You Who Live In The Shelter Of The Most High
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge ...
Because you have made the LORD your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you ...
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways ...
Those who love me, I will deliver ...
I will be with them in trouble ...
and show them my salvation.
-- Psalm 91:4a, 9-10a, 11, 14a, 15b, 16b
Theme: God's wonderful motherly love
Outline
1-2 -- Those who trust the LORD will cling to him (like a bird under the mother hen's wings) for their security.
3-13 -- God's providential care described.
14-16 -- God's eightfold promise to those who love him.
Notes
• Affirmation of Faith
For Reflection
• This psalm must not be interpreted to mean that God will not let us experience danger, suffering, illness, or defeat, nor that, since God is taking care of us, we don't need to look after ourselves. The devil quoted verses 10-11 to Jesus in his temptation, but Jesus refused his suggestion. (See Matthew 4:5-7.)
• The list of fearful things (vv. 3-13) should be translated to our situation: auto accident, Alzheimer or cancer or psychiatric sections of the hospital, city muggers or rapists, killer viruses, divorce or bankruptcy court, people who are extremely hard to work with, and others.
• Considering "deliver" and "rescue" as synonyms, what are the seven other promises God makes to those who cleave to him in love and know his name? Can we let God be God and decide the how and the when of his delivering us?
Prayer
Lord God, make your fellowship so dear to us and so near that we know no greater comfort or protection. Enable us by your Holy Spirit to follow the example of your Son, resisting all temptations to security or success in anything but you and your loving purpose in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
and under his wings you will find refuge ...
Because you have made the LORD your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you ...
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways ...
Those who love me, I will deliver ...
I will be with them in trouble ...
and show them my salvation.
-- Psalm 91:4a, 9-10a, 11, 14a, 15b, 16b
Theme: God's wonderful motherly love
Outline
1-2 -- Those who trust the LORD will cling to him (like a bird under the mother hen's wings) for their security.
3-13 -- God's providential care described.
14-16 -- God's eightfold promise to those who love him.
Notes
• Affirmation of Faith
For Reflection
• This psalm must not be interpreted to mean that God will not let us experience danger, suffering, illness, or defeat, nor that, since God is taking care of us, we don't need to look after ourselves. The devil quoted verses 10-11 to Jesus in his temptation, but Jesus refused his suggestion. (See Matthew 4:5-7.)
• The list of fearful things (vv. 3-13) should be translated to our situation: auto accident, Alzheimer or cancer or psychiatric sections of the hospital, city muggers or rapists, killer viruses, divorce or bankruptcy court, people who are extremely hard to work with, and others.
• Considering "deliver" and "rescue" as synonyms, what are the seven other promises God makes to those who cleave to him in love and know his name? Can we let God be God and decide the how and the when of his delivering us?
Prayer
Lord God, make your fellowship so dear to us and so near that we know no greater comfort or protection. Enable us by your Holy Spirit to follow the example of your Son, resisting all temptations to security or success in anything but you and your loving purpose in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.