Psalm 91
Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
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· 16 viewsEternal salvation comes through Christ to His people.
Notes
Transcript
The “blank cheque” reading of the psalm
The “blank cheque” reading of the psalm
The gist of this reading
v1-2 speaks of a believer, and v3ff promise the following:
protection from diseases, v3, 6-7
protection from attacks from enemies, v4-5
deliverance from all troubles, v14-16
However, there is the condition of faith in God, v9-10. Consequently, if you do not enjoy this protection, or don’t see the rescue, it is because
your faith is not strong enough, or
you’ve failed to claim this promise.
Problems with this reading
Of course, there is a lot that is true with this reading, but it is simplistic, flawed, and faces some problems.
Other Scriptures
Old Testament: Job 1:1, 4-5. Here is a righteous man, not only sheltering himself but also bringing his family under God’s protection. Satan confirms God’s protection and says Job only fears God because of it: Job 1:9-11. Then God hands Job into Satan’s hands: Job 1:12.
New Testament: John 16:33; Acts 14:21-23. Hardships are part of the tapestry of life on earth, and even part of the plan, even for those who trust in the Lord.
They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Life on earth: we all know godly people who suffer, and suffer greatly. There are examples from church history as well as from personal experience.
It makes me the ultimate reason for my distress.
If the blank cheque reading is true, and I take v9-10 as a condition, then when hardship hits, I have nobody else to blame but myself. How is that in line with the psalm, which is meant to be an encouragement? If my eyes are on me, I will despair, it’s just a question of when.
v9 is not necessarily telling the reader to meet a condition (“If you say”, as in NIV), but may be assuming that it has been met (“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place”, as in ESV). And I think it does. Which leads us into how this psalm should be read.
The victory of the Messiah
The victory of the Messiah
The addressee of v1
“Whoever” is an interpretation, and in a sense it is true. But comparing it with the rest of the psalm, “He” (NIV84) is better:
v3, “Surely he will save you”: the word “you” refers to a singular man. This word is used throughout the psalm, which describes the experience of a man.
v14-16 confirm that the addressee has been a man. Who is that man?
The king after God’s own heart.
Although the psalm is not explicitly connected to David, nevertheless this interpretation fits with the rest of the Psalms. In Psalm 2, for instance, which together with Psalm 1 serves as an introduction to the book, God promises victory to the king He installed. Then, for passages like Psalm 3:1-4, applies this to the king. Compare that with Psalm 91:14-16, especially,
God promised that He would bring blessing, peace and prosperity to His people through the king on David’s throne: 2 Samuel 7:8-11a. This psalm rests on that promise from God to David.
But the promise is not only about David, but how God would bless His people through him and his sons. So we are to understand the promises of Psalm 91 coming to God’s people through the king after God’s own heart.
The distress and salvation from it. Notice:
The words “pestilence” and “plague” (v3, 6) remind us of the plagues over Egypt. In particular we are reminded of the fifth and tenth plague in v4-7: the death of the livestock (Exodus 9:1-7) and the death firstborn (Exodus 11). But we know that the children of Israel needn’t fear during the day and could sleep in peace in the night, because God made a distinction between them and the Egyptians, protecting them, sheltering them and their families, under His wings, as it were: “You will not fear” (v5).
The reference to “the fowlers’ snare” (v3) and “the arrow that flies by day” perhaps references God’s people being attacked, sometimes in underhanded ways (think Balam...), to destroy them. Think David and his enemies.
v8 is key, as it suggests that the plagues not coming on the king are punishment of the wicked. God will deal with the wicked, delivering His people, while all they need to do is watch God’s salvation. It reminds me of God’s word to Moses, as the Egyptian army seemed to have cornered the Israelites on the shore of the Red Sea: “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” (Exodus 14:13-14) Also remember God’s word to David: “I will also give you rest from all your enemies.” (2 Samuel 7:11)
The fulfilment in Jesus Christ
The fulfilment in Jesus Christ
Psalm 2, and therefore Psalm 91 is primarily about Christ. Satan knew this, and used this psalm to tempt our Lord in the wilderness, Luke 4:9-11. His challenge, “If you are the Son of God” is a challenge to Jesus’s status as the Messiah, not His deity. “If you are indeed the one Psalm 91 is about, well, then...”—and he quoted Psalm 91:11-12.
The psalm promises that Christ will be victorious
In His life
He was preserved all throughout His life. An instance of this is when He declares Himself to be the Messiah in the synagogue in Capernaum, the people got furious and wanted to throw Him off a cliff. “But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” (Luke 4:30) It was not his day to die.
He successfully resisted Satan, as we saw in Luke 4:9-11. That was the third recorded temptation. Adam failed to crush the snake in the Garden of Eden, the children of Israel failed on many occasions to resist him, but the Son of God did. It is interesting that Satan didn’t quote Psalm 91:13 to Jesus—that is a reminder of Genesis 3:15, the Messiah’s victory over the Satan. Satan’s purposeful misapplication of Psalm 91:11-12 was a trap, a “snare”: and Christ was rescued from it, because He trusted in the Lord.
On the cross. Consider the insults of Jesus’s enemies, as He was hanging on the cross; Matthew 27:43.
He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, “I am the Son of God.” ’
In other words, “Well, he claimed things like Psalm 91:2 — so where is the promise of Psalm 91:3ff?” They looked at Christ on the cross, and so fulfilled Isaiah 53:4-5:
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
He was afflicted, and suffered, and died for sin—however not for His own, but that of His people. He himself suffered innocently. In fact, as Isaiah makes it clear, He came for that. He died in place of His people, so they can share in His victory over death—and this takes us to the next aspect of Christ’s victory.
His resurrection, v14-16. Christ was rescued from death, rising on the third day, having been protected all through His life, and was sustained on the cross, “I will be with him in trouble”. God delivered Him, cutting the cords of death. The word “honour” could be translated “glorify”—cf. John 17:5,
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Salvation through Jesus Christ
Salvation through Jesus Christ
Ultimate victory
Christ’s victory is given to us. Those who make the Lord their fortress, and in Him they trust, will share in the blessing of Christ’s victory. Have you trusted in Him for salvation?
Christ was perfectly obedient, righteous, throughout His life, and God counts those in Christ righteous.
Christ was sacrificed “for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5); our=those who dwell “in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1); to those who fled to God for rescue from their sin.
Those in Christ will also be raised with Him. On the day of judgment, v8 will be our experience, even as we enter God’s eternal rest.
We can live with assurance of salvation, “will rest” (v1) “will not fear” (v5) is a promise, not a command. Cf. Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Present victory
Beware of Satan’s temptation for you to tempt God. This psalm is no grounds for being reckless in our living; that would be sin, as Christ would’ve sinned had He fallen for the trap.
God’s presence in our troubles, v15b. As we’re marching towards the ultimate deliverance, The Almighty’s, the Most High’s presence is our refuge in trouble.
We are kept so we can serve God
Christ was kept all throughout His life so He can finish His work—and so will we be. As I have heard it said, we are immortal until our work on earth is done, 2 Timothy 4:17-18
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Salvation is not a guarantee of comfortable life on earth, neither is it its purpose. We have been saved to serve.
As long as we love Him, we want to serve Him. It’s when we become enamoured with this life, and comforts here that we turn to God with a sense of disappointment.
Trials and afflictions prepare us for the ultimate glory, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Building godly character.
Building anticipation for the future world.
They are means of how God keeps us following Him.
These are victories of God over our flesh, as He sanctifies us. The cross looked like abandonment, but it was victory.
Means of God’s salvation
Angels, Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Pastors, 1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.