Opening Prayer
As I read Scripture, Father, plant deep within me the reality of your love and faithfulness.
Read PSALM 91
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
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 observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 91:1 Hebrew Shaddai
- Psalm 91:14 That is, probably the king
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Take time to pray through this psalm, personalizing each sentence. Give God thanks as you think about how this applies to you.
Think Further
For many years this psalm was one of my go-to Scriptures, especially in a time when I faced a number of challenges. It is a wonderful psalm, rich with promises, but also founded upon certain conditions. It is too easy to read the promises of rest, refuge, and protection, without thinking about the conditions. Yet we know that to experience eternal life we need first to meet the condition of following Jesus. This psalm encourages us and reminds us to take God seriously.
Among the encouragements from this psalm, we read what we are to ‘say’ (vv. 2,9). This is no lip service to God, rather a declaration that is mirrored in our lifestyle. Do we really believe that we can trust God? That God is our refuge and fortress? Are God and God’s kingdom our ‘dwelling’ (vv. 1, 9)? It can be hard to trust in God when many people around us are putting their hope in some other source. The challenge for us, though, is to continue to trust in God. Finding other people who also trust in him can be a great source of strength when we are faced with difficulties. That is one reason why God has given us the church so that we can be there and help each other – and be reminded to trust in God.
Having aligned our lives to trust in God, we can then start to believe that we will receive the wonderful promises in this psalm. In particular, it speaks to those who are under attack, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. God offers us a refuge. Just as Jesus wanted to gather the people like a hen does her chicks,1 so, even now, we can find comfort and refuge in the loving embrace of our Savior.
Apply
Perhaps you know someone who is going through a hard time. Pray for them, then find a way to encourage them in their trust of God.
Closing prayer
Father, thank you for your loving protection. I confess there are times when I forget to trust in your loving care and your commitment to my good; forgive me.
Last Updated on May 5, 2024 by kingstar
