In the Shelter

Reading: Psalm 91

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We live in an age that seems to believe that we have it all and can do it all. A few years ago I heard an interview with Dr Christiaan Barnard, the South African doctor who did the first heart transplant in 1967. He said, “There is nothing that man thinks that he will not do some day.” That’s a huge claim. Certainly, there is much that has been achieved. The human genome project has managed to chart our DNA leading to some positive possibilities. Space exploration – slowed because of huge costs – has nonetheless achieved some remarkable feats…

There was a hymn we used to sing –

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,

my soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly,

so sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine would I be,

Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee! (MHB 499)

The words are based on Psalm 61.2 where David said, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” But many years ago I heard someone’s suggestion that we should instead be praying, “Lord, give me a good stiff climb!” – we want, not a refuge, but a challenge!

Yet Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation” – or as the Good News Bible puts it, “Do not bring us to hard testing” (Matthew 6.13). Life presents us with many challenges. We aren’t meant to be continually running away from them, but we need to depend on God in all circumstances and live in the ultimate security of his grace.

There is no indication who wrote Psalm 91. It was certainly written in tough times. The psalmist begins with the conviction that his true security is in God. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’. ” (vv 1-2)

Masada was a place of refuge for Jewish people for many centuries. That may have started as far back as David in 1000BC. Until the end of the first Jewish revolt in 73AD, this wilderness stronghold was used by Jews seeking refuge from their enemies.

Yet not Masada, but the Lord is to be “my refuge and my fortress”. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek reasonable protection from all kinds of threats.

The psalmist writes of God’s protection in a variety of situations – “the fowler’s snare” (v. 3a),  insidious attempts against his life; “deadly pestilence” (v. 3b), none of our modern medical help available; refuge “under his wings” (v. 4a), in safety and comfort; God’s faithfulness as “a shield and rampart” (v. 4b).

So the one who trusts in the Lord will not fear… terror at night, attack by day… pestilence or plague (vv. 5-6). “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (v. 7).

“If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD, who is my refuge –  then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent” (vv. 9-10). How do you “make the Most High your dwelling”? The Lord is to be the source of our life, the centre of our life, the one who gives it meaning. That means that, no matter what happens to us, we are secure.

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (vv. 11-12). That rings a bell – we have heard those verses before!

“Then the devil took [Jesus] to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test’.” (Matthew 4.5-7)

Sure, if you are the Son of God, the Devil insinuated, you must have a charmed life – nothing bad can ever happen to you! That’s the promise in Psalm 91!

No! Jesus is saying. God is there as he has promised. We can depend on that, no matter what.

But this does bring us to the big question in our own minds. Surely, as believers, trouble should never come our way. Isn’t that supposed to be guaranteed? Yet it doesn’t seem to work out that way for us, does it?

In 1978 Jewish Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote a book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. The book was dedicated to the memory of his son, Aaron, who died at the age of 14 in 1977 of an incurable genetic disease. In his introduction Kushner wrote, “I meet a lot of people who tell me they have read my book Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People? I politely point out to them that the book is not titled ‘Why…’ but ‘When…’ The really important question is not why bad things happen, but where we will find the resources to cope when they do happen.”

Psalm 91 is about the presence and grace and resources of the Lord which we can know in the midst of trouble. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will 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 show him my salvation” (vv. 14-16).

In Gethsemane we hear Jesus saying, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26.53) And at the crucifixion we hear the taunts again, “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (27.40)

Somehow in our Saviour’s suffering we get a different angle on our own. And because of his redemptive suffering, we are protected and rescued after all.


PRAYER: Lord our God, we would live under your redeeming and forgiving grace, under your protection. We do not embrace pain and suffering, but would know your daily care and the ministration of your holy angels. We thank you that Jesus did not turn back from a suffering far greater than ours, drinking that cup for our salvation. We pray in his name, Amen.

Expectant Trust


Expectant trust,

enlivened hope,

deeply-held,

that all is well,

at least –

it must be well,

it ought to be well,

sometime

it might be well!


Yet all about

the noisy shout –

there’s no defence,

it makes no sense!

No hope! No point!

All out of joint!

No refuge,

just refuse!


The tempter said,

just jump!

He’ll catch!

Come down!

We’ll believe!


Father,

I take the cup.

Your will

be done!


Expectant trust,

enlivened hope,

deeply-held –

the Saviour died

and lives again!

Whate’er my pain,

yes, all is well,

all must be well,

all will be well!


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© Peter J Blackburn, BlueHaven Lodge, Ingham, 20 November 2011

Except where otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, © International Bible Society, 1984.

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