16 Jun Psalm 91 (Protecting your family in Dangerous Times) PART 8
Over the last couple of months we have given you an outline of “Three Protection Points”:
- The Prerequisites of Protection (Ps. 91:1-2)
- The Promises of Protection (Ps. 91:3-16)
- The Practicalities of Protection (Luke 22:36)
Contained within the Prerequisites of Protection we looked at Psalm 91:1-2: “He that dwells 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.”
From these verses we discovered four very simple words:
- Dwell
- Abide
- Say
- Trust
This is not something God will do for us! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared for battle, but victory is of the Lord.” Preparation is something we do. Victory is something God does. He won’t do our part, we can’t do His part! Remember this: Miracles occur where Divine orchestration meets human preparation. Remember this also: With every heavenly plan there must come earthly preparation!
If we will do the prerequisites of protection we can enjoy the promises of protection.
Psalm 91:3-16 goes on to tell us, “Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; or for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; or for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes will you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has 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 honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
This week we continue with these thoughts starting with verse eight…
Now I realize that verse eight refers to those who have fallen as “wicked.” However in the New Covenant, God is no longer angry with sinners (see II Cor. 5:18-20). Now lost things are valuable things (see Luke 15:1-10). Let’s lift up those that have fallen!
In verse nine we discover that because we have made God our refuge (the Hebrew word here means “shelter or place of trust”) and our habitation, that no evil shall befall us. Think of the root word of “habitation”….it is “habit.” I work out of my house and have done so for years. As our ministry grew to a very large size it was necessary to do this, in order to continue to accomplish God’s plan.
My staff handles 85% of the logistics which frees me up for study in the Word, prayer, oversight and vision (see Acts 6:1-7, I Pet. 5:2-4 and Exodus 18). Because of the advancement of technology, I am able to stay very much in touch with my team. Here at my house I have a small gym in my basement (I call it “Jim’s Gym”). At some point in the day you will find me there five times a week. It is my “habit.”
Making God my refuge and habitation is once again referring back to verses 1-2. We must dwell, abide, say and trust! When we do, no evil shall befall us and neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. I did a Hebrew study on the words “no evil” and I was amazed to find that it means…NO EVIL! Of course, I’m being facetious to make a point, but please understand the Bible literally means what it means!
Join us next week as we continue in our series…