The care which the angels take of the saints, pursuant to this charge: They shall bear thee up in their hands, which denotes both their great ability and their great affection. The charge given to the angels concerning the saints. See an excellent practice of this, Psalms 91:1, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; that is, he shall be safe from all fears and dangers. Nay, it is promised to God's people that they shall have the satisfaction of seeing, not only God's promises fulfilled to them, but his threatenings fulfilled upon those that hate them (v. 8): Only with thy eyes shalt thou behold and see the just reward of the wicked, which perhaps refers to the destruction of the first-born of Egypt by the pestilence, which was both the punishment of the oppressors and the enlargement of the oppressed; this Israel saw when they saw themselves unhurt, untouched. Does God value such feeble and imperfect knowledge of his name as we possess? (6.) That believers shall be kept from those mischiefs which they are in imminent danger of, and which would be fatal to them (v. 3), from the snare of the fowler, which is laid unseen and catches the unwary prey on a sudden, and from the noisome pestilence, which seizes men unawares and against which there is no guard. Observe, 1. Log In The Christian & Politics: Has the Contemporary Church Become Obsessed With Political Solutions? Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling (vv. Viewing things from God's vantage point--that is true comfort. Great danger supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us; night and day we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous will in neither period think themselves safe. - Oscar Cullmann, Immortality or Resurrection? Psalms 91:6-7. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him? and from the deadly pestilence. Can True Christians Commit Apostasy? That famous old Puritan, holy Mr. Dodd, having to cross a river, had to change from one boat into another, and being little used to the water, he fell in, and, when he was pulled out, in his simplicity and wisdom he said, I hope that I am in my way. That was the only question that seemed to trouble him. It is to know relationally or by experience, and is therefore an intimate kind of knowledge. Since the UK is now no longer a member of the EU, you may be charged an import tax on this item by the customs authorities in your country of residence, which is beyond our control. Psalms 91:14. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2014), Gower, Ralph, The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times (Chicago: Moody Press, 1987), Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 73-150, Vol. Please be aware that these items are sent out from our office in the UK. He will live as long as he wants to live. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot (v. 13). The Hebrew word lin (rest) means to lodge or dwell or tarry or rest, and can designate either a temporary or permanent lodging. What the promises are which God makes to the saints. Neither night nor daydarkness nor the bright light of noondayshall give the faithful cause for fear. A. All rights reserved. Under his wings you will take refuge. This, however, is not a book that helps in grappling with problem verses; it simply helps a preacher or teacher come down to earth. 3 (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2016), Tate, Marvin E., Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100 (Dallas: Word Books, 1990), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006), Baker, Warren (ed. The word emet is usually translated truth. There are some who come to Gods house; but the man mentioned here dwells with the God of the house. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. What are things that we can learn from it for today? However, I am confident that God is with us in life and in death. A church sanctuary, hospital chapel, or airport prayer room. 2. Psalms 91:1. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Some churches today cite Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19; and Acts 28:1-6 to justify the handling of deadly snakes as part of their worshipand some people die while doing that. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided. Christ has broken the serpent's head, spoiled our spiritual enemies (Col 2 15), and through him we are more than conquerors; for Christ calls us, as Joshua called the captains of Israel, to come and set our feet on the necks of vanquished enemies. Resource Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version(ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Dec. 25, 2022. All of this because He says we know Him by name (v 14) and can call Him Father. Psalms for the Anxious - Grace to You Changes will take effect once you reload the page. neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Even if he should have but few years, yet he shall have a long life; for life is to be measured by the life that is in it, not by the length along which it drags. What is Psalm 91 all about? Psalms 91:13. Plagues and pestilences of various kinds are still occasional threats in first world countries, and are frequent threats in less developed countries. [3.] Here we read about thousands falling to the left and to the right as in the day when Israel battled ancient nationsthe land would be scattered with dead bodies so those who read this at the time it was written had a good idea what this meant. The blessing of His preservation: And show him My salvation. It means delivering from danger, which is how this translation sees it. The Nature Of The Death Threatened As The Penalty Of Sin - Edward White, The Penalty of Death for Disobedience - Froom, Traditionalism and the (Not So) Second Death - Chris Date, Biblical Examples of Everlasting Destruction, Destroyed For Ever: An Examination of the Debates Concerning Annihilation and Conditional Immortality, Eternal Destruction Is Decreed Doom of Wicked - Leroy Edwin Froom, Further Biblical Support for Everlasting Destruction, The Destruction of the Finally Impenitent - Clark H. Pinnock, Biblical Analysis of Claimed Support Texts for Eternal Torture, Challenge to the Doctrine of Eternal Torment, Future Punishment is Eternal - Henry Constable - 1875, MAJOR Problems for the Eternal Torment Position, The Doctrine Of Future Rewards And Punishments In The Old Testament - Edward White, The Final End of the Wicked - Edward Fudge - Audio Interview, The Nature of the Future Punishment of the Wicked - C. F. Hudson, Thirty Questions For Teachers Of Eternal Torment, Universal Restoration Substituted for Eternal Torment - Froom. Wherever the saints go the angels are charged with them, as the servants are with the children. Bible Verses, Quotes, Christian Answers, Songs and More. The Great Lie: What about the Immortal soul? 91:9. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. In this verse, resting in the shadow of the Almighty is the blessing that the faithful person experiences for dwelling in Yahwehs presence. Watch over him today. The great encouragement he gives to others to do likewise, not only from his own experience of the comfort of it (for in that there might possibly be a fallacy), but from the truth of God's promise, in which there neither is nor can be any deceit (v. 3, 4, etc. Popular media today portray angels as lovely, delicate, and feminine, but Biblical writers either cite masculine names for angels or give no clue to their gender. Psalms 91:5. 4. 4. View Psalm 91. Psalm 119: The Priority Of God's Word | Bible.org GDPR is the new European privacy regulation, which will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 in the UK and the equivalent legislation across the EU Member States. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. See Ps 34 19; 2 Tim 3 11; 4 18. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. The Hebrew word sel means shadow of shade. Towns across the country closed their swimming pools. In Hebrew thought sel is most often welcoming shade from noonday sun or protection afforded by the shadow of Yahwehs wings (Psalm 17:8). I conclude that Psalm 91 means two things about the suffering of the saints. Is My Church Really A New Testament Church? You can check these in your browser security settings. Cobras and serpents serve as a metaphor for smaller but equally deadly forces that appear suddenly, seemingly from nowhere. ", You must enable JavaScript to view all available content on this page, Counterfeit Cross updated - We Walk by Faith Pt II - Taking Up Our Cross. A wicked worldly man is not satisfied, no, not with long life; he still cries, Give, give. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you (v. 7). {"lang_button_processing":"Please Wait..","lang_button_notify":"Subscribe","lang_heading_notify":"Notifications","lang_text_notify_info":"Notify me of new comments\u003Cspan class=\"cmtx_info_extra\"\u003E via email\u003C\/span\u003E","lang_title_cancel_notify":"Cancel this notification","lang_link_cancel":"[Cancel]"}, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","page_id":948015,"is_permalink":false,"lang_text_view":"View","lang_text_reply":"reply","lang_text_replies":"replies","lang_text_replying_to":"You are replying to","lang_title_cancel_reply":"Cancel this reply","lang_link_cancel":"[Cancel]","lang_text_privacy":"Privacy","lang_text_terms":"Terms","lang_text_agree":"[1] \/ [2]","lang_text_not_replying":"You are not replying to anyone","lang_button_loading":"Loading..","lang_button_more":"More Comments","lang_button_edit":"Edit Comment","lang_button_reply":"Add Reply","lang_link_reply":"Switch to full reply","lang_link_refresh":"[Refresh]","date_auto":false,"show_pagination":true,"quick_reply":false,"pagination_type":"button","timeago_suffixAgo":"ago","timeago_inPast":"a moment","timeago_seconds":"less than a minute","timeago_minute":"a minute","timeago_minutes":"%d minutes","timeago_hour":"an hour","timeago_hours":"%d hours","timeago_day":"a day","timeago_days":"%d days","timeago_month":"a month","timeago_months":"%d months","timeago_year":"a year","timeago_years":"%d years"}, JavaScript must be enabled for certain features to work, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","page_id":948015,"enabled_country":false,"country_id":0,"enabled_state":false,"state_id":0,"enabled_upload":false,"maximum_upload_amount":3,"maximum_upload_size":5,"maximum_upload_total":5,"captcha":true,"captcha_url":"https:\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/frontend\/index.php?route=main\/form\/captcha&page_id=948015","cmtx_wait_for_comment":"cmtx_wait_for_comment","lang_error_file_num":"A maximum of %d files are allowed to be uploaded","lang_error_file_size":"Please upload files no bigger than %.1f MB in size","lang_error_file_total":"The total size of all files must be less than %.1f MB","lang_error_file_type":"Only image file types are allowed to be uploaded","lang_text_loading":"Loading ..","lang_placeholder_country":"Country","lang_placeholder_state":"State","lang_text_country_first":"Please select a country first","lang_button_submit":"Add Comment","lang_button_preview":"Preview","lang_button_remove":"Remove","lang_button_processing":"Please Wait.."}, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","auto_detect":false}, Pop-up verses - "Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. The psalmist assures believers of divine protection, from his own experience; and that which he says is the word of God, and what we may rely upon. You have probably been the victim of some sort of trap, possibly in quite recent memory. - Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. There are some who come to God's house; but the man mentioned here dwells with the God of the house. That the angels of light shall be serviceable to them, v. 11, 12. They who fear God are delivered from the vices which would deprive them of the vigor of life; and the joy and contentment they have in God help them to live longer than others. Here at Grace to You Europe we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and, as you would expect, have undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that we are ready for this important legislative change. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him. There being no reason to question his sufficiency, fitly does it follow, In him will I trust. The pestilence is something that you cannot see. Under his wings you will take refuge (v. 4ab). In this case, the psalmist emphasizes its deadly character. 16 I will satisfy him with long life, All these promises, some think, point primarily at Christ, and had their accomplishment in his resurrection and exaltation. A believer needs not fear, and therefore should not fear, any arrow, because the point is off, the poison is out. It goes beyond head-knowledge to heart-knowledge. II. Psalms 91:10-11. The Immortality of the Soul: The ending of all of this is the most powerful of all as God says He will show him [or her], His salvation. If you have salvation, all of these other serious circumstances of plagues, night terrors, thousands dropping at your sides or any other threat are only temporary because ultimately, God is our refuge, our fortress, our shield, our buckler, and His love overshadows us and will bring us safely into the kingdom someday. Amen. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. This article is also available and sold as a booklet. nor of the arrow that flies by day; I am one of those. This psalm is a powerful chapter when a believer is in a time of crisis. God dispatched angels to help Isaac find a wife (Genesis 24:7)and to protect Israel in the Exodus (Exodus 23:20-23; 32:34; 33:2)and to sustain Elijah in his flight from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:5-8)and to carry people to heaven (Luke 16:22)and to release apostles from prison (Acts 5:19). 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;I will protect him, because he knows my name. - updated, Counterfeit Cross - Lordship of Christ in Salvation - updated, The Credibility of the Testimony of the Apostles, Audio of "Children and the Rod of Correction", Audio of "The Origin of Dressing Up for Church", Audio of "The Origin of Hell-Fire in Christian Teaching", Examine Yourselves as to Whether You Are in the Faith, Refutation of Baptismal Regeneration - James P. Shelly, Was Jesus a Friend of Sinners? They shall be taken under the peculiar care of Heaven, Ps. Idolaters called their idols Mahuzzim, their most strong-hold (Dan 11 39), but therein they deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that make the Lord their God, their fortress. But those promises are conditional on making Yahweh your refuge and the Most High your dwelling place. Verse 9 assumes that the reader has complied with these conditions, so the promises apply. But in these words, the psalmist is quoting Yahweh, who would help his people to develop a strong belief in eternal life. They are condescending in their ministrations; they keep the feet of the saints, lest they dash them against a stone, lest they stumble and fall into sin and into trouble. Yet the Church, for the most part, has allowed it to go unnoticed. I believe in God and depend on him for deliverance, but I nevertheless find myself afraid. To this the great God is pleased to compare his care of his people, who are helpless as the chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are invited to trust under the shadow of the wings of the divine promise and providence, which is the periphrasis of a proselyte to the true religion, that he has come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Ruth 2 12. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. It is not an evil, an only evil, but there is a mixture of good in it and a product of good by it. Because he has set his love (Hebrew: hasaq) on me, therefore I will deliver him (v. 14a). The Hebrew word sadday means almighty or the Almighty. Psalm 91 Commentary - Sermon Writer There are some who worship in the outer court . Our church recently experienced a norovirus that sickened 54 of the 60 people present for worship that Sunday. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. 9 Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. Psalm 91:1 Commentaries: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Psalm 119:90 Psalm 119:91 Psalm 119:92 Psalm 119:93 Psalm 119:94 Psalm 119:95 Psalm 119:96 Psalm 119:97 . The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. It may be applied to that care of the divine Providence by which we are preserved from ravenous noxious creatures (the wild beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee, Job 5 23); nay, and have ways and means of taming them, Jam 3 7. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. By far the most common name for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh, which means I am who I am (Exodus 3:14)but elohim is the next most common. The Life of Jesus: Lord, Liar or Lunatic? When you hear a glorious doctrine preached, it may be very sweet to others; but the honey lies in the particular application of it to yourself. How about eternity? We read of fear in the night, Cant 3 8. When multitudes die round about us, though thereby we must be awakened to prepare for our own death, yet we must not be afraid with any amazement, nor make ourselves subject to bondage, as many do all their life-time, through fear of death, Heb 2 15. But, (2.) The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his keeper (ver 2), from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others, ver 9. Note, 1. Nihil accidere bono viro mali potestNo evil can befal a good man. The Hebrew word qeteb means destruction, but can also mean sting (Hosea 13:14). The wonderful thing is that God is love (1 John 4:16). Click on the different category headings to find out more. We know whom we have trusted. I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. The way of the righteous. "Here, after the carefree delight of Psalm 98, we recollect how exalted and holy he is, and how profound is the reverence we owe him." (Derek Kidner) A. We can count on it. i. I will be with him: So, no man need add solitude to sadness, but may have God sitting with him, like Jobs friends, waiting to comfort him with true comfort. (Maclaren), ii. These verses include conditional promises. Jesus ChristUnique Savior or Average Fraud? At the height of the battle during the noonday sun there is nothing but destruction but under the protection of Gods wings there is a sure refuge and He is the shield that is faithfully there throughout. I will honour him; those are truly honourable whom God puts honour upon by taking them into covenant and communion with himself and designing them for his kingdom and glory, John 12 26. to guard you in all your ways. - Darryl M. Erkel, Church Leaders and the Use of Honorific Titles, Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats - Charles Spurgeon, House-Churches? 2 I will say of Yahweh, "He is my refuge and my fortress; There is even the unseen threat of pestilence that seeks their victims under the cover of darkness. A great truth laid down in general, That all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times (v. 1): He that dwells, that sits down, in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he that by faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in him which he needs or can desire. It is also under divine direction, and will hit where God appoints and not otherwise. It would have been familiar to the author(s) of Genesis. Once at the beginning of day. Muggers would hide in recessed doorways and whack people whom they could reach easily. Because we dont want you to incur expenditure for which you are not prepared, could you please confirm whether you are willing to pay this charge, if necessary? The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his keeper ( Ps. Eternal Torment or Complete Annihilation? We find this name as early as Genesis 15:2, but whether that name was familiar to Abram is uncertain. His wings and his feathers suggest both power and softness. This word the devil left out when he quoted the promise to enforce a temptation, knowing how much it made against him. - Bullinger, Rise Of The Theory Of Universal Restoration - Henry Constable, Universal Restoration Substituted for Eternal Torment, Absent From The BodyPresent With The Lord, Cross Purposes: Atonement, Death and the Fate of the Wicked. 2. Can any language be loftier? As is customary with poetry, the psalmist doesnt amplify on the meaning of seter, but instead leaves it up to us to tease out the possibilities. The Hebrew Word Nephesh (Soul) - E. W. Bullinger. Still, Gods children do live to a far longer age than any other people in the world; they are on the whole a long-lived race. However, the conditional nature of the promises serve as a warning that the promises will no longer apply if we disassociate ourselves from Yahweh. "Nothing can ultimately hurt me." If Christ's life is the interpretive lens through which we read Psalm 91, then the promises of protection found in that psalm must have something to do with resurrection. I have often noticed how long Gods people live. He will cover you with his He will cover you with his pinions,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Final Judgment, Identifying True Israel: Following God's Faithful Down the Ages, The Significance of A.D. 70 in the Prophecies of Christ, Biblical Hermeneutics - Qualifications Of An Interpreter - M. S. Terry, Biblical Hermeneutics - Special Hermeneutics - M. S. Terry, Of Justification by Faith and Works - William Law, Sanctification - Its Nature - by J.C. Ryle, Sanctification - The Growth of the New Man, Scriptural Evidence for the Deity of Christ, The Carnal Christian - by Ernest C. Reisinger, The Christian's Relationship To The Mosaic Law w/audio, The Lordship Controversy and Repentance - Ernest Reisinger, The Word-Faith Movement - Christian Research Institute, A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness - Burroughs, Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross - James P. Shelly. Psalms: Worshipping the One True God (MacArthur Bible Studies) We are all, by nature, God's enemies, and we deserve His wrath. Quantity: Cart +. - Curtis Dickinson, Do we have an immortal soul? I will set him on high, because he has known my name. The Case for Conditional Immortality - J. W. Wenham, The Bible, Slavery, and America's Founders, The Biological and Biblical Dangers of Problem-Centered Counseling, The Urgent Need For Reformation in Pastoral Ministry, Problems and Limitations Psalm 91: Charles Spurgeon Exposition | Titus Institute There has even been protection from the wild predators, snakes, spiders, and a multitude of various other dangerous insects and animals that many have experienced receiving protection from, like Paul when he was bitten by a poisonous snake and should have died (Acts 28:3-5). You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. But the psalmist assures us that, with God at our side, we have nothing to fear. As the little chicks bury their tiny heads in the feathers of the hen, and seem happy, and warm, and comfortable under their mothers wings, so shall it be with thee if thou dwellest with thy God: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.. The buckler is also part of the protection and this device is a defensive piece of armor used in ancient times when close range attacks occurred. Find out how you can be at peace with God for eternity as John MacArthur shows you fifteen words that sum up the most powerful truth in all of Scripture. Should Pastors Be Salaried? Some think that this promise had its full accomplishment in Christ, and the miraculous power which he had over the whole creation, healing the sick, casting out devils, and particularly putting it into his disciples' commission that they should take up serpents, Mark 16 18. $30.00. That is a wonderful promise: Thou shalt not be afraid. If it had said, Thou shalt have no cause for fear, it would have been a very comforting word; but this is even more cheering, Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night.. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . Dale Kuiper, The Christian and the Mosaic Law - Philip Mauro, The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. A good read. My God: Elohay. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? 75 Bible Commentaries - Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Pulpit Commentary, etc. - Herman Hanko, Problems and Limitations of the Traditional "Sermon" Concept, Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing - Ingrid Schlueter, Should One Man Be The Dominant, Focal-Point Of A Church Service. Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is my refuge: any other is a refuge of lies. (2.) Psalms 91:16. Let us come boldly there; and, when we once enter, let us dwell there.