A Sanctuary of Protection (2)

I. Review

A Ray of Hope - Hope is waiting for God to act in spite of insurmountable odds

A Beacon of Truth - Faith is speaking God’s Truth into impossible situations

A Source of Strength – Strength is found by dwelling in God’s presence at His pools of grace.

A Sacrifice of Praise - Tears and Knees

1) tears of crying for God’s deliverance

2) ‌tears of longing to be in God’s presence

3) ‌tears of pleading for God’s grace and glory

4) tears of praise for God’s protection

Psalm 91 - The Already, But Not Yet

A. Jesus has already come, but has not yet come.

B. We are already saved, but we have not yet been saved.

C. We are already adopted, but we have not yet been adopted.

D. We are already protected but are not yet protected.

Two young girls were talking, and one said she had ten pennies. The other girl looked at her hand and only saw five. She said, “You only have five pennies.” The first girl replied, “I have five and my father told me he would give me five more tonight. So I have ten.”

She understood that her father’s promise was as good as done.

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 172). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

The One Who Covers (vs.1-2)

Elyon - Most High – The God Above All

The exaltedness of God

High in rank, position, or esteem

Grand or noble in character

The overwhelming majesty of God.

Splendor and Dignity

The supremacy of God.

Reign, Authority, and Sovereignty

Shaddai – Almighty – The God of Power

He is more than able to cover and protect.

He is more than able to keep His promises.

Yahweh – Lord - The God of Covenant

The Name of the Lord

Person, character, and reputation

Elohim – God - The God of Creation

Ties into the beginning and the end.

He started it, He will finish it.

His plan will come to pass.

What Is The Covering? (vs. 1-4)

Shelter / Refuge / Fortress

Covering, Hiding Place, Secret place

Psalm 32:7 NASB95

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Safety from storms, dangerous people or animals.

Literally to seek the shade of a tree - except in a lightening storm

Stronghold – a mountainous place for hiding and defense.

“Helm’s Deep”

Run to Him when in trouble

Pinions and Wings

feathers/wings - used of protection for those who rest under them.

skirt - Corner of a garment

covering

Malachi 4:2 NASB95

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

Find comfort and healing

Shield and Bulwark

Large and small

His Faithfulness

Frequently connected with His lovingkindness.

Also translated Truth. God’s words and actions are characterized by this term.

Let his faithfulness, lovingkindness, and truth be your defense

How Do We Get Under That Covering? (vs. 1-2, 14)

Dwells / Abide (vs. 1)

Participle - active and continual dwelling

To sit and stay, To linger or loiter

To rest, as in, to lodge for the night. A secure, peaceful rest.

Trust (vs. 2)

Confidence

Safety and security

Without fear

Love (vs 14)

What Does God Do When He Covers? (vs. 3)

Delivers

Power overcoming the power of another

To Strip of Power / To Plunder / Recover / Rescue

What Is Our Response To God’s Covering? (vs. 5-8)

We Do Not Have To Be Afraid

Night Terrors, Arrows, Pestilence, Destruction, War.

Although this Hebrew term is used for fearing other things, it is primarily used in the context of fearing, reverencing, being in awe of authority and power. And of those the vast majority are in reference to God.

So…it would seem to imply a comparison. Do I fear the terror by night or arrow or pestilence or destruction or war more than I fear God?

Also, it doesn’t say the terror of the night is not there. It doesn’t say that the arrow will not fly by your head. It doesn’t say that pestilence never comes. It just says we don’t need to fear them.

Isaiah 43:1–2 NASB95

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

In context, these things that are coming at us are an act of God’s punishment upon the wicked. (vs 8)

Why do we need not fear them? They are not directed at us.

God always preserves His remnant. Might some fall. Yes, but, He preserves His faithful ones.

Noah

Passover and the death angel.

Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego. All those in exile.

We Can Walking In Freedom And Not In Fear

No Fear Of The Dark – this word signifies the gloom or despair that sometimes engulfs the human heart from an absence of divine guidance.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NASB95

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Psalm 42:8 NASB95

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.

The Darkness will not win/overcome

John 1:5 NASB95

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Covering, Not Yet (vs. 8-10)

Messianic – Second Coming

Ultimately This Psalm Points To The Second Coming Of Christ

But temporarily allows us to rest with the confidence that whatever happens on earth is with His knowledge. Nothing happens outside of His will, whether harm or disaster.

Matthew 10:29 NASB95

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

God is in control. Nothing that happens or will happen is a surprise to God.

Noreen Groh - Everything Will Be Ok. For Sure.

Justice Will Be Served.

No evil / Plague / Spot / Blemish Will Come Near Your Dwelling

Revelation 22:14–15 NASB95

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

The Covering, Already (vs. 11-13)

He Will Give His Angels Charge Over You

Guard – to watch carefully over

This is one place we get our concept of “Guardian Angels”

Protection from disaster, stumbling and dangers

We are lifted out of or through

Guide - In All Our Ways – path of life, journey.

They will help keep us on the right path.

With their help...

To strike – most often used in context of warring nations killing one another. So, it carries the weight of, if we stumble, that stone will not be the end of us.

Don’t need to fear the poison of the cobra or the teeth of the lion.

To tread – to walk on or over.

To trample - to defeat enemies by trampling underfoot.

God has de-fanged the cobra and removed the teeth of the lion, and He has charmed the cobra and tamed the lion.

Serpent / Lion – Satan, roaring lion…

In the temptation of Jesus, this little verse was conveniently left out by Satan...

We do have personal responsibility to employ faithfulness in following the direction and path God has laid out for us.

We do not want to test the Lord to see to what extent He might deliver us. That would be presumptuous.

The Already, But Not Yet (vs. 14-16)

Because He has loved me and He knows my name.

I Will Deliver Him - to escape, take to safety.

I Will Protect Him

I Will Answer When He Calls

I Will Be With Him In Trouble, Distress, Anguish

I Will Rescue Him And Honor Him

I Will Satisfy Him With Long Life

Following God faithfully, in general, produces a better and healthier life, keeping one free from the common pitfalls of temptation that can shorten one’s life.

Maybe more in line with “During your length of days, I will satisfy you”

I Will Let Him See My Salvation, Deliverance, Victory, Then, Now, and Forever!

Song: I Will Trust In You, Forever Reign