Psalm 91 invites us in on a dialogue of trust between the Psalmist, the worshiper, and God Himself. Let this psalm encourage you to have trusting fellowship with God.
Psalm 91 | A Dialogue of Trust
Jesus & Me in the Psalms / Trust; Trustworthy; Defense; Provide; Love; Dwell
SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 91 KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, Even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 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. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.
INTRO:
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Boy Trusted His Father
Some years ago I read an account that went something like this: A group of scientists and botanists were exploring remote regions of the Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they noticed through binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science was incalculable. But it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides. To get the flower someone had to be lowered over the cliff on a rope. A curious young boy was watching nearby, and the scientists told him they would pay him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower below. The boy took one long look down the steep, dizzy depths and said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” A short time later he returned, followed by a gray-haired man. Approaching the botanist, the boy said, “I’ll go over that cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope. He’s my dad.” Our Daily Bread, April 8, 1996
Throughout the Scriptures, we see God inviting humans into trust and fellowship with Him.
God making Himself available to men and women is a central theme of the Bible.
The Psalms are Old Testament Hebrew songs for worship.
Worship is part of our fellowship with God.
Psalm 91 invites us in on a dialogue of trust between the Psalmist, the worshiper, and God Himself.
It lets us see the communion, love, and trust we should seek to have with God.
We know today that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Way to God for all who come to Him by faith.
As you and I follow God in Christ, let us gain insight from Psalm 91 in how we ought to trust in God and depend on His provisions.
THE PSALM 91 DIALOGUE OF TRUST:
(Psalmist to the worshiper)
Psalm 91:1 KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
He that dwells in God’s presence will abide in God’s protection . (vs. 1)
Psalm 91:2 KJV
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.
I will trust in God to be my fortress . (vs. 2)
Because you have chosen the Lord (vs 9), God will deliver you. (vs. 3-13)
Psalm 91:3 KJV
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence.
God will deliver you from the hunter and disease. (vs. 3)
Psalm 91:4 KJV
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
God will cover you with His protection. (vs. 4a)
You will trust God in His protection. (vs. 4b)
God’s truth (trustworthiness) will be your defense. (vs. 4c)
Psalm 91:5–8 KJV
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked.
You will not be afraid while in God’s defense. (vs. 5-8)
Of attacks (vs. 5)
Of pestilence, destruction, and God’s judgement (vs. 6-8)
Psalm 91:10–13 KJV
10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
No evil will happen to you because God will assign angels to watch over, guard and lift you. (vs. 10-13)
Note: Trusting in God does not justify foolishly tempting Him (Mt. 4:6, Lk 4:10-11)
Matthew 4:6–7 KJV
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.
(God about the worshiper)
Because the worshiper trusts, I (God) will provide. (vs. 14-16)
Psalm 91:14 KJV
14 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 desired and loved Me (God), therefore I will deliver him. (vs. 14a)
I (God) will lift him to safety because he knows My (God) name (vs. 14b)
Psalm 91:15 KJV
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
He called on me, and I (God) will answer him. (vs. 15a)
Be with him in trouble
Deliver him
Honor him
Psalm 91:16 KJV
16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.
I will prolong his life and cause him to see salvation. (vs. 16)
TRANSITION:
God is worthy of our trust, and He has chosen to provide for those who trust in Him.
God delivers, protects, answers, honors, prolongs, and saves those trust, love, know, and call on Him.
Don’t miss out on trusting fellowship with God.
OTHER BIBLE PASSAGES ABOUT GOD DWELLING WITH HIS FOLLOWERS:
Psalm 145:18–19 KJV
18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Matthew 18:20 KJV
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 28:20 KJV
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We see God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost makes His presence available.
He invites us to dwell with Him and Him with us.
CONCLUSION:
Let Psalm 91 encourage you to have trusting fellowship with God.
Let this dialogue of trust move you to:
1. Choose God
2. Trust God
3. Dwell with God
4. Love God
5. Know God
6. Call on God
a. For salvation
b. For faithful living
c. For help
