The Refuge of the Godly

Psalm 91

PSALM 91 Is not given a title by the author, and we are not even sure who the composer is. Jewish tradition is that when an author's name is not given, then we can assign the author of the last named writer. In this case that would be Moses. This makes sense some speculate it was from the first Passover, however, the date is unclear.

Psalm 91 KJV 1900

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, Even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.

The Divisions -

1-2 - The Secret of the Godly

3-8 - The Security of the Godly

9-10 - The Shelter of the Godly

11-13 - The Servants of the Godly

14-16 - The Salvation of the Godly

1. The Secret of the Godly 91:1-2

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord , He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

I want to read a quote by Charles Spurgeon and then I want you to give me your thoughts on it.

"The blessings here promised are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child of God looks towards the inner sanctuary and the mercyseat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence. Those who through rich grace obtain unusual and continuous communion with God, so as to abide in Christ and Christ in them, become possessors of rare and special benefits, which are missed by those who follow afar off, and grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Into the secret place those only come who know the love of God in Christ Jesus, and those only dwell there to whom to live is Christ. To them the veil is rent, the mercyseat is revealed, the covering cherubs are manifest, and the awful glory of the Most High is apparent:" Treasury of David

I want us to notice the four names of God used in verses 1-2

The Most High (We commune with Him)

The Almighty (We Rest in Him)

Lord (Jehovah - We rejoice in Him)

God (El - The Mighty God - We trust in Him)

Look at the nouns applied to God

Refuge (from trouble)Fortress (In trouble)He is God at all times

Not just the secret of the Godly but ...

2. The Security of the Godly 91:3-8

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

PERHAPS READ THE ISAAC WATTS HYMN or at least portions.

3 Thrice happy man! thy Maker's care Shall keep thee from the fowler's snare; Satan, the fowler, who betrays Unguarded souls a thousand ways.

4 Just as a hen protects her brood From birds of prey that seek their blood, Under her feathers, so the Lord Makes his own arm his people's guard.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

We’ve seen the Secret and the Security of the Godly next we see...

3. The Shelter of the Godly 91:9-10

9 Because thou hast made the Lord , which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Then there is...

4. The Servants of the Godly 91:11-13

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

(Notice this is the verse Satan used in his temptation attack on Jesus it was taken out of context)

5. The Salvation of the Godly 91:14-16

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.