Day 461: Things to not fear - Psalm 91

1-2 Whoever 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.” 3-7 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 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. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14-16 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91 New International Version

Do the words of this tremendous Psalm mean that faithful Christians won't catch the current illness that's been afflicting the world? After all, the writer says: “You won't fear the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” In fact, vs 3-7 suggest that none of the fearful things that happen in the world will come near to those who make God their refuge. Verses 14-16 put it even stronger where God Himself affirms His love and protection over those who love Him.

Those promises are so stark it's no wonder Satan used this Psalm to put Jesus to the test when he took Him to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off - for the Scriptures say He will order his angels to protect you, and they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” (Matthew 4:6) By quoting this Psalm it's like Satan was saying: “Let's see if God's promises are really true and can be trusted?” But Jesus replied: “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

I think the way Jesus replied helps us in how we approach a Psalm like this. The Psalm assures us that God IS with His people in EVERY life threatening situation. But it doesn't mean we will never face such situations. It's a reminder too that when we come through such times it will be due to God's protection. It certainly means that God is powerful enough to protect us from the greatest of dangers. But we know from the New Testament it doesn't mean there won't be times when it is in God's will for us to go through suffering. Jesus died on the cross and His disciples were thrown into prisons and beaten. Does that make this Psalm meaningless?

I would say no, because the Psalm is not the only, or the final word, about life and death. There'll be a time for all of us to die, whether by plague, persecution, or simply old age. But that's where this Psalm’s greatest victory takes place for those who have made God their refuge. God's gift is eternal life! And in 1 Corinthians 15:53-55 the apostle Paul says: “Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. When our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’”

Death, that greatest plague and enemy of all, was defeated through the resurrection of Christ. Because He lives, we shall live too. Like the apostle Paul, plagues and death need not fill us with fear. When faced with death he said: “I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.” God will, indeed, show those who love Him - His salvation!