Getting into Psalm 91…God’s contract for protection
John Havener January 16th, 2009
by Erica Koehler
and munched on his moldy bread.”Unused rusty shovels never found gold. And unused keys can’t unlock treasure chests.Psalm 91 is both a field of gold and a chest of treasure.
Much of God’s Word is like gold found on the surface of the field -and we are enriched in the
very reading of it. But Psalm 91 yields its wealth only if we dig for it. Then the lazy
prospector’s moldy bread can be exchanged for the fresh Bread of Life, deeply nourishing.
In the first verse I found the key to the treasures of the rest of the Psalm, those wonderful
verses with their promises for all of this life now and life hereafter.Two crucial Hebrew words embedded in the first seven English words declare we mustsign on to this contract with God in order to have the right to claim the treasure.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow
of the Almighty.” The word “dwelleth”, the first of the two key words in this preamble to God’s
contract, is the Hebrew word “yashab”. It means to move in, to remain, to reside permanently
and make it “home”.
The second crucial word telling where we are to live permanently is the Hebrew word
“sether” translated “the secret place.” Psalm 90:1 puts a face on that place, a Divine face.
“Thou hast been our dwelling place (sether) in all generations.” Thou! And Isaiah 32:1
identifies that One as the Lord Jesus. “A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind,
and a shelter (sether) from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of
of a great rock in a weary land.” Who but the Lord Jesus could fill that description? As we
settle down, remain in Him, nestle in His arms we “abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
The Psalm goes on: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God. In
Him will I trust.” That is the statement of faith which makes us His responsibility, the
signing of the divine contract. In Hebrews 11:6 God’s Word says, “Without faith it is
impossible to please God. He that would please Him must believe that He is, and that He
is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” When we fulfill the conditions of those first
two verses we are the recipients and heirs to the treasure promises of the remainder of the Psalm.
He that dwelleth 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. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath 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 honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
(Psalms 91:1-16 KJV)
I believe to gain the insight needed for this Psalm one needs to ask the Lord to bring life into His Words as he reads them and meditates on them. The same goes for all God’s precious Scriptures written down for us who believe.
This is a very good site John. The Calente fellow has some frightening thoughts. When I came here after 9/11 I did so in order to live “life in the country” before that possibility disappeared. Life as we have known it may very well be slipping away……you are so good to tell people to prepare!
Pastor John,
A wonderful word for us to stand on and believe. What a comfort to know when we hide in the shadow of God and trust in Him with all our heart soul and mind He will take care of us always. I love Him so very much and will ever be grateful for His mercy and grace in my life.
Beautiful revelation..thank you for sharing =)