Divine Protection
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 83 viewsNotes
Transcript
I believe all of us here can attest to the fact that, presently, anxieties seem to be high.
Famine, plague, rumors of war, etc.
Many in this room may feel as if the seams and stitches holding life together are unraveling at an unprecedented speed.
In these moments, our natural reflex is to reach out to anything that can provide security and comfort. Anything to dull the pain of reality. To protect us from what we fear.
Beloved, what poses the greatest danger isn’t necessarily the thing that makes us grasp for security and protection.
What poses the greatest danger to us is actually ourselves. In that we are at risk of grasping for the wrong security and protection. When we resist the Holy Spirit’s urging to reach towards God.
Thomas a Khempis once said,
The Imitation of Christ The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ
There is no more troublesome, no worse enemy of the soul than you yourself, if you are not in harmony with the spirit.
The external dangers that cause us fear and anxiety, even if death is one of them, are not our greatest threat.
Our greatest threat is actually not reaching for the right protection and security because of our idolatry. Because, we cannot ultimately change what is our threat out there.
Our only true hope is to find what is more powerful than what threatens to overpower us.
Today, we are looking at Psalm 91. This psalm tells us where we can find the power greater than that which threatens to overpower us. It’s our roadmap to Divine Protection.
Let me read it in its entirety before explaining what we will find in it and then dissecting it and applying it to our lives…
PRAY PROVERBS 12:25
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
This is a song of praise of the Protector… Just so there is no mistake as to who this psalmist is indicating his protector is, he uses the four divine names of God in the first two verses: Most High, Almighty, Yahweh, and God.
Psalm 90 highlighted the reality of pain and suffering and this seems to be a response to it.
Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary Psalm 91: Under the Shadow of God’s Wings
One striking feature of Psalm 91 is that it consists of three clear movements marked by a change in pronouns.
It begins with “I”: the psalmist declaration that he has a personal relationship with his Protector.
In the middle it addresses his listener and uses the singular of “you” as if he is addressing each and everyone one of us individually seeking to call us into relationship with his God.
It ends with the divine “I”: The psalmist speaks prophetically as God to those who will head His invitation into covenant relationship.
This psalm has been a comfort for many throughout the ages who endured times of pain and hardship because it draws its reader to deeper faith and trust in God...
C.H. Spurgeon, once said that...
Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary Psalm 91: Under the Shadow of God’s Wings
“In the whole collection there is not a more cheering psalm; its tone is elevated and sustained throughout, faith is at its best and speaks nobly.”
Amen!
It is important to note that this psalm details God’s protection in such a way that it would be easy to misunderstand it and misapply it.
What I mean is that this is a psalm full of imagery and illustrations meant to explain how wonderful it is to embrace YHWH as your God. While these statements are inherently true, they aren’t always practically true.
What I mean, is that they are true, yet God does not intend for us to believe that if we follow him and have enough faith we won’t experience pain and hardship or death and disease.
Simply put, the psalm details God’s protection but it doesn’t tell us when or fully how he will protect us. It just tells us that he will.
Does it always look like we’d expect?
No.
Can it? Yes.
But the main point is, he does protect us. He does love us. He does work on our behalf.
Restating what I am trying to tell you… This psalm details God’s protection in such a way that it would be easy to misunderstand it and misapply it.
Tim Keller says there are three reasons we should hesitate to understand this psalm to mean, “If we trust God, nothing bad will happen to us”..
Because our flesh wants it to be this way.
Because other scriptures make it clear this isn’t how we should understand it.
Satan wants us to understand it this way.
Instead of reading this way, we need to treat it similarly to the way we would read proverbs.
These are generally true statement but not always practically true.
In verses 1 and 2 we see...
A Promise of Protection for Those Who Embrace God Intimately
A Promise of Protection for Those Who Embrace God Intimately
Verse 1 is the theme and fact of the psalm.
Verse 2 is the psalmist’s response of personal confession of faith in God!
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
In this verse, I want to quickly point out some important words. There are a lot of them.
Dwell: Sit; live; remain
Shelter: Place of protection from bad weather
Most High: A common name used of God showing he is “high above every other power” - ESV Study Bible
Abide: Lodge; pass the night; rest
Shadow: Shade and cover from the intense heat and sun.
Almighty: Shadday. Another common name used of God showing He is all powerful!
Illustrations: The Psalmist is essentially describing that annoying uncle or brother who’s become a freeloader. That guy who said he just needed a couch to stay on for a night but then never left. He’s the 45 year old son who still lives in his mother’s basement because he doesn’t have to pay the bills or do his own laundry. All these are negative connotations in our society, but in reality, this is the type of dependence and comfort God desires for us when we put our trust in Him. He wants to provide for our needs. He wants to pay our debts. He wants to protect us from the pains of life. He wants to show Himself glorious by serving us when we don’t deserve it!
This is the fact and theme of this psalm! The truth and promise from God. Later, it will be reestablished.
Now the psalmist will respond to this truth!
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
“I want to live in your basement Lord!”
“I want to freeload!”
“I want your help!”
Do you see intimate nature of the man’s relationship (I will say to the Lord…) and his personal identification with YHWH as his God? God isn’t just some random inn keeper hosting them on AirBnB. God is a personal friend or family member they know will always have his door open to them. (My refuge; My fortress; My God)
There are more key words for us to notice.
Refuge: A person or place to whom one flees
Fortress: A mountain stronghold that will protect its occupant through the most intense attacks
God’s protection is reserved for those who have a personal relationship with Him. For those who have made God their home. For those who trust Him completely.
The Psalmist is essentially saying “Because this is true of God and those who trust in Him, I have called on Him as my fortress and trust!”
“Take it from me! I know this to be true! I’ve experienced it!”
Psalms, Volume 2 A Determined Declaration of Faith (91:1–2)
His desire in writing this poem is to engender trust among the people of God—to generate a deeply rooted and determined desire to find their ultimate security in relationship with Yahweh rather than in any external source of security.
Are you finding your protection and security in your relationship with God?
Or are you finding it from other places? Or people?
“It is infinitely better to have weak faith in one who is strong than to have strong faith in something that is weak”
God Is Protection From Evil
God Is Protection From Evil
God is our protection from the evil forces in this world that both intentionally and unintentionally seek to do us harm. This protection is not necessarily seen in ways we always expect to see it. Sometimes, it is seen in the spiritual realm but not in the physical realm.
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
The fowler is one who intentionally sets a trap for a bird.
The deadly pestilence is the disease that doesn’t have a mind or intention to harm but yet it still kills. We see in Job that satan can harness this threat.
Psalm 91:4a (ESV)
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
God acts as a mother bird with its young. Showing both strength and tenderness. Strength to protect from enemies and yet tenderness in how He deals with you.
Psalm 91:4b (ESV)
4 ... his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Shield: used to protect against long range attacks. Like arrows.
Buckler: Used to protect against short range attacks. Like swords.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
You will not fear!
During Night or Day
In Darkness or in Light
Terror of the night: Showing protection from the unknown that you don’t know is waiting for you.
Arrow that flies by day: Showing protection from the known that you can see heading your way.
Stalks in darkness: Showing protection from the threat that seeks to sneak up behind you.
Wastes at noon day: Showing protection for the threat that has festered and had prolonged effects as you’ve watched it working. Like the sun does when you are over exposed to it.
God’s protection is for all times and all strategies
God Is Protection From Righteousness
God Is Protection From Righteousness
You might say, “What!? Why would I need protection from righteousness...
Well, one of the worst realities for sinful humanity is that God is Righteous.. Because, we aren’t.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Recompense: punishment for a wrong doing or crime.
A human is not just threatened by evil forces. But, primarily, humans are threatened by the all powerful force that is agains evil: God.
Humans, by nature, are sin loving haters of God. The redeemed person is now awakened to their sin and need of salvation and then therefore rescued from the effects and punishment of sin.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
Protection from both evil and the one who is against evil.
Satan used this section of the psalm to tempt Jesus.
God nows those who have taken refuge in Him. Because he does, we can rest assured that he will work for us and protect us. He will provide us victory through his Messiah, Jesus, and show us the true and better protection we did not realize we needed when we were dead in our sin.
God Is Personally Committed To Protect
God Is Personally Committed To Protect
God speaks up at the end of this psalm.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
This is God embracing the psalmist because the psalmist rejected idolatry and embraced Him.
The Psalmist found his identity, his love, his meaning, his hope in God.
Making the wrong choice would have cost the psalmist everything!
The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2014–2015 Prayer of Rest
If you love anything more than God, if there’s anything in your life that gives you meaning in life more than him and his love … You can believe in God. You can even go to church. You can be a good person.
You can believe in Christianity, but if there’s anything in your life that’s more important to you than God, you don’t possess your own soul. That has the title to your soul. It owns you. A career. Everybody should care about your job. Your career matters, but if it’s the most important thing to you, if it’s the thing that really turns your crank, that really gives you meaning in life, gives you your self-worth, much more than your relationship with God, then it owns you.
The psalmist said, “God is my portion!” “God is my hope!” “He is my God!”
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
God doesn’t say, “I will keep him from trouble...”
He says, “I will be with him in trouble.”
This shows how we have to read this psalm.
God is with us in our trouble!
Don’t you want God to be with you in your trouble?
Why would you want to choose anything differently!?
Jesus understood this, that’s why when Satan tempted him to misinterpret and misapply this psalm He resisted!
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Commentators say “long life” is meant to point us to eternity.
Salvation isn’t necessarily meant to make us think, “deliverance from harm”. It is meant to invoke “restoration back to God”. Glorification with God in eternity!
God’s purpose for your protection is to see you safely back to himself.
It’s all about him preserving you for His possession.
This is the key to finding peace in the midst of life’s trials. This is the key to not misinterpreting and misapplying this psalm!
Once God’s goal and purpose for your protection becomes your goal for your protection, then you will find the peace and joy this psalm promises. Then you will be unstoppable.
It’s not about being removed from my trials, my hurts, the threats of this sin infested broken world.
IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING SAFELY DELIVERED INTO GOD’S POSSESSION. BEING RESTORED BACK TO EDEN!
Conclusion
Jesus is both our example of this promise and our access to this promise.
Jesus shows us that a life lived in complete faith and obedience to God is not immune to pain and suffering. But yet, in Jesus’ resurrection, we see the salvation that God provides.
Jesus’ resurrection was His Father’s retrieval of His Son.
God’s purpose for your protection is to see you safely back to himself.
It’s all about him preserving you for His possession.
Jesus shows us this in what he did.
And Jesus also gives us access to this by what he did.
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are God’s gracious delivery to us of the object our faith is meant to be in. JESUS.
By placing our complete hope and trust in Jesus and His work we are included into His example. His example becomes our inclusion.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.