IN PSALM 91, God promises us protection. I believe every Christian needs to know this psalm. And every parent and grandparent should teach Psalm 91 to the kids in their lives.
When I was young, Psalm 91 was my protection scripture. One time my good friend, Michael, came over, and we were jumping on the trampoline in the backyard.
Mom came outside and told us she needed to go to the grocery store. We didn’t want to go with her because we were busy playing. So she left and we kept playing. Eventually we went in the house to get something to drink. Once inside, we could hear somebody pounding on the front door.
Fear instantly hit me. At that time, cellphones didn’t exist. I couldn’t call my mom, and my dad was out of town.
The only thing I knew to do was grab the King James Bible from the bookshelf and read Psalm 91. I told Michael, “I’m going to read this.” We didn’t pray. I just read the Bible aloud. By the time I finished the last verse, the man had left.
I don’t know why that person was pounding on our door. I don’t know if he meant any harm. I JUST KNEW THAT WHEN I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, PSALM 91 WOULD PROTECT ME.
It doesn’t matter what’s going on around us. God promises to protect us. All we have to do is call on Him.
Breaking It Down
Seven powerful symbols of God’s protection are listed in Psalm 91, verses 1–4.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (v. 1 NIV).
According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, shelter means “something that covers or protects.” In Oklahoma, many people have tornado shelters. My mom heard about bomb shelters while growing up. But what’s more awesome than a bomb or tornado shelter is God’s shelter.
A shadow protects us from the blazing sun. God’s shadow provides protection all around us.
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’ ” (v. 2 NIV).
A refuge is a person or thing that prevents someone or something from suffering harm or injury. God protects us from injury no matter what is happening. A fortress provides protection to a city, not just to individuals.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (v. 4 NIV).
God’s feathers and wings depict the tenderness of a mother bird when she protects her offspring by gathering them under her wings.
A shield was used in times of war. Today, we use our shield of faith when the enemy shoots fiery darts at us. The New Living Translation Bible translates rampart as protection. Protection is when a person or thing prevents us from being harmed or injured.
Our Threats
We face two different kinds of threats from the devil.
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. . . . You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday” (vv. 3, 5–6 NIV).
We have protection from disease and physical harm 24/7/365. God promises to protect us from the fowler’s snare and from arrows—today, we would say bullets. And we are protected
from another epidemic.
We can be filled with either faith or fear. Psalm 91 helps us have faith when everyone else is fearful. Sometimes we just have to turn off the news because it often broadcasts fear, fear, and more fear. We can’t allow ourselves to be fearful.
Can’t Touch Us!
“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you” (v. 7 NKJV).
Every time I read that verse, I think about MC Hammer’s song “Can’t Touch This.” The point is that the devil can’t touch us when our faith is in God. He is our protector, our shelter, our shield, our armor, our fortress, and our refuge. This must be ingrained in us.
“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (vv. 9–10 NKJV).
When we make the Lord our refuge, no plague will come near us. No sickness, disease, or pandemic has the right to touch us.
“For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” (vv. 11–12 NLT).
Through His tender care, God has supplied each of us with celestial bodyguards to carry us along the rock-strewn road. We won’t even stub our toe. Our bodyguards are armed with God’s power and authority.
“You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!” v. 13 NLT).
We are assured of victory when we know Who our Protector is. When we resist the devil, he has to flee from us (James 4:7).
“ ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’ ” (vv. 14–16 NIV).
The last three verses of Psalm 91 assure us of eight blessings. God promises to rescue and protect us. When we call on Him, He will answer us. He will be with us. Jesus will never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He will deliver and honor us. One of my favorites is, He will satisfy us with long life. And He will show us His salvation.
Being Led by the Spirit
One way God protects us is by leading us through the Holy Spirit. When we get checks in our spirit, that is God’s way of telling us not to do something.
Just as we can be in the right place at the right time, we can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But if we follow those checks in our spirit, we won’t be in places where we can be harmed.
People have asked me why I never worry. It’s because of Psalm 91. I know my God, and I’m always mindful that He protects me. I know He will help me in every situation, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Author
Craig W. Hagin
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