PSALM 91:1-4

 

 

We begin our study of Psalm 91 with a little background information. The author of this Psalm is unknown. Some believe Mosses, some David, or some an unknown author. The evidence is good that Mosses wrote Psalm 91. This is interesting, but what really matters is GOD GAVE IT TO BELIEVERS TO COMFORT THEM WITH PROMISES, TO SEE THEM THROUGH TIME OF TROUBLE!

Throughout history, there have been plagues and pestilence, in the middle age in England and Europe plagues ravaged the countries. Christians during this time used Psalm91 to seek GOD and HIS promises. This reminds me of what the world faces today with covid 19. As the world looks to itself for answers today, GOD gave us as believers the answer and a promise 2000 years ago. This Psalm is written to and for believers. Now, look at the end of Psalm 91:14-16 what a promise for believers!

 

Psalm 91:

  1. Because he has set his love upon ME, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known MY name.
  2. HE shall call upon ME, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
  3. With long life, I will satisfy him, and show him MY salvation.

 

What a promise for all believers. Psalm 91 is full of promises for us. Let’s start our verse by verse study of Psalm 91 now.

 

PSALM 91:1-4

 

VERSE 1. He who dwells in the secret place of the MOST HIGH shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY.

 

 

  1. the phrase “he that dwells” is the key to understanding all of this Psalm. It requires action on our part, we have to make a conscious decision to dwell with GOD or not dwell with him. As a Christian, if you chose not to dwell with GOD, doing things within your own strength and abilities, not GOD’S, then the promises of Psalm 91 are null and void for you! To get a better understanding of this let’s look at the definition of “dwell’.

 

  1. Dwell: To make one’s home; to live; to linger over in thought or speech; think about or discuss at length.

 

According to this definition we are dwelling on Psalm 91. There are many different ways to dwell with GOD; through prayer, bible study, meditating on GOD and HIS word seeking HIM and HIS presence, etc. Matthew chapter seven gives us good instruction on how to “DWELL” with JESUS. This is JESUS’ own words to us.

 

MATTHEW 7: 7-8

Verse 7: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Verse 8. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

 

  1. What great guidance these verses give us on how to dwell with GOD. Ask GOD, seek GOD, knock it will be opened. Knock on GOD’S door, HE will open it and invite you in, and ask you to dwell in HIM.
  2. The last part of this verse ends with this; shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY. What a promise, if only we would “DWELL” with HIM. Dwelling with GOD is the key to the blessings of Psalm 91. To receive the blessing we must “DWELL” with HIM, the choice is for each one to make.

 

PSALM 91:2

 

I will say of the LORD, “HE is my refuge and my fortress; my GOD, in HIM I will trust.”

 

  1. Here again, we see where we must do something, declare GOD is our GOD! In HIM we trust. WE need to do a self-examination of what we believe. WE need to question ourselves; do I really put my trust in GOD, or am I just giving lip service?
  2. We need to look to the dictionary to truly understand the meaning of words.

a. Refuge: Shelter or protection from danger or difficulty, a person or thing that gives shelter, help, or comfort, action is taken to escape trouble or difficulty.

 

b. Fortress; A fortified place of protection; often used figuratively.

 

3. If we seek to dwell with GOD, knock on HIS door, HE will open that door and let us in, HE will be your refuge and fortress. Put your whole trust in HIM and he will deliver you.

 

PSALM 91:3

 

Surely HE shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

 

 

  1. FOWLER; a person who catches, traps, hunts, or shoots wild birds for food or sport.
  2. In this scripture, the fowler represents Satan. Satan continually seeks or hunts us to trap and deceive us. But GOD promises to deliver us from hidden dangers, even though Satan plots evil schemes and temptation before us.
  3. Perilous pestilence means events that with the forces of Satan, will affect everyone in its path. That describes today’s pandemic. God has promised to deliver us from it.

 

PSALM 91:4

 

He shall cover you with HIS feathers, and under HIS wings you shall take refuge; HIS truth shall be your shield and buckler.

 

  1. GOD promises to gather us under his wing, take refuge, and dwell with HIM.
  2. This brings to my mine MATTHEW 23:37

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.

  1. We read Jesus weeping over the nation of Israel, Jesus longs for the nation of Israel to accept HIM. But they continue to this day rejecting HIM. We studied earlier if the nation of Israel will knock on GOD’S door HE will open and accept them. OH, how JESUS longs for that to happen. 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 explains GOD’S HIS feelings; If MY people who are called by MY name will humble themselves, and pray and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sins and heal their land.
  2. Today JESUS waits for all of us to humble ourselves before HIM, to dwell, seek HIM!
  3. PSALM 91 is not for unbelievers, but for believers who want and seek a closer relationship with JESUS. JESUS will never shut the door to unbelievers. Remember the thief on the cross with JESUS, when HE was crucified. JESUS’S arms were outstretched on the cross, welcoming all who would come and accept HIM as their savior. All that walked past HIM ridiculed and mocked HIM that day. Only one that day did not, the thief on the cross.

LUKE 23:43

 

And JESUS said to him “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with ME in Paradise.”

 

  1. Let’s look now at the last part of that verse. “HIS truth shall be your shield and buckler.”
  2. There are 2 words we need to look at the definitions
  3. Shield; any person or thing that guards, protects, or defends.
  4. buckler; a small round shield held by the handle or worn on the arm.
  5. The supporting New Testament scripture comes from;

 

JOHN 1:14

 

And the word became flesh and DWELT among us, and we beheld HIS glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the FATHER, full of GRACE and TRUTH.

 

JESUS’S arms are always outstretched welcoming all who will come and dwell with HIM, full of GRACE and TRUTH. Abide (dwell) in JESUS the CHRIST, under HIS outstretched arms, with HIS shield and buckler over us, He is our refuge and mighty fortress, In Him, we put our trust. AMEN