Sunday
Morning Bible Study
February 8, 2004
Psalm 91 – Finding Safety
Fear and anxiety. We live in some pretty
scary and uncertain times. Jesus described these end times as:
(Luke 21:26 KJV)
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things
which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Illustration
"What are you afraid of"... Teenage Poll – 1988 (top ten)
Nuclear War - 57%
My Parents Dying - 54%
Failing in School - 44%
Dying - 43%
Having a Car Accident - 34%
Loneliness - 33%
Not Having a Boyfriend/Girlfriend - 30%
Being Beaten/Injured - 29%
Disease - 28%
Rejection - 28%
But that was back in 1988. Things
have changed a little since September 11.
Now we add to the list:
Terrorism. Bombs going off in the
Moscow Metro (we were there last fall, going back next fall). Superbowl super
security. Flights cancelled. Dirty bombs.
What do the numbers “911” make you think of? It used to be we’d think of the number we’d
call in an emergency. Now we think of terrorists flying airplanes into tall
buildings. I hope we can learn to think of it in another way - Psalm 91:1
Where can we find safety?
:1-4 Under His wings
:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place
secret place – cether –
covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy
:2 He is my refuge and my fortress
refuge – machaceh –
refuge, shelter; from rain or storm, from danger; of falsehood
fortress – matsuwd –fastness,
stronghold
:3 from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
fowler – yaquwsh – a
person who traps birds
noisome – havvah – deadly
:4 under his wings shalt thou trust
An agrarian society understands this picture. A mother bird uses her wings
to cover and protect her babies.
Illustration
The Fire
After a forest fire in Yellowstone
National Park, forest rangers began
their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a
bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the
base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird
with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their
dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had
carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her
wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have
flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had
arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother had remained steadfast.
Because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings
would live.
Jesus used this same kind of language when He said,
(Luke 13:34 KJV)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often
would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood
under her wings, and ye would not!
Though this gives us a picture of protection, I think the “wings” God is
talking about are not a bird’s wings.
I believe this is a picture of the Mercy Seat, the solid gold lid to the
Ark of the Covenant. Molded onto this
lid were two angelic beings with their wings stretched out, forming a canopy
over the “mercy seat”.
(Exo 25:22 KJV) And there I
will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat,
from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all
things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The Ark was a picture of
God’s throne.
Lesson
Stay close to God
Safety comes from being in that “secret place” of God.
Spurgeon: The blessings here promised are not for
all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child
of God looks towards the inner sanctuary and the mercy seat, yet all do not
dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional
approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence. Those
who through rich grace obtain unusual and continuous communion with God, so as
to abide in Christ and Christ in them, become possessors of rare and special
benefits, which are missed by those who follow afar off, and grieve the Holy
Spirit of God.
Illustration
Jill Briscoe writes,
Though I was barely 6 years of age, I well remember sitting by a roaring
fire on a Sunday during World War 2. Our family had fled the bombs that rained
down on us one night, chasing us hundreds of miles away to the beautiful
English lake district--William Wordsworth country.
The mists were gone, and a storm had broken over our heads. The rain, like
giant tears, slashed against the window pane, and the thunder grumbled away as
if it were angry it had to hang around all day. I didn't like storms, and I was
old enough to understand that a bigger storm was raging, a war involving the
entire world. But at the moment, it seemed far away. The fire was warm, and my
father was relaxed, reading the paper, sitting in his big chair.
Suddenly, as if he were aware I needed a bit of reassurance, he put down
his paper and smiled at me. "Come here, little girl," he said in his
quiet but commanding voice. And then I was safe in his arms, lying against his
shoulder and feeling the beat of his heart. What a grand place to be. Here I
could watch the rain and listen to the thunder all day.
I've realized how my heavenly Father shelters me from the storms of life.
When times of sorrow swamped me at my mother's funeral, I sought the
reassurance of my Father's presence. When winds of worry whipped away my
confidence as I faced gangs of young people in street evangelism, I glanced up
to see my Father's face. When floods of fear rose in my spirit as I waited in a
hospital room for the results of frightening tests, I sensed my heavenly Father
saying, "Come here, little girl."
I climbed into his arms, leaned against his shoulder, and murmured,
"Ah, this is a grand place to be."
And as I rest in that safe place knowing that my Father is bigger than any
storm that beats against the window pane of my life, I can watch the rains and
listen to the thunder, knowing that everything is all right. Here I can feel
the beat of my Father's heart.
We find our help at God’s throne:
(Heb 4:16
KJV) Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need.
:5-8 God’s Protection
:6 Nor for the pestilence …
We know all about pestilence. Anthrax,
ricin, SARS, AIDS
:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side
Others around you may be falling, but it doesn’t mean you will.
:9-13 Angels & Victory
:9 …which is my refuge, even the
most High, thy habitation;
The writer is talking to another person.
He’s encouraging them that God has been his place of safety, and he’ll
be theirs as well.
:10 There shall no evil befall thee
We may experience pain in this life, but the reality as believers in Jesus
is that even if we die, we go to heaven.
Illustration
No one could say that George Smith didn’t have courage. A daring jet test pilot in the 1950’s, back
when the sound barrier was first being broken, he could face anything—until he
had to bail out of a jet going 805 miles per hour (Guideposts 1958). Though he survived, he was afraid of ever flying
again. Then, during his hospital stay, a
nurse gave him an antidote to fear. He took her words to heart: “Courage,” she
said, “is knowing the worst—and discovering that, in God’s world, the very
worst can’t really hurt you.”
:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways.
Lesson
God’s angels can handle it
The angels are special created beings that serve God. Though there are some angels that have
rebelled against God (demons), there are twice as many good angels who serve
God. Part of their service of God
involves helping those who trust God.
(Heb 1:14
NLT) But angels are only servants. They
are spirits sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation.
1. They can protect us
The king of Syria
was mad at Elisha and wanted him killed, so he sent an army to capture Elisha.
(2 Ki 6:15-17 KJV) And
when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an
host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said
unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? {16} And he answered, Fear not: for
they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
{17} And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may
see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold,
the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2. They can encourage us
Paul was on a boat headed for Rome
when they ran into a terrible storm.
They drifted for weeks when Paul had a visitor. Paul told his shipmates:
(Ac 27:23-25 KJV) For
there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
{24} Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God
hath given thee all them that sail with thee. {25} Wherefore, sirs, be of good
cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
3. They can deliver us
Peter had been thrown into prison, and the church was praying.
(Ac 12:7-11 KJV) And,
behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the
prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up
quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. {8} And the angel said
unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith
unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. {9} And he went out, and
followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but
thought he saw a vision. {10} When they were past the first and the second
ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to
them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street;
and forthwith the angel departed from him. {11} And when Peter was come to
himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel,
and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the
expectation of the people of the Jews.
Sometimes we get frustrated at delays and detours in life. What if God were protecting us from something
ahead? What if an angel was at work?
:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands
Lesson
Warning against risky business
At Jesus’ temptation, Satan quoted from Psalm 91:11-12 to try and get Jesus
to jump off the top of the temple.
(Mat 4:5-7 KJV) Then the devil taketh him up into the holy
city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, {6} And saith unto him, If
thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his
angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest
at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. {7} Jesus said unto him, It is
written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
The point is that God may not want us to be delivered
every time. Don’t presume God is going
to bail you out of every situation.
In other words, this isn’t an excuse for reckless living. They say, “Never drive faster than your
guardian angels can fly”
:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder
adder – pethen – a snake,
venomous serpent
I think this is talking about our victory over Satan who is described both
as a “roaring lion” (1Pet. 5:8), and as a serpent (Rev. 20:2).
I wonder why Satan didn’t quote this to Jesus?
:14-16 Loving God
:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him
God now speaks and assures the reader of His protection.
Lesson
Love God
All these blessings come on those who love God.
Paul wrote,
(Rom 8:28
KJV) And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
John wrote,
(1 John 4:9-10 NLT) God
showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we
might have eternal life through him. {10} This is real love. It is not that we
loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away
our sins.
(1 John 4:19 KJV)
We love him, because he first loved us.
It’s not hard to love God when you find out what He’s done
for us. When you find out that God loved
you so much that He sent His own Son to die in your place. I believe God would have done it even if you
were the only person on this earth.
Do you want safety in scary times?
Stay close to God. God’s angels can handle it. Love God.