Psalm 91

“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. ‘Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has 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 honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.’” Psalm 91:9-16 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm bears the title “Safety In The Presence Of God.”  It contains some of the most comforting words to those of us who have felt the need for God to cover us until one of life’s stormy seasons blew by.  

Verses 4-6 are referred to by Jesus: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” Psalm 91:4-6 (NKJV)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)

On the more haunting side, we have today’s passage, Psalm 91:9-16.  It is haunting because Satan tried to twist the context of today’s psalm when he tempted Jesus.  Of course, Jesus (the “Word made flesh” - John 1:14) was not buying the enemy’s theology. Nor should we! If we can meditate on today’s passage, really soak it in, we can understand the more sophisticated nuances of that conversation between the Messiah and the devil.

“Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It has been said, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”’” Luke 4:9-12 (NKJV)

Interesting how Satan omitted the part about treading on the “serpent”… (v:13)

“And I will put enmity between you (the serpent/Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”  Genesis 3:15 (NKJV)

We must commit ourselves to know the Truth because the enemy commits to lying.  He will never stop striking at our heels, but Jesus crushed His head on the cross!