PSALM 91: IT IS WRITTEN

PSALM 91: IT IS WRITTENHe who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.

by Sue Le Marquand

29-07-2022 10:00

in Christian Connect

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Photo: Pixabay

Psalm 91 was my staple diet during COVID! I read it out loud daily as a prayer to our Lord. He is our great protector!

--

The Midrash (an expansive Jewish Biblical exegesis) states that this Psalm was composed by Moses on the day he completed the building of the Tabernacle in the desert, though some bible scholars say that it was written by David. However, both men of God knew what it meant to tabernacle with God daily in the secret place - and so too can we!

We can also cry out to God like David did when he fled from Saul in the cave: Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings, I will take refuge until destruction passes by (Psalm 57:1).

No matter the circumstances of our lives, we get to abide under the shadow of the Almighty!

--

Psalm 91 Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. 3Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

What does the fowler's snare mean? The term fowler's snare refers to Satan's evil schemes and devices that he uses to lure unsuspecting souls into sin. A fowler is a type of bird (duck/goose/pheasant or turkey) that is used as food or hunted as game.

The bible says that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), but in Psalm 25:15 we are reminded that if our eyes are ever on the LORD, he will release our feet from the snare.

God is our safe hiding place, our shelter in the storm! He brings freedom and deliverance to those who are bound. His truth redirects those who have been going in the wrong direction.

--

Psalm 91 creates a picture of God protecting His children much like a bird protects its young. When you're walking uprightly and standing up for the truth, you need to be prepared for attacks from the enemy. One of the best places to go for protection and strength is God's Word. Read it, absorb it, commit it to memory, learn from it, and be encouraged by it.

The Bible is an awesome history of the men and women of faith who trusted God before us. We can learn so much from them. Don't miss the opportunity to find God's truth and promises for your own life!

God's truth/Word is our shield and buckler David frequently claimed God as his buckler, which is defined very simply as a shield. After the Lord delivered him from his enemies (and from the hand of Saul), he sang songs of deliverance:

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

2 Samuel 22: 31 (NIV) David reveals His faith in the character/attributes of God throughout the Psalms. These are the same attributes that we can claim for ourselves as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 18:2 (NIV) Proverbs 2:7 tells us that He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

God's truth/Word is our shield and rampart Some versions of Psalm 91:4 say that His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

A rampart is defined as a defensive wall of a castle or walled city or forming a defensive boundary/protective barrier of a fortified site.

God's truth/Word is our protective shield This defensive wall concept reminds me of the olden day ROMAN TORTOISE method of combat described in a bible study I did a long time ago. Called a TESTIDO, it is comprised of a formation of soldiers interlocking shields above them to form a shell-like barrier to protect them from any enemy projectiles. Its purpose was two-fold:

To allow soldiers to advance safely toward enemy lines

To frustrate the enemy's plans to fight from a distance, forcing them to run into the shield.

Our enemy attacks us through lies and deception; through our thought processes and the words that come out of our mouths. But as we meditate on and speak God's word, it forms an impenetrable shield around us:

Psalm 3:3 (NIV) But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

PRAYER Oh Abba Father, how I love your word!

You, Lord Jesus the living Word, are our protector and our provider. We are safe under the shadow of your wings.

Thank you again for the price you paid to be our shield, our rampart and the glory in our midst. I love you Lord,

Amen

ALSO READ: Daily devotion: Here's your Bible verse and prayer

How well do you know The Queen'? ENTER THE QUIZ & Stand a chance to WIN R1 000 in cash!

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/why-is-psalm-91-so-important/...
	See more stories from thesouthafrican

Most recent headlines