“He Who Dwells” - “Proximity” pt2

Elder Phil Fox / General

Walking On Water Bible Church

Sunday Service - 06/09/2024

Part 2 - Psalm 91:9–16

Recap

3–6. Versatile protection. Most of these dangers are of a kind which strike unseen, against which the strong are as helpless as the weak.

Like a Covering

From a plague

Like a Shield

Like a Mother Bird

Like a Fortress

7–10. Individual protection. You is emphatic

At YOUR Side

At YOUR Right Hand

YOU will Only See it

Not Near YOUR Tent/Dwelling

11–13. Miraculous protection. God’s servants not merely as survivors but as victors.

His Angels

Protection In All Your Ways

They (Angels) Will Carry You

You Will Tread……. Shoot!!!! You Will TRAMPLE The Most Feared Beast

“Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.””

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

There is one thing to understand the position vs understanding the power we have in our position. Not making it hokey or mystical. Taking it back to 1 Pet. 2:9

1 Pe 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

You are no longer a slave to sin

You have access to the Holy Spirit

Gal 5

Sharing Sacred Space With God!

Verse 10

10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

A Verse Like This Is Why We Need To Read In Context!

This is a call-back to The Exodus - Plague Language had an Immediate Recall to the Passover

Divine Salvation - Not Superficial

On the word rendered plague here נֶגַע, naiga. It is not the same word which is used in ver. 6, and translated pestilence; and it does not refer to what is technically called the plague. It may denote anything that would be expressive of the Divine displeasure, or that would be sent as a punishment. The word rendered “dwelling” here means a tent; and the idea is, that no such mark of displeasure would abide with him, or enter his tent as its home.

Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms, vol. 3 (London: Blackie & Son, 1870–1872), 14–15.

Verses 11 & 12

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Satan Used these verses out of context to Jesus in the Wilderness

Matt. 4:6&7; Luke 4:10-12

6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ”

“Satan, in quoting Psalm 91:11–12, misused Scripture in his attempt to deceive and mislead. It was a subtle challenge to Jesus to prove his deity.”

Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 41.

“As Son of God, He (Jesus) could surely claim with absolute confidence the physical protection which God promises in Psalm 91:11–12 (and throughout that Psalm) to those who trust him. So why not try it by forcing God’s hand (and thus silence any lingering doubts about his relationship with God)? But this would be to tempt God, as Israel did in the wilderness at Massah (Deut. 6:16), when they ‘put the LORD to the proof by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” ’ (Exod. 17:2–7). The Son of God can live only in a relationship of trust which needs no test. Christians perplexed by the apparently thin line between ‘the prayer of faith’ and ‘putting God to the test’ should note that the devil’s suggestion was of an artificially created crisis, not of trusting God in the situations which result from obedient service.”

R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 104.

What is the context? It’s you have the opportunity to be safe, IF…..

Statan was trying to use it out of context by saying Look You Don’t Need to Do Anything, But God Is Going To Protect You……

Verse 13

You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

The Psalmist is using language that intentionally wants to draw and produce tension

But Look at the contrast……..

LION: BIG, LOUD, VIOLENT, BIG TEETH, MUSCLES, RIP YOU TO SHREDS

COBRA: cunning, crafty, stealth, out of sight, camouflage, stocking

Lion, Cobra, Young Lion, and Serpent

***TRANSITION***

Verse 14 - The Transition and God’s Pledge

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

Transition - Because!!!

I will set him on high - set (securely) on high

Because he has known My name - Relationship

Verse 15

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

He Shall Call Upon Me - ACCESS!!!!!

I will answer him - Relationship

I will be with him - Relationship

I will deliver him - Relationship

And honor him - Relationship

Verse 16

With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

All of this for what???? God’s Salvation…..

Not Money

Not Title

Not Position

Not Wealth

Not Gain

Not Prosperity