I forgot to tell you the other day when we started this study in Psalm 91, I like to read this Psalm in the first person. It makes it personal and I am also really enjoying reading it in the Complete Jewish Bible. It gives me additional insight on this Psalm.
“For you have made Adonai, the Most High, who is my refuge, your dwelling-place.
10 No disaster will happen to you, no calamity will come near your tent;
11 for he will order his angels to care for you and guard you wherever you go.
12 They will carry you in their hands, so that you won’t trip on a stone.
13 You will tread down lions and snakes, young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.” Vs 9-13 CJV
For I have made the Most High my refuge and my dwelling place – no disaster will happen to me and no calamity will come near my tent.
When we would go back to work in Iowa I was introduced to tornado warnings. I had never experienced anything like this before. I would have to fight fear the first couple years and then the last few years, I could go through those experiences in peace because the Holy Spirit brought these verses to my heart – not just my mind – but really settled them in my heart. “No calamity will come near my tent or RV as the case may be”.
When I read these verses I am often reminded of Peter and the other disciples that were on the sea with the waves beating against the boat and the wind blowing a gale force. Jesus was sleeping while the disciples were bailing water. They woke him up and said “Master don’t you care – we’re about to sink”. But Jesus reaction was completely different.
“And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled. 38 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing? 39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness). 40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)? 41 And they were filled with great awe and feared exceedingly and said one to another, Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?” Mark 4:37-41 AMP
No fear! Resting in the promises of God’s word.
If you remember satan used Psalm 91:11-12 as one of the temptations that he brought to Jesus. “for he will order his angels to care for you and guard you wherever you go. 12 They will carry you in their hands, so that you won’t trip on a stone.” But Jesus comment was that He would not tempt the Lord, His God.
We can confidently trust in God’s protection and power when circumstances come against us but we also have the admonition not to be foolish in our actions and then say we are using these verses as our protection.
Years back we lived verse 13 on a daily basis. “You will tread down lions and snakes, young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.” Farming alfalfa in the Arizona desert we had daily encounters with rattlesnakes. We learned to live and walk cautiously. We taught our children how to play wisely and we prayed this verse and Luke 10:19
“Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.” AMP
We put God’s work to work! And we saw it come to pass on several different occasions. Working late at night, changing water, we had a couple of experiences of actually stepping on rattlesnakes and not having them coil, rattle or strike. We saw God’s word at work on our behalf.
This Psalm is your personal promise from the Father. It was confidence in God and His word that let Daniel sleep in a lion’s den and Jesus sleep on the stormy sea. God’s word is practical and He has given us His word to use in our lives.
Live it daily!