February – 24 – Our Rescuing God

Sunday School Lesson

February 24

Our Rescuing God

 

Devotional Reading: Romans 8:31–39

Background Scripture: Psalm 91:1–16

 

Psalm 91:1–8, 11–16

 

1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

2. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 

3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

 

4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 

5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

 

6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

 

7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

 

8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

 

12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

 

13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

 

14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

 

15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

 

16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 

Key Verse

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.—Psalm 91:15

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Outline God’s promises to protect.

 

2. Identify dangers from which Christians need God’s protection.

 

3. Propose one way his or her church can extend the Lord’s rescuing protection to those in need.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Babylon	Bab-uh-lun.
Constantine	Kawn-stun-teen.
Habakkuk	Huh-back-kuk.
Lamentations	Lam-en-tay-shunz.
Maxentius	Mak-sen-tee-us.
Psalter	Saul-tur.

Introduction

1. Our Protection and Salvation

People understand protection and security in different ways. Children often feel most secure when in the strong and trusting arms of their parents, possibly holding a threadbare blanket or teddy bear. Parents might feel most secure in a safe neighborhood, with doors that lock and money in their savings account. A backpacker seeks protection from a storm under a rock overhang that can block the elements.

As Christians, however, we know that our ultimate protection and security come from God. It is no wonder that the Bible uses images of strength to describe Him: rock, refuge, fortress. No blanket or padlock can compare with the strong protection available from God.

Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015) was well known for sharing the gospel with an indigenous tribe in Ecuador some 60 years ago. The title of her book Shadow of the Almighty alludes to the description of God in Psalm 91:1. As such, it highlights her belief in God’s protective grace, even in dangerous circumstances. Elliot understood that God was not distant, but very close—a steadfast refuge. And she lived out her trust in radical ways. Psalm 91

can teach us to live the same way.

 

1. Lesson Context

The historical setting of Psalm 91 is unclear, but the literary context sheds light on its meaning. The preceding psalm, Psalm 90 (which begins Book IV of the Psalter), is a lament. As such, it reflects mournfully about the fleeting nature of life, which withers under the wrath of God because of sin. That psalm ends with a petition for renewal from God. Psalm 91 seems to be a response to the lament of Psalm 90.

Psalm 91 is comprised of four stanzas, which are distinguished by shifts in speaker. These four are verses 1, 2, 3–8, 9–13; and 14–16. Analyzed in a more technical way, the structure of Psalm 91 has as its touchstone a certain Hebrew conjunction that can be translated in various ways. Depending on context, some possibilities for translating this word are “for,” “that,” “if,” and “when.” This word also can be an emphatic “indeed,” “truly,” or “surely,” again depending on context. In Psalm 91 this conjunction is translated “surely,” “because,” and “because” in verses 3, 9, and 14, respectively.

We should also keep in mind that the psalms are poetry, and one of the defining features of Hebrew poetry is parallelism. As discussed in previous lessons, this is often seen where one line corresponds in some way with the line that follows, as the second line repeats the thought(s) of the first line in different ways. Parallelism can also feature contrasting ideas or even show how one event or action leads to a certain consequence. While English poetry is often identified by the rhyming of words, Hebrew poetry has been described as the “rhyming of ideas”—that’s parallelism.

 

1. Safe Place

(Psalm 91:1–8)

1. Basis of Protection (vv. 1, 2)
2. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

These first lines of Psalm 91 “rhyme” (see above) with the shared imagery of the Lord’s protection for those who seek refuge in Him. This echoes Psalm 90:1, which describes the Lord as Israel’s “dwelling place” from generation to generation.

The idea that God himself is a secret place for His people answers the burning questions of Psalms 88:14 and 89:46, which ask why God is hiding. As the unidentified psalmist declares that God is the secret place, he implies that God is not hiding. In that regard, the opening he` generalizes this psalm for each of God’s people. Everyone who seeks the protective shadow of the Almighty will find it (compare Psalms 27:5; 31:20).

Notice that the one protected must actively seek the protection of the Lord. The one who is the subject of the verbs dwelleth and abide is the individual seeking the Lord. God’s people are not passive participants in relationship with Him, but active covenant-keepers. Throughout this psalm, the author alternates between the actions of the worshipper and the actions of God, thus highlighting the dynamic covenant relationship. On the idea of shadow, see also Psalm 63:7; Isaiah 49:2; and Lamentations 4:20.

 

What Do You Think? Practically speaking, how can you rest in God’s “shadow” in the coming week?   Digging Deeper What Scripture texts or biblical principles have you found useful when you need physical, spiritual, or emotional rest?

2. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 

This, the final part of the psalm’s first stanza (see the Lesson Context), distills the previous metaphors into the simple, though sometimes difficult, idea of trust. The psalmist seeks refuge in the Lord specifically by trusting in him.

Notice the transition of imagery from the previous verse, with those of refuge and fortress being more military in nature (compare 2 Samuel 22:2, 3). The Lord’s steadfast strength is highlighted.

These images bring to mind the confidence that the people of Judah once had in the protection and surety of Jerusalem and the temple. Before the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon, God’s people mistakenly saw the holy city and the temple as their security and as proof of God’s presence and protection (Jeremiah 7:4). After the exile, however, the Israelites come to understand that God himself is their true protection and security.

 

What Do You Think? What procedure can we adopt to ensure we thank God for His protection?   Digging Deeper In the prayer pattern adoration / confession / thanksgiving / supplication (ACTS), what percentage of your typical prayer involves the third of those? What does this say to you?

1. Forms of Protection (vv. 3–8)

3a. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.

 

The psalmist now expands on the protective imagery introduced in the first stanza. In so doing, he likens the reader to a bird delivered from the snare of the fowler (compare Psalm 124:7; Hosea 9:8). The Lord is able to deliver His people from the trap of human enemies.

 

3b. And from the noisome pestilence.

 

Pestilence, by contrast, is not something we normally think of as being inflicted on one person by another (although we know of “biological warfare” in the modern era). Rather, pestilence or plague is seen as being inflicted by God (see Exodus 5:3; 9:3, 15; Psalm 78:50; Habakkuk 3:5). It can be deadly (noisome). Just as birds are helpless before a well-constructed trap set by enemies, so human beings are helpless before destructive pestilence. This is particularly true in a time before antibiotics and vaccines, which is most of human history.

 

4a. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.

 

God is now likened to a mother bird protecting her young in the shelter of her wings (compare Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; and Ruth 2:12). Jesus uses this same imagery to describe His desire to protect the people of Jerusalem, though their hearts are too hardened to seek Him (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34). In so doing, Jesus echoes God’s desire that people actively trust in Him for protection.

 

Protection For The Lowly

Recently, a robin flew out of the tall shrubbery sheltering my front porch, causing me to notice a hidden nest. In it were two tiny birds slouched down, with their open beaks waiting for a meal to drop in. When I again passed the nest later, I heard bird noises coming from a nearby bush. And there was a robin perched, worm in mouth, on a branch. It seemed to be calling to its young to lie still until danger passed. Sure enough, as soon as I was a safe distance away, the adult bird glided into the nest and fed the waiting offspring.

This is not an unusual scene; researchers and various other observers often catch glimpses of the various species of the animal world in unusual and unexpected places. We laugh and are amazed at the way adult animals guard and protect their young in the face of potential predators.

Think about it: if animals instinctively know how to protect their young, how much more does God know how to do so for those created in His image! Even when (or especially when) we are feeling helpless, He is the one who remembers us “in our low estate” (Psalm 136:23).

—C. M. W.

 

4b. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 

Returning to military terms, shield is the perfect symbol for protection. Regarding buckler, the Hebrew word being translated appears only here in the Old Testament, which makes its meaning difficult to determine. Perhaps the idea is that of a wall or bulwark that protects a city.

Notice that it is specifically God’s truth that is described in terms of these defensive armaments. God is true to His promises. His faithfulness to these is seen nowhere more clearly than when He sends His own Son to take on human flesh, die for the sins of humanity, and rise again in triumph over sin, Satan, and death.

 

5, 6. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

 

In addition to being strong and sure, God’s protection is constant; this is the idea behind the images of by night, by day, darkness, and noonday. The terror is a general image of something dreadful.

At first thought, we may conclude that the arrow describes a threat from a human enemy, but the Bible sometimes uses that word figuratively to refer to flashes of lightning in storms (see Psalm 18:14; 77:17, 18; 144:6). Thus it may not be far off to suggest that the expression the arrow that flieth refers to what we call “the storms of life.” The pestilence is the same just discussed in Psalm 91:3. The destruction that wasteth seems to be a parallel way of saying pestilence.

 

What Do You Think? What are some steps you can take to transform fear to trust the next time you feel threatened?   Digging Deeper Which of those steps apply to everyone, and which may apply only to you? Why?

When we find ourselves in dangerous situations, fear is a God-given emotion that helps protect us. So fear in and of itself is not sinful. The point is that we need not fear enemies of any kind. God is greater than all enemies.

 

7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

 

The deaths of those thousand … and ten thousand who might perish at the side … right hand (that is, in close proximity) of God’s protected ones can be the result of military actions, a plague of some sort, or a natural disaster. It doesn’t matter. God is present for His people in all crises.

Salvation of the faithful and punishment of the unfaithful are two sides of the same coin. When enemies are punished, God’s people are protected from them (Psalm 37:37–40).

 

8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

 

When we see the word reward, we are accustomed to thinking in positive terms: compensation for doing something well. A mason’s hard work is rewarded with a paycheck. A nursery volunteer’s hard work is rewarded with baby snuggles and the gratitude of the church. The main issue here is that the Hebrew behind the word reward is difficult to translate because this is the only place it occurs in the Old Testament. But the meaning is clear enough from context: reward is to be understood in the sense of “recompense.” Sooner or later, the wicked will indeed get what’s coming to them.

Unfortunately, God’s people are sometimes distracted by the fact that those who do wicked works are often prosperous. That fact is noted in the Bible (examples: Job 21:7; Psalm 73:12; Jeremiah 12:1, 2). We can rest assured that God knows this and has plans to deal with it in His time (example: Habakkuk 1:1–2:20). The important thing is not to question God’s justice in the meantime, lest He turn our questions back on us, as in Job 38–42!

 

Visual for Lesson 13. Start a discussion by pointing to this visual as you ask, “Which of this quarter’s lessons taught you the most about love? Why?”

 

A Fateful Day

October 28, 312 was a bad day for Emperor Maxentius. While games celebrating the anniversary of his accession to the throne were being held, the crowds could not fail to see the challenging army of Constantine bearing down upon Rome. Though Maxentius had twice survived a siege, he made the surprising choice to confront Constantine’s forces.

The place where Maxentius made his stand was the Milvian Bridge outside Rome. Constantine, a skillful tactician, sent into battle his cavalry followed by his infantry. Maxentius’s forces retreated toward the city, but the bridge collapsed. Maxentius drowned in the muddy waters of the Tiber River, by some accounts pulled under by the weight of his own armor. Maxentius’s bad day became a victory march into Rome for Constantine. He ended up being uncontested as emperor, reigning until AD 337.

Armies throughout history have used assorted weaponry to guard strongholds, plunder riches, and gain territory. But even the battle plans and equipment cannot guarantee success. Emperor Maxentius’s protective armor may have hastened his death, ironically doing the opposite of its intended purpose.

When news of accidents, catastrophes, and crime reach our ears, it is easy to drift into a state of perpetual uncertainty or unease. Worry becomes self-reinforcing, a vicious circle, unless we turn over our anxieties to God (see Psalm 2:1–6; Daniel 2:21). God’s protection surpasses all human efforts at security in this world. Of course, that’s easy to say when threats seem distant. Whether we actually can rest on that assurance is proven only in the crucible of danger.

—C. M. W.

 

1. Trustworthy Protector

(Psalm 91:11–13)

1. With the Help of Angels (vv. 11, 12)
2. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

 

Moving to the middle of the third stanza takes us to observations regarding the role of angels in our protection. These are created, heavenly beings who can take visible forms to do God’s work. In addition to delivering messages (Luke 1:19; etc.), they are depicted as strong protectors and warriors (Daniel 6:22; etc.) In the verse before us is assurance that God’s protection includes angelic resources.

 

12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

 

It is tempting to test God’s promises of protection to verify them. Satan tempted Jesus that way by quoting Psalm 91:11, 12 to Him in Matthew 4:6. Jesus responded with Deuteronomy 6:16: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:7).

Now if Jesus had jumped from the top of the temple, God’s angels most certainly could have caught Him. (He could have caught himself for that matter!) God’s angels were apparently nearby throughout the whole ordeal, and they ministered to Jesus’ needs afterward (Matthew 4:11). Jesus was proving to Satan that God called the shots. Jesus chose to trust God rather than test Him. God invites certain tests (Malachi 3:10) but not others. We must know the difference.

 

What Do You Think? What will you teach others about the concept of “guardian angels” as a result of studying Psalm 91?   Digging Deeper In what ways do 2 Kings 6:15–17; Psalm 34:7; Daniel 6:22; Matthew 18:10; Acts 12:11; and Hebrews 1:14 inform or cause you to change your conclusions?

1. Against Nature’s Predators (v. 13)
2. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

 

The previous two verses tell us that God will defend His people even to the extent of sending His heavenly agents to protect us. In the verse before us, God’s protection moves from the defensive to the offensive: not only will God keep His people from harm, but He will empower us to defeat the fiercest of foes!

No one doubts that the lion is “king of the beasts.” The adder or cobra is an extremely poisonous snake (see Job 20:14, 16; Psalm 58:4; Isaiah 11:8). The young lion is one that is at the beginning of its strength. The dragon is a large snake or serpent in this context (see Deuteronomy 32:33; Jeremiah 51:34). These creatures are used figuratively to represent any and all persons and powers that threaten God’s people.

 

III. Sure Promises

(Psalm 91:14–16)

1. Basis of Blessing (v. 14)
2. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

 

Here begins the final stanza of the psalm (see the Lesson Context). This marks a transition of speakers from the psalmist to God himself.

This verse elaborates on the result of trusting in the Lord, in parallel thoughts. The larger context is that of something being conditional. The condition for receiving the promised deliverance from evil is to have placed full devotion in the Lord. The expression he hath known my name denotes intimacy of knowing about someone. In other contexts, variations of this expression carry the ideas of trust, reverence, or covenant faithfulness (examples: Psalm 9:10; Isaiah 52:6; Jeremiah 16:21).

God knows His true followers by their love for Him and by their understanding of who He is. Those who actively trust, love, and serve Him will find refuge in His protective salvation (compare Jesus’ strong words in Matthew 7:21–23).

 

What Do You Think? How will you express your love for the Lord in the month ahead?   Digging Deeper How do Mark 12:30; John 14:15; and 1 John 5:3 inform your answer?

1. Forms of Blessing (vv. 15, 16)

15, 16. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 

These verses climax the psalm. They should be read together in order to appreciate the intensification of the Lord’s promises.

The two opening phrases establish the relationship that is the focus of Psalm 91:14: when God’s people call upon Him, He is faithful to answer. God is not aloof or disinterested. He initiated the relationship with His people and established a means of communication. The lines of communication of prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word remain open today.

Several promises follow the opening phrases. These can be seen broadly as two categories: blessings for the present life and certainty of ultimate salvation. Notice that God does not promise that His faithful people will never experience trouble, but that He will be with them in the midst of it.

God has already secured our salvation in Christ, but He has not yet eradicated evil and suffering from His creation. That is why we can trust Him in the midst of suffering. He is with us, He will deliver us, and He will honor us.

 

Conclusion

1. God Is Our Protection and Salvation

In this fallen world, God’s people are surrounded by evil, danger, and suffering. Psalm 91 is an emphatic reminder that God is trustworthy and mighty to save. Christians should expect to share in Christ’s suffering, even unto death (Matthew 16:24, 25; 1 Peter 2:19–21). But we should also expect God’s protective blessings. Rather than contradictory realities of the Christian life, the existence of persistent sin in the world alongside the victory of Christ is a dynamic tension.

Elisabeth Elliot understood this tension and fiercely trusted in God as her refuge. She knew firsthand that God’s protection did not preclude suffering and death in this life. Her book mentioned in the Introduction is a biography of her late first husband, Jim Elliot, who was killed by the very people with whom he tried to share the gospel. After his death, Elisabeth Elliot returned to her husband’s murderers. She was frightened, but she was faithful. She knew of the dangers, but she also knew of God’s trustworthy protection and salvation.

For twenty-first century Christians, it is all too easy to seek protection in something other than God himself. It is tempting to trust in financial security, military defenses, reputation, or even in church membership. Service to the church is an important responsibility of all Christians; but as we give of our time, talent, and treasure, we take care that our trust is in God himself and not in what we think our works earn.

 

1. Prayer

Almighty God, You are our true protection and salvation. Please strengthen our trust and protect us against the evil and danger that surrounds us. Equip us to be agents of Your protection and bold proclaimers of Your salvation to the ends of the earth. For all that You have done for us and for all You promise to do, we give You thanks and praise. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

 

KID’S CORNER

How to Receive God’s Promises

February 24, 2019

Psalms 91:1-16

 

Psalms 91:1-16

(Psalms 91:1) (Psalms 91:1) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

A good roof over our heads will protect us from rain, hail, and snow. When it rains, we can choose to go inside or stay out in the rain. Likewise, we can choose to stay under God’s protecting presence and power or wander away from the LORD’s protection and into temptation. No one and no thing are higher than God and nothing can harm us without His gracious love empowering us to remain faithful as we rely on God’s help and presence.

(Psalms 91:2) I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

If we remain under the protecting power of God, and if we continue to remember that no one and no thing are mightier than God, then we will call out to God when trouble comes. We will keep trusting in God, no matter what we suffer mentally or physically. We will find that God will protect us spiritually and the devil will not defeat God or overcome His protecting presence in our lives.

(Psalms 91:3) For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.

A fowler will set a hidden trap to catch and kill the unsuspecting, or he will hide and wait for the unsuspecting to pass his way. God will give us the foresight and wisdom to avoid the devil’s traps and often the ill-will of those who hate God, Christ, and those who trust in the true God and His Word. God will show us how to escape the tempter’s snare, how to patiently persevere when trapped or afflicted. He can deliver us from deadly diseases and harmful situations.

(Psalms 91:4) He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus said He would have protected people as a hen protects her chicks, but they refused Him and His offer. The psalmist describes God’s desire to protect us, and His protecting power is described here as a hen protecting her chicks under her wings. We can seek God as a frightened child in a storm and God will help us. He not only protects us, but He enables us to prevail in battle by providing for us the armor that we need. His faithfulness shields us. We can stand behind God, and for God, and in obedience to God, and He will shield us spiritually, if not also physically in this life; for even Jesus and His disciples suffered.

(Psalms 91:5) You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Many people naturally fear the uncertainties of the future and unknown results of their actions or the actions of others. If we walk in the dark or in the shadow of death, we know that God, the Almighty, who is Most High, will protect us and be with us to the end. Neither will we fear the arrows shot at us, for the Lord will help us keep doing what is right no matter what opposition we encounter. We must keep praying and trusting in Jesus.

(Psalms 91:6) Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

Those who trust in the Lord and follow His ways avoid many of the diseases and disasters that many experience due to having lived unholy lifestyles. Certain diseases seem to inevitably follow some types of ungodly choices and unhealthy habits. We may die of a disease or sudden destruction, but if we follow the Lord, we will be with Him no matter what happens in this life, for He gives all who believe in Him the gift of eternal life.

(Psalms 91:7) A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.

Perhaps it seems unbelievable to some, but when we read the Old Testament there were times when the Hebrews were faithful to God and He fought their battles for them and with them and none of them were injured or killed. The battle of Jericho is an example. We can trust God the same way today, for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

(Psalms 91:8) You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.

When the Hebrews entered the Promised Land, and when they faithfully obeyed God, they saw the punishment of the wicked. The psalmist knew verses 7 & 8 were true based on the history of His people and His knowledge of God and His character. If the people were disobedient, still one single godly prophet could make the difference in the outcome of a battle. Read how these 2 verses were literally fulfilled in 2 Kings 7.

(Psalms 91:9) For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

We need to ask ourselves if we have made the Lord our refuge, or do we trust in someone or some idol rather than God, or perhaps even in ourselves apart from God, or in something (perhaps our money or our social or political connections) more that we trust in the LORD. Do we love to consciously dwell in the presence of the Most High, to consciously choose to remain in His sight at all times, to live in such a way that He will be glad we are one of His children?

(Psalms 91:10) No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.

If we do what verse 9 tells us, because the promise in verse 10 is conditioned on our doing what verse 9 directs, then no “evil” will befall us. We may be afflicted. We may be killed for our faith, but that will only open the door to heaven for us and that will not be evil. For “plague” the NRSV uses “scourge.” A scourge is a whip used for punishment, most often reserved for the disobedient; however, Jesus was scourged and died for us and for our good.

(Psalms 91:11) For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.

The devil used this verse when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness (see Matthew 4). Jesus replied that we should not test God. There have been times when our guardian angels have protected us from danger, whether we knew it or not. Our guardian angels have possibly protected us from fatal accidents or enemies. But we should not presume on or take this angelic protection for granted: Jesus certainly did not.

(Psalms 91:12) They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

Jesus did not fall for the devil’s temptations, and Jesus never struck His foot against a stone. The angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation and fasting in the wilderness. Jesus said He could have called in an angel army to save Him when He was arrested in the garden, but He lived and died and rose again to fulfill His Father’s purposes in our behalf.

(Psalms 91:13) You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

The New Testament describes the devil as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) and in the Bible the devil sometimes appears as a serpent. The Apostle Paul was snake bitten, but not injured, and he shook the snake into a fire (Acts 28:1-6). His frightening experience and salvation led some who saw it believe in Jesus. The Lord will protect His people from natural and spiritual enemies, and His people will defeat them. We have probably defeated the devil far more often than we know, because God and our guardian angels were fighting for us and with us.

(Psalms 91:14) “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

We must fulfill the condition of loving God and knowing God; then the promise is ours, that God will deliver and protect us (at least from the tricks of the devil). Psalm 91:1-2 reveal God’s name and nature. We can love God and seek to do what will please God because of Who God is and what God does. We know God’s character is totally loving, just, and merciful. God will watch over His own and deliver us from evil (as Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer).

(Psalms 91:15) “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

If we love God, we will seek to live in His presence moment-by-moment. Troubles and temptations will come our way. We will need God to rescue us from time to time, if not ALL the time. But God will be near us and we can call to Him, knowing that God will answer us as He always does. In the presence of the angels, God will honor us for our faithful obedience, if not also honor us before others, for not all have faith.

(Psalms 91:16) “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”

In general, God will give a long life to those who love Him and call upon Him in times of trouble. The command to honor father and mother comes with the promise of a long life too (Exodus 20:12). In general, following the LORD’s ways helps us avoid evil people and places of trouble, where no good can be done, but only evil results. When the end of our life does come, God will save us and give us eternal life, by grace though faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

 

How to Receive God’s Promises

February 24, 2019

Psalms 91:1-16

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalms 91:11). When we read this verse, we might very well ask, “How can this be true for me?”

Psalms 91 tells us what we need to do to gain the assurance this verse gives. First, we need to choose “to live in the shelter of the Most High,” just as we might choose to remain inside during a lightning storm. We need to abide or stay so close to God that we remain under “the shadow of the Almighty” no matter where God leads (verse 1). Second, we must make God our refuge (verses 2, 4, 9). He is the One we need to go to for ultimate protection in any situation. Third, we must trust in God, that God has the intelligence, power, and willingness to keep all of His promises to us (verse 2). Fourth, we must love God enough to do whatever He tells us in the Bible (verse 14). We aim to please the ones we love. We try our best for those we love. By loving and obeying God, we stay within the fortress He has made for our protection in this world. Fifth, we must know God’s name (verse 14). We come to know God’s name through the variety of names in the Bible that reveal God’s character and nature. Our faith in God deepens the more we know what His names imply. Sixth, when trouble comes, we need to “call to” God (verse 15). When we call to the Lord by name, He will answer us, be with us, rescue us, and honor us. Furthermore, God will satisfy us, save us, and give us a long life (verse 16).

 

Thinking Further

How to Receive God’s Promises

February 24, 2019

Psalms 91:1-16

Name _____________________

1. Why do you think Jesus used the image of a hen when looking over Jerusalem and talking about the city before His arrest?

 

2. Think of someone you know who needs the blessings promised in Psalms 91. Pray for that person and for the opportunity to help them.

 

3. Read Psalms 91:1-2 again. What does the word “abide” mean to you in these verses? How does your understanding relate to abiding in God?

 

4. Read Psalms 91:9-10. What do people need to do so God can be their dwelling place?

 

5. What does Psalms 91 teach about angels? How might this teaching help you?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. Why do you think Jesus used the image of a hen when looking over Jerusalem and talking about the city before His arrest? Jesus probably wanted His disciples to remember the promise the LORD made in Psalm 91:4 that Jesus would have fulfilled. Jesus was making another subtle claim to be the Son of God and He was willing to do the works of His 2 Father. The LORD promised to protect those who loved Him (Psalm 91:14). If the leaders and people of Jerusalem had loved Jesus, He would have protected them, but they would not. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus said that He would have protected them often (only something He could have done as the Son of God), but they were unwilling (and did not truly love the LORD): “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD.

 

2. Think of someone you know who needs the blessings promised in Psalms 91. Pray for that person and for the opportunity to help them.

(This is a personal question and request.)

 

3. Read Psalms 91:1-2 again. What does the word “abide” mean to you in these verses? How does your understanding relate to abiding in God? All translations provided, except the NIV, uses the word “abide.” The word “abide” means “remain.” Psalms 91:1, in the ESV read: “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.” The Psalm instructs us to not only “dwell” in the shelter of the LORD, but to “remain” under the shelter of the LORD and not stray away from the LORD. Therefore, I want to keep following Jesus all day and all night.

 

4. Read Psalms 91:9-10. What do people need to do so God can be their dwelling place? They need to make the LORD their dwelling place, their refuge. This is a decision that each believer needs to make.

 

5. What does Psalms 91 teach about angels? How might this teaching help you? Angels are real beings that that can guard us in all our ways and protect us from accidents and other evils. God has sent angels to be near me and they have in the past and will save me in the future from great harm, from accidents and situations that I never had knowledge of because they protected me from them. I need to thank the Lord Jesus for sending angels to me. In Hebrews 1:13-14, we read: “And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

 

 

Word Search

How to Receive God’s Promises

February 24, 2019

Psalms 91:1-16

Name _____________________

 

B Z B N T Z G T W H U P S R X

E E D I B A N Y M O I H D J F

H G F R E H I S T A D J P R Z

V C U B U I L O U H M A M F U

D L D F N G L B P Q G O H O A

N E B K E H E Z H Y S I R S B

L X O H L R W R T T Z B M U A

A B M F O Z D S E R J V P L Y

R N W Q V X S J P V U E Q C A

V Z G H E E M R D W I S S B M

Y Q A E R Y O Y A L M L T U K

E K W T L T Q E K G E C E C S

F U R Z E S V M H T W I Y D I

L O L C V Y T S F Q H Z H J R

F A T A T H D R A U G X N S I

 

Most

High

Abide

Shadow

Almighty

Refuge

Fortress

Deliver

Shield

Deliver

Dwelling

Angels

Guard

Love

Protect

 

 

True and False Test

How to Receive God’s Promises

February 24, 2019

Psalms 91:1-16

Name _____________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. For protection, believers should remain under the shadow of the

Almighty. True or False

 

2. Believers should trust in God, who will be their refuge and fortress. True or False

 

3. When God is our refuge, His faithfulness is a shield. True or False

 

4. Those who do evil do not fear the terrors of the night or the arrows that fly by day. True or False

 

5. The wicked will enjoy their recompence and mock the righteous.

True or False

 

6. Believers never suffer from the wickedness of others because their angels guard them. True or False

 

7. Lion tamers can tread on lions. True or False

 

8. The psalmist encourages believers to hold fast to God in love.

True or False

 

9. When believers call to God, He will answer them. True or False

 

10. Everyone who trusts in the LORD will live to a ripe old age. True or False

 

 

True and False Test Answers

 

1. True
2. True
3. True

• False

5. False
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. True

10.False

 

Prayer

Almighty God, You are our true protection and salvation. Please strengthen our trust and protect us against the evil and danger that surrounds us. Equip us to be agents of Your protection and bold proclaimers of Your salvation to the ends of the earth. For all that You have done for us and for all You promise to do, we give You thanks and praise. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.