Hope in Uncertain Times
Notes
Transcript
This week has been a week hasn’t it? Every day there has been more news, in fact it hasn’t been a daily update but hourly.
For some time now in our church has been chapter of scripture that has been coming up a lot. There have been people trying to memorize the who chapter. Which that’s always good. In fact, ever since we have been dealing with covid-19 I have been reading this chapter, I have seen more images posted online with the verses from this Psalm and constant reminder towards this. So this morning I thought we would take a few minutes to look at it more.
Let’s read it, turn with me to
Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary Psalm 91. Under His Wings
This is a psalm for danger: for times of exposure and encirclement or of challenging the power of evil.
This Psalm is known as the soldier’s Psalm. It is a Psalm of protection. Some of the language that is here shows that so clearly. Strongholds, shields, refuge, fortress these are just a few examples. This Psalm is shaped by metaphors of devotion, open confession of trust and divine loyalty.
This is a p
When I read this feel that a surge of hope and peace, maybe that is why I have been reading it a lot during this time. Our world is in turmoil currently and we could use a reminder that He is in control. We don’t understand why this chaos and sickness has to happen. It is not God’s fault, please remember this.
There is a verse of scripture that aids me in understanding how to get through the turmoil and misunderstandings of this world.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
My Refuge 1-3
My Refuge 1-3
First of all as we look at verses 1-8 we see that He is My Refuge.
He is personal. He is a place where we can abide in, a place where we can settle.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
The word dwell grabs my attention because I hear that I can take up permant residence in. That God is a place where I can abide. Then there is another word - rest - which again shows that I have security and safety in Him.
Two years ago now I moved out of a place where I lived for 5 years and took up residence here in CBS. It is a place I am happy to call my home. When I come home at the end of the day I feel safe and secure. I feel that I can rest.
I love how God uses this language to show is that level of comfort we can have in Him. Right now there are a lot of people that do not feel that they have a place of refuge, that is why my friends I am so happy that I get the chance to tell you that I have that peace, that place of refuge in God.
I not only have security and safetly I have more than that.
The phrases used here to show us proof of more:
“Shelter of the Most High” and “Shadow of the Amlighty”
These phrases show a vow of trust. The psalmist decares his own faith before applying it to anyone else. That is exactly what I see shown here. He is my refuge and I am so thankful that He is.
I came to know this refuge when I was a little girl kneeling at a wooden chair at Sunday school. I also grew to know that He is my refuge throughout teenage years when things are confusing and uncertain. Yes I was drawn in other directions but the drawing power of Him being my shelter and not my crutch pulled me back. In times of confusion, heartache, chaos I know I have shelter in Him. I can hide in the shadow of the most High.
When I think of the the images behind the word shadow I often go to think of darkness, evil and hidden things. But here we are shown a different image.
We don’t get a lot of hot weather here in Newfoundland but when we do we sometimes cannot handle it therefore we look for a place that is away from the heat. We often head to the shade. Well here we see that when things in life get “hot” when things get unbearable He provides that place of shade where we can take time to find relief. Do you have that in your life?
The Psalmist declares his own faith before applying it to anyone else and it is a great way to open the Psalm and then goes into sharing four metpahors of security - four divine names:
Most High - Strongest of the Strong - Superlative God - surpassing all others – Supreme. Above all other powers and authority.this title cuts every threat down to size.
Almighty - Shaddai - is the name which sustained homeless patriarchs in
The name shadday means “All Powerful” Omnipotent
The promise inherent in the name Shadday is that the Almighty can do everything He has promised. No man or other power can thwart His ways. He is an awesome God.
The Lord - Yahweh - His name means, “I am who I am” or “I will be who I will be.” The significance of these translations show that God is the One who is there for His people.
I love to talk about this word because of the level of holiness showed here. Yahweh is a form of the Hebrew name of God used in the Bible. The name came to be regarded by Jews as too sacred to be spoken.
God - Elohim is “God,” the Maker of the universe and the Supreme Creator of all life. It emphasizes God’s power and strength which is evident in creating, from nothing, the heavens, the earth and all that is in them.
And in this context it is made intimate by the use of the
possesive - as my God - the personal.
When a person relies on God they feel to Him as a place where he or she lives due to hope that has been found in Him!
The great thing He is not only my refuge but He is your refuge!
Your Refuge 3-13
Your Refuge 3-13
He is also your protector! The psalmist spells it out for each of us. He uses intense word images that makes it real.
First he talks about God’s Versatlie protection - Yahweh is our saving refuge.
Dwell in God’s name - find shelter in His tenderness. God wants to woo you with His tenderness. I want you to find a shelter under my wings, metaphorically' - God is caring for His own!
v. 4 the word trust is used. 'to hide, to run beneath, to make your refuge in'.
Now let me ask you this question: when life becomes bizarre what do you do?
When unpredictable things come upon your path, the troubles that you face, the very thing that you thought would never happen to you, where do you turn?
Please hear me this morning this is good advice trust Him, turn to Him. Let Him by your refuge!
Then He gives individual protection - He is a powerful protector and the one who is victorious in the battle against this world.
Then He gives individual protection - He is a powerful protector and the one who is victorious in the battle against this world.
I read an amusing story connected with this verse - about a woman who was meditating on verse 4 here, about these feathers and about the Lord and His wings.
She went out to work that morning, and she was walking to work and a gang of fellows came up to her, and she feared the worst. They asked her for any money that she had on her, and she was trying desperately to remember this verse but she couldn't remember it!
All she could do was shout: 'Feathers! Feathers! Feathers!' - and they all ran away, probably thinking she was mad! But the truth of this is that that woman grabbed hold and sheltered under God's tenderness. Do you do that?
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Remember the woman at the well. She was a person no one wanted to have anything to do with because of how she lived her life. But when she met Jesus at the well. He knew her already. He knew all about her life. He showed her His amazing love and she was taken back by it almost afraid to let Him know too much about her because she knew she would be rejected. Jesus showed this lady that He wanted to be her refuge not her pitfall.
This lady did not know love, kindness, peace or safety until that day at the well. Jesus become her refuge. He opened his wing and said, 'I don't condemn you, your sins are forgiven you, go in peace'.
They wanted to sever my flesh with stones of judgement! But I was brought before the Christ of God, and in tenderness He opened his wing and said, 'I don't condemn you, your sins are forgiven you, go in peace'. The tenderness of God that motivates the Psalmist to say: 'Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever, I will trust in the covert of thy wings'. Beautiful, isn't it?
You see this is the tenderness of God that motivates the Psalmist to say: 'Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings. I will abide in your tabernacle forever, I will trust in the covert of your wings'. Beautiful, isn't it?
How you feeling?
We may have crazy chaos happening around us. We may have uncertainly and isolation. But today hear this from God. He will cover you, He is opening His wings and You my friends will find refuge in Him!
May you be able to declare the words of verse 9-10
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
Surrendering yourself to Him is something that is so important. In order to take refuge you need to realize you need refuge, you need shelter and then you need to ask for it do you not?
So today, if you are feeling anxious, if you are feeling fearful tell Him about it. He is all ears. He will be your refuge!
Lots of us don’t want to admit that we need anyone. Lots of us don’t want to admit that we need God but we do. He has been the best source of strength in my life and He brings a peace that no one else can offer you.
This week my husband was working away and while away there was a waitress that asked them if they were scared about the things that have been happening. His response was no not at all. No he’s not crazy, He has a peace that no amount of disease or pestulance can shake. I pray that you will recognize that need in your life if you are heavy with fear. You do not need to carry that load of fear he wants you to be free of fear and have refuge in Him.
God’s Pledge 14-16
God’s Pledge 14-16
Now for the confirming oracle of God that is found in the last couple of verses in the Psalm. These words shout trust that invites the Lord’s protection in.
There are three examples of how He demonstrates His protection for us here in these verses:
I will rescue those who love me - in another translation the phrase is used “he cleaves to me in love” - meaning setting ones heart on someody.
This where your committment to God is made real here.
The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
This is where we are reminded that God’s commitment not man’s came first.
He knows my name - He knows you, like the woman at the well. He knows you better than you even think He does. He knows all about you yet He wants to have close relationship with you. There are people that have never really been known for who they really are and felt loved and accepted. But friend let me tell you He will. Lots of people in this world will judge you and make you feel unloveable and even a lost cause but that is not Jesus. He knows your name, He knows where you are right now, what is happening in your life and He wants to have relationship with you. He even created us with the need for relationship so that we could want to have one with Him. He did not force Himself on us, but gives us the choice. Choose Him!
He calls me - Basically put He wants to know you. There is a promise of protection. He offers it to everyone on an individual level. He calls us to Him. Like I said He promises to protect but He also promises to rescue you. This is a matter of grace, which I am thankful for every single day!
Conclusion:
Verse 15 is a place where I want to remind you He calls you and I pray that you wil answer Him!
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
You may wonder what does God have to offer me?
• Shelter – secret place
• Protection
• Covering
What does else does God provide?
• Refuge – protection from rain, storm, or danger
• Shadow – protection - umbrella
• Shield - Refuge / Protection from what
Refuge / Protection from what
He Himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net,
the hunter’s net – man made danger
from the destructive plague.
the deadly pestilence - disease
He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
But the Psalmist’s mind was not obsessed with these things
the terror of the night – night demons – boogey man
the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon. (HCSB)
But the Psalmist’s mind was not obsessed with these things
Because when you realize who God is, when you know Him by name, when you know the kind of protection he provides for you as a child of God living in his household, you can get your focus off of yourself, you can get your focus off of the economy and your fears, and you can get your focus on others …
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (HCSB)
How do I get it?
• call Him by name
• move back in
• abide in Him
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The first verse I ever memorized is a verse that I am so glad I get to walk in and that is the assurance of His love for me demonstrated by what Jesus did for me so that I can be with him for eternity and the great thing is you can too!
Pray
He knows my name
I’m no longer a slave to fear
Jesus use me
Don’t let