INL September 3, 2004  

SOUNDING OUT:
What Do You Say of the Lord?

  Psalms 91 is a cheering psalm of promise and deliverance. It describes an intimate communion and an impenetrable protection. These blessings are not assured to those who approach Him occasionally, but to those who habitually reside in the presence of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1,2:
He [No matter whom he may be, rich or poor, young or old, learned or unlearned] 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.

  The privilege to abide under the protection of the Almighty is reserved for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Those who stay put or settle in or make themselves at home with God are the ones who enjoy His benefits. I think of “to dwell” in the sense of “taking up a homestead.” We stake our claim and resist all claim-jumpers. When we do this we declare, like the Psalmist, “The LORD is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

  It is essential that we say something. We have staked our claim and we resist all intruders. God is our refuge and fortress, and we trust in Him. Our homestead is secure, and we invite others to join our community… to dwell with us… to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. We promote the benefits of our community and encourage others to join us with words of truth that we have proven in our own lives. “Come and see…”

3 Surely he shall deliver [natsal, to snatch away or rescue] 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.
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 have nothing to fear. We live in the fortress. Our refuge is secure, because we stay put. Those who live with us have the same assurance and enjoy the same protection. We need to tell them and assure them that the Lord is faithful to His Word. That’s another great thing to say about the Lord. When they follow our lead, they find the same comfort and shelter that we do. Tell them!

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.
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.

  Verse 14 initiates a complete shift in the Psalm. In verses 1-13 the Psalmist has faithfully spoken for God declaring His awesome power to deliver. He spoke of his trust and confidence in God and encouraged and assured those who had joined him in the secret place of God, under the shadow of his wings. Verse 14 abruptly shifts. God now speaks. The first person now represents God, and the third represents those who love Him and have sought refuge in Him.

14 Because he [the one who has said of the Lord that he is my refuge, my fortress, my God in Whom I trust.] hath set his love upon me [the Lord God Almighty], therefore will I deliver [patal, to carry to a place of safety] 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.

   Did you notice the threefold deliverance of God? Although the KJV has “deliver” three times, the Hebrew has three different synonyms that show the grandeur of our deliverance. In verse three, He delivers, natsal, or snatches away or rescues us from the snare of the fowler. Even when the mess we are in is of our own making, God will still rescue us from it.

   Verse fourteen establishes on the deliverance. He will deliver, patal, carry us to a place of safety. Not only will He snatch us out of our messes, He will, as patal indicates, keep us from ever getting into them. Verse fifteen completes or deliverance. The Hebrew word is chalets, meaning to equip for battle. He pulls the weight of the world off our shoulders, so we can engage our enemy with freedom from restraint or burden.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

  What a gracious declaration from our loving heavenly Father. God emphatically asserts that:

  1. He will deliver us. Keep us from getting into trouble in the first place.
  2. He will set us on high.
  3. He will answer our call.
  4. He will be with us in trouble.
  5. He will deliver us. Equip us for battle with what we need and remove anything weighing us down.
  6. He will honour us.
  7. He will satisfy us with long life.
  8. He will show us His salvation.
  What will you say of the Lord? The Psalmist spoke glowing words of God’s might and power to deliver. He declared his trust in Him. It is vital that we say something. We know what the Psalmist said. Do we have the courage to say the same things?