“Our confidence in God is only as strong as His character is reliable.” Bill Johnson
He continued, “Having some of those issues settled is really vital for us.”
Where do you turn when life gets hard? We all have choices to make and we all trust someone or something to get us through those tough circumstances and seasons we do not expect or even want.
I propose that we are best off when we hide ourselves in the God of all creation. Psalm 91 helps illustrate some of the advantages, conditions and blessings of trusting the nature and character of our living God. Let me offer a few thoughts, for you to consider as you read through the Psalm.
- The beginning lines, as well as the final ones, declare some of the advantages of trusting God.
- The adjectives used to describe God throughout tap into many aspects of His Character. If you knew someone who could be and do what the psalmist says here, can that help settle doubts?
- Verse nine states some clear conditions that are implied elsewhere. I think this is what Bill Johnson was getting at when he states how important it is to settle the question in ourselves before hardships come to us, is God’s Character is reliable, or not?
- Some of the imagery does not fit our modern lives well, but they do illustrate the concept of overcoming difficulties.
- In the last three verses we see character, advantages, conditions and blessings are all mixed together as the Psalmist wraps it all together.
I hope you will read this psalm, preferably out loud. Go slowly. Think and pray about the character of God. My prayer is we can each settle within our hearts who is worthy of our trust so we can reap the benefits presented in this psalm to those who trust.
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.
Please let me know what touched you.
May you live in the shelter of the Most High and find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
