the weather is warm I love to go walking. I’m looking forward in a few weeks from now to when it will be a comfortable temperature for walking down to the park….but not far from where I walk someone was found murdered! Walking through the park doesn’t feel safe anymore. A place I call home suddenly doesn’t give me the comfort of home.
In Psalm 91 we hear an important message. If you choose to hang out with our Heavenly Father, if you stay in His presence, you have the benefit of being under His shadow. You receive protection. But please don’t be blindsided when hard times come and think that God has left you. Adam and Eve endured the pain of having one son murder another. David suffered the shame and pain of running from a son who wanted to kill him and take over. Daniel was punished for his worship and went into a lion’s den not knowing what he might suffer or if he would come out alive. But Daniel had peace because he trusted in God. Daniel 6:23 records that after the king spent a sleepless night having been tricked into a policy that required him to throw his faithful employee and trusted advisor into the lion’s den, he was pleased that in the morning Daniel responded that God’s angel had protected him:
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
The person who abides in the shelter of the Most High receives peace because he trusts in God. Yes, God sends his angels to protect them. Yes, God blessed them with favor. Of course, they have the comfort knowing that “All things work together” for their good. But even when they get sick, even when they loose their job, even when a loved one dies, and even when circumstances are such that they don’t feel safe, because they trust in the Most High God they receive a peace that passes all understanding.
And because of the nature of the Most High we have the confidence to know that His character is one of compassion and patience. I John 4:8 tells us that God is love. John 3:16 let’s us know that the love of God is so great that He sacrificed His son to save us. So our peace comes from knowing that the most powerful being in the universe love us and wants to protect us. Not only that but we are able to abide in his shelter because he offers this access to Himself as a free gift. We don’t earn it because we are so smart. We don’t get access because we have finally become holy enough. Ephesians 2:8 tells us:
for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
We are not only saved as a gracious gift but protected out of the compassion of the one who made us and created a way for us to get back in right relationship with Him.
So when you feel afraid remind yourself whose shadow you are under.
Growing up I had an older brother…I had peace knowing that my brother loved me and wouldn’t let anybody threaten me. I felt secure. But now he lives far far away. My father was a very wise and accomplished protector and provider. But he has passed on. But I don’t have to feel afraid or unsafe because I’m in the shadow!!!!!
May the peace of God stay with you. Ps; 46 vs 1 God is our refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. ….Ps: 56 vs 3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee. – vs 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have out my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. – So continue to trust God He will deliver you. Cast your burdens upon Him he cares for you and shall sustain you.