With the greatest tenderness and affection, which is intimated in that, He shall cover thee with his feathers, under his wings, which alludes to the hen gathering her chickens under wings, Matt 23 37. If God proportions the degree and continuance of our troubles to our strength, if he keeps us from offending him in our troubles, and makes our death our discharge, at length, from all our troubles, then this promise is fulfilled. The Septuagint (LXX: Greek version of the Old Testament) attributes this psalm to David, but that remains in question. May that be the portion of each of us! ), Mounces Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), Renn, Stephen D., Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2005), Richards, Lawrence O., Encyclopedia of Bible Words (Zondervan, 1985, 1991), Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob (ed. We know that God gives His angels charge over us but only at His command and they are ministering spirits assigned to minister to His own children (Heb1:14) but as Jesus said, we should not tempt the Lord by taking advantage of the heavenly host that ministers to us. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. That is a message that we need to hear in good times so that it will bring us strength during bad times. It is only because they have made the Lord God their dwelling place, dwelling in safety and abiding in Him, therefore as their refuge, nothing evil will befall them and no plague will come close to their tents. 91:9. Psalms 91:16. Until now, we have been listening to the psalmist as he conveys Yahwehs promises. nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. However, the conditional nature of the promises serve as a warning that the promises will no longer apply if we disassociate ourselves from Yahweh. The character of those who shall have the benefit and comfort of these promises; it is much the same with that, v. 1. The care which the angels take of the saints, pursuant to this charge: They shall bear thee up in their hands, which denotes both their great ability and their great affection. They who fear God are delivered from the vices which would deprive them of the vigor of life; and the joy and contentment they have in God help them to live longer than others. God (Hebrew: elohim). there is no doubt about this great truth, Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.. It is possible to misuse passages such as this that are intended to reassure us of Gods help in dangerbut are not intended to encourage us to test God (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12). Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;I will protect him, because he knows my name. Truth doesnt shift with every passing folly. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. There is even the unseen threat of pestilence that seeks their victims under the cover of darkness. With death all around them God tells them that it will not even come near them because they are not looking at all the dead bodies but their eyes are looking at the Lord Who is recompensing or paying back those who are the enemies. Idolaters called their idols Mahuzzim, their most strong-hold (Dan 11 39), but therein they deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that make the Lord their God, their fortress. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: Notice, that it is, He shall, and I will. The mighty grace of God shall make us pray, and the Almighty God of grace will answer our prayer: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. How I love these glorious shalls and wills! Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Ross, Allen P., A Commentary on the Psalms, 90-150, Vol. God protects believers, (1.) (2.) Used by permission. Their Worm Does Not Die: Annihilation and Mark 9:48, Evidence for the Resurrection - William Lane Craig -Text and Audio, The Evidence for Jesus - William Lane Craig - Text and Video. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I will be with him in trouble (v. 15ab). If he be dishonoured, if he be in poverty, if he be in sickness, if that sickness should drive his best friend away from his bed, still, I will be with him in trouble.. His faithfulness (emettruth) is your shield (Hebrew: sinnah) and rampart (Hebrew: soherahbuckler) (v. 4c). 2. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. The promises which are here made, in God's name, to all those that do so in sincerity. But the psalmist wrote these verses to reassure the faithful that Yahweh will send his angels to guard themto bear them upto protect them from dangers large and small (dashing ones foot against a stone sounds small compared to some dangers). Psalms 91:3. But it also means one more thing. God dispatched angels to help Isaac find a wife (Genesis 24:7)and to protect Israel in the Exodus (Exodus 23:20-23; 32:34; 33:2)and to sustain Elijah in his flight from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:5-8)and to carry people to heaven (Luke 16:22)and to release apostles from prison (Acts 5:19). I will honour him; those are truly honourable whom God puts honour upon by taking them into covenant and communion with himself and designing them for his kingdom and glory, John 12 26. Verse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."In this psalm, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly are contrasted. This psalm is a powerful chapter when a believer is in a time of crisis. But he that has his treasure and heart in another world has soon enough of this; he would not live always. Yahweh is an accessible God, who answers when called and walks with people in the midst of their troubles. See Ps 34 19; 2 Tim 3 11; 4 18. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. [3.] If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he shelters them, and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. (2.) "Here, after the carefree delight of Psalm 98, we recollect how exalted and holy he is, and how profound is the reverence we owe him." (Derek Kidner) A. I will deliver (Hebrew: halas) him, and honor (Hebrew: kabed) him (v. 15c). They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God's protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever. Can any comfort be surer? The other names are all descriptive (such as Most High and Almighty). By far the most common name for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh, which means I am who I am (Exodus 3:14)but elohim is the next most common. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. The word elyon is usually translated Most High, and is usually used for God. Here are more promises to the same purport with those in the foregoing verses, and they are exceedingly great and precious, and sure to all the seed. The way of the righteous. Chicks taking refuge under their mothers wings serve as a metaphor for people finding refuge in Gods presence. All rights reserved. (5.) That is worth noting. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, Still, Gods children do live to a far longer age than any other people in the world; they are on the whole a long-lived race. (2.) He is a refuge that will not fail me; for he is my fortress and strong-hold." It would have been familiar to the author(s) of Genesis. What is Psalm 91 all about? There is need to fear the night filled with terror or the arrows that are visibly seen flying during the day. Yahweh is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A church sanctuary, hospital chapel, or airport prayer room. 91:2 ), from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others, Ps. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. He was quite right in the application; but he was quite wrong in the. The psalmist's comfortable application of this to himself (v. 2): I will say of the Lord, whatever others say of him, "He is my refuge; I choose him as such, and confide in him. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.. Gender Revolution - What are they teaching your kids? Globally, we are faced with wars and rumors of warplagues and pestilenceenemies equipped with the Bombtyrants and corrupt politiciansa world changing so rapidly that it makes our heads spinand a host of other problems. The Case for Conditional Immortality - J. W. Wenham, The Bible, Slavery, and America's Founders, The Biological and Biblical Dangers of Problem-Centered Counseling, The Urgent Need For Reformation in Pastoral Ministry, Problems and Limitations Yahweh is the psalmists manseh (refuge or shelter). Such evil will never befall you. He will deliver those people. A wicked worldly man is not satisfied, no, not with long life; he still cries, Give, give. The Great Lie: What about the Immortal soul? You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot (v. 13). Counterfeit Cross updated- Sanctification and Growing in Righteousness, Errors of the Invitation System or Alter Call, Counterfeit Cross - The Lordship of Christ in Salvation - Part II, A Historical Overview of The Lord's Supper, Set Your Mind on Things Above - Matthew Henry, Prophecies of the Destruction of Jerusalem which have remarkably been fulfilled - Thomas Newton. All rights reserved. Surely, oh, blessed word! See the comments on verse 3b (above) for an explanation of deber (pestilence). "He, his shadowy plumes outspread. Psalm 91 continues to be a source of strength, hope, promise and encouragement for every generation. All the Prayers in the Bible - Old and New Testaments. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. You remember how the devil misapplied this text to Christ. That is true in this verse, where we see the wicked being punished. Is Sovereign the Best Descriptor for God? The Hebrew Word Nephesh (Soul) - E. W. Bullinger. However, I am confident that God is with us in life and in death. I saw newspaper pictures of children confined to iron lungs that helped them to breath. Truth is real, dependable, stablethat which we can trust. To this the great God is pleased to compare his care of his people, who are helpless as the chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are invited to trust under the shadow of the wings of the divine promise and providence, which is the periphrasis of a proselyte to the true religion, that he has come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Ruth 2 12. The word sillumah means punishment, but carries the connotation of deserved punishment. Viewing things from God's vantage point--that is true comfort. 2. 2023 Grace to You. Be worshipful : glorifying God for who he is : OT commentary, Psalms 1 - 89 by Warren Wiersbe. The Hebrew word sel means shadow of shade. The charge is to keep thee in all thy ways; here is a limitation of the promise: They shall keep thee in thy ways, that is, "as long as thou keepest in the way of thy duty;" those that go out of that way put themselves out of God's protection. Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is my refuge: any other is a refuge of lies. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, If you dwell near to God, you will not be deceived by Satan. Yahweh was Gods personal name for the Israelites. We need both kinds of protection, because Satan sometimes attacks us in a frontal assault, but also comes at us from unexpected quarters. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. He who is the Lord of the angels, who gave them their being and gives laws to them, whose they are and whom they were made to serve, he shall give his angels a charge over thee, not only over the church in general, but over every particular believer. Psalm 91:1. The Almighty (Hebrew: sadday). Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection? He is my refuge and my fortress: The one who lives intimately with God knows the greatness of His protection. Life is filled with problems both small and big. All of this because He says we know Him by name (v 14) and can call Him Father. There has even been protection from the wild predators, snakes, spiders, and a multitude of various other dangerous insects and animals that many have experienced receiving protection from, like Paul when he was bitten by a poisonous snake and should have died (Acts 28:3-5). The Believer's Covenant Psalm 91 can also be referred to as the constitution of the Kingdom. Facing a Tolerant World with Intolerant Truth (Selected Scriptures) Pastor John MacArthur. I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 14b (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1973), Limburg, James, Westminster Bible Companion: Psalms (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000, Mays, James Luther, Interpretation: Psalms (Louisville: John Knox, 1994), McCann, J. Clinton, Jr., The New Interpreters Bible: The Book of Psalms, Vol. Pastor John MacArthur writes, Contemporary evangelicalism has been beguiled and sabotaged by a ruinous lack of confidence in God's Word. Observe, 1. Oh, labour to get to that blessed position! However, we are familiar with traps of other kinds: Spam callers try to get us to get us to reveal our credit card numbers. In the Psalms you can identify with the psalmist as he expresses his deepest distress, and learn along with him as God teaches him how to view things from His perspective. Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross - James P. Shelly w/ audio, A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness - Jeremiah Burroughs. Talk of St. George and the dragon! Let us come boldly there; and, when we once enter, let us dwell there. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. It is the daytime equivalent of the night-stalking pestilence of verse 6a. Now here it is promised. To encourage us to make the Lord our habitation, and to hope for safety and satisfaction in him, the psalmist intimates the comfort he had had in doing so: "He whom thou makest thy habitation is my refuge; and I have found him firm and faithful, and in him there is room enough, and shelter enough, both for thee and me." View Psalm 91. The promises which are here made, in God's name, to all those that do so in sincerity. In that culture, as today, a persons name referred to the essential character of the personin this case, Yahweh. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. That believers shall be kept from those mischiefs which they are in imminent danger of, and which would be fatal to them (v. 3), from the snare of the fowler, which is laid unseen and catches the unwary prey on a sudden, and from the noisome pestilence, which seizes men unawares and against which there is no guard. That they shall be preserved in common calamities, in a distinguishing way (v. 7): "When death rides in triumph, and diseases rage, so that thousands and ten thousands fall, fall by sickness, or fall by the sword in battle, fall at thy side, at thy right hand, and the sight of their fall is enough to frighten thee, and if they fall by the pestilence their falling so near thee may be likely to infect thee, yet it shall not come nigh thee, the death shall not, the fear of death shall not." To worship angels is to run afoul of the First Commandment, You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 2:3; see also Matthew 4:10). 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, You who know the Lord, pray that you may attain to this high condition of dwelling in the inner shrine, always near to God, always overshadowed by those cherubic wings which indicate the presence of God. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. The word sagab (set him on high) means to raise, exalt, or defend. Aye, that is true, you will say, who makes any doubt of it? It is not an evil, an only evil, but there is a mixture of good in it and a product of good by it. I will set him on high (Hebrew: sagab), because he has known (Hebrew: yada) my name (Hebrew: sem) (v. 14b). What does the phrase "gnashing of teeth" mean? The one who abides in the shelter or under the protection of the Most High God has a shadow over him or her, much like Gods providing the cloud of glory that protected Israel in her wanderings in the wilderness from the scorching sun and like a fortress, He will deliver those who face the snare or trap or the threat of a deadly pestilence or disease. A great truth laid down in general, That all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times (v. 1): He that dwells, that sits down, in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he that by faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in him which he needs or can desire. Jesus countered, Again, it is written, You shall not test the Lord, your God.'. I believe in God and depend on him for deliverance, but I nevertheless find myself afraid. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. Observe, I. We often find ourselves afraid in the middle of the nightwhat I call the Three Oclock Terrors. 91:10 There shall no [nothing comes our way God has either not decreed or not allowed] evil [that which is the opposite of good; any misfortune] befall thee, neither shall any plague [refers to some physical blow; general term for plague] come nigh thy dwelling. Why I Don't Have a Television - John Piper, Why People Find the Bible Difficult - A. W. Tozer, Your Life is Like the Morning Fog - James P. Shelly, A Challenge to Unscriptural Traditions and Practice - Video, Are Seminaries Legitimate? But observe the extent of the promise; it is to keep thee in all thy ways: even where there is no apparent danger yet we need it, and where there is the most imminent danger we shall have it. Yes; and he rewards that knowledge: I will set him on high.. They sicken millions of people every year, and often kill them. The Hebrew word seter means a secret place or hiding place. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nervous as you are, and naturally timid, when you dwell near to God, your fears shall all go to sleep. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day; nor of the pestilence (Hebrew: deber) that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction (Hebrew: qeteb) that wastes at noonday (vv. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his keeper (ver 2), from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others, ver 9. We havent had to watch carefully for fowlers traps as we walk along sidewalks or drive along roadsor even when we hike through woods. When I lived in New York City years ago, I learned not to walk close to buildings when I was walking at night. The "Clergy/Laity" Distinction: A Hindrance to the Church? You will tread on the lion and cobra. Dale Kuiper, The Christian and the Mosaic Law - Philip Mauro, The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It. Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Psalms 91:1. It would have served Israel well during Davids reign, when Israel was beset by many enemies. The voice shifts with this verse. The promises are that no evil shall happen to you and neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.. It might be chinks in my faith that leave me vulnerable to fearbut I dont know anyone who has no chinks in their faith. I will be with him in trouble. But he is confident that Yahweh will deliver him from plagues and pestilence, because he dwells in the secret place of the Most High.. In this study, Dr. MacArthur examines the book of Psalms and reveals how the hymns it contains points to an all-powerful God who is to be respected, worshiped, and praised for his loving care of his peopleand to whom we can turn to help in times of need. Those of us who live in first world countries have almost forgotten the dangers of deadly diseases that spread rapidly and kill large numbers of people. A sinnah is a large rectangular shield. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: Does God take notice of our poor love? Theologian Paul on Life, Death, and Immortality - Froom, Gravity of Ascribing False Teachings to Christ - (refernce to Dives and Lazarus), The Old Testament Use of the Word Sheol (Hell), The Rich Man and Lazarus: An Intermediate State? II. That they shall have an eternal life in the other world. Angels were often fearsome. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. He brings in God himself speaking words of comfort to the saints, and declaring the mercy he had in store for them, v. 14-16. The psalmist wrote it to assure Israel that Yahweh would keep them safe through all trials IF they put their trust in him and tried to live faithfully in accord with Yahwehs will. God hides not his people in a casing of iron; their shelter is stronger than iron, yet it is soft as the downy wings of a bird for ease and comfort. Salem Media Group. A man may die young, and yet die full of days, satur dierumsatisfied with living. What Is The Evidence For/Against The Existence Of God? He shall cover thee with his feathers, The psalmist uses a wonderful metaphor when he ascribes feathers to God, and compares him to a hen, or some mother-bird, under whose wings her young find shelter. They are such as have set their love upon him; and those who rightly know him will love him, will place their love upon him as the only adequate object of it, will let out their love towards him with pleasure and enlargement, and will fix their love upon him with a resolution never to remove it to any rival. Purgatory: Purifying Fire or Fatal Fable? That famous old Puritan, holy Mr. Dodd, having to cross a river, had to change from one boat into another, and being little used to the water, he fell in, and, when he was pulled out, in his simplicity and wisdom he said, I hope that I am in my way. That was the only question that seemed to trouble him. Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Previous post: 6 Important Reasons To Bring Hidden Hurts To God For Healing, Next post: 7 Sample Prayers Before Surgery or a Medical Procedure. Scriptural Evidence for the Necessity of Obedience in Salvation, The Doctrine of Immortality in the Early Church - John H. Roller, Luther's views on soul sleep and the after life, Make Good Use of Your Servitude - Observations on Biblical Slavery, The Consensus of Current Scholarship: The Soul is Not Immortal, Killing the Canaanites - A Response to the New Atheism's "Divine Genocide" Claims. Once at the beginning of day. I conclude that Psalm 91 means two things about the suffering of the saints. How could any arrows, how could any pestilence, ever be able to reach that secure abode of God? In Vietnam, our soldiers had to watch for punji sticks and trip wires. It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude. We owe it, more than we are sensible, to the care of the divine Providence that we have been kept from infectious diseases and out of the hands of the wicked and unreasonable. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided. Romans 12:2 However, we must guard against angel worship and the trivialization of angels popular in some circles today. Pastor John MacArthur interview in Servant 991 tells about being on a Christian talk show where he said to the host Dont you believe that the Holy Spirit the Word of God and . The Hebrew word qeteb means destruction, but can also mean sting (Hosea 13:14). 4 He will cover you with his feathers. 10 no evil shall happen to you, ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. Commentary On Psalm 91 9 16 Working Preacher From Luther Seminary John 414 Life as a Fountain.. Once again, the idea is of the protection afforded by the Almighty God. I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation (v. 16). Christ has broken the serpent's head, spoiled our spiritual enemies (Col 2 15), and through him we are more than conquerors; for Christ calls us, as Joshua called the captains of Israel, to come and set our feet on the necks of vanquished enemies. The buckler is also part of the protection and this device is a defensive piece of armor used in ancient times when close range attacks occurred. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. All Rights Reserved. The great encouragement he gives to others to do likewise, not only from his own experience of the comfort of it (for in that there might possibly be a fallacy), but from the truth of God's promise, in which there neither is nor can be any deceit (v. 3, 4, etc. 2. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. God truly is our fortress and our refuge. It is our duty to be at home in God, to make our choice of him, and then to live our life in him as our habitation, to converse with him, and delight in him, and depend upon him; and then it shall be our privilege to be at home in God; we shall be welcome to him as a man to his own habitation, without any let, hindrance, or molestation, from the arrests of the law or the clamours of conscience; then too we shall be safe in him, shall be kept in perfect peace, Isa 26 3. Psalms 91:15. Amen. The ending of all of this is the most powerful of all as God says He will show him [or her], His salvation. If you have salvation, all of these other serious circumstances of plagues, night terrors, thousands dropping at your sides or any other threat are only temporary because ultimately, God is our refuge, our fortress, our shield, our buckler, and His love overshadows us and will bring us safely into the kingdom someday. The MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture. It is probable that this psalm also was penned by David; it is a writ of protection for all true believers, not in the name of king David, or under his broad seal; he needed it himself, especially if the psalm was penned, as some conjecture it was, at the time of the pestilence which was sent for his numbering the people; but in the name of the King of kings, and under the broad seal of Heaven. It may be applied to that care of the divine Providence by which we are preserved from ravenous noxious creatures (the wild beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee, Job 5 23); nay, and have ways and means of taming them, Jam 3 7. We ought to ask ourselves, Now, am I in Gods way? neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. Today they have to watch for IEDs. and show him my salvation.. Champions of Conditional Immortality in History, Conditional Immortality - Its Relation to Final Retribution, Conditional Immortality - Samuel M. Ohmart, Fallacies In The Annihilationism Debate: A Critique Of Robert Peterson, Important Forgotten History - Roots of Opposition to Conditionalism, Life in Christ - A Summary of Conditional Immortality, Summing Up the Case for Biblical Conditionalism - Froom, The Hypothesis of Conditional Immortality - William R. Huntington - 1878, Why I Believe In Conditional Immortality - by Sidney A. Hatch, Death and the Afterlife by Robert A. Morey - A Review by Edward Fudge, Martin Luther & William Tyndale On the State of the Dead, Near Death Experiences - Samuele Bacchiocchi.

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