Idolaters called their idols Mahuzzim, their most strong-hold (Dan 11 39), but therein they deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that make the Lord their God, their fortress. (6.) To encourage us to make the Lord our habitation, and to hope for safety and satisfaction in him, the psalmist intimates the comfort he had had in doing so: "He whom thou makest thy habitation is my refuge; and I have found him firm and faithful, and in him there is room enough, and shelter enough, both for thee and me." and from the deadly pestilence (Hebrew: deber) (v. 3b). 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. God loved us yesterday, and will love us tomorrow. The word For connects this verse with verse 2. Observe, [1.] and ten thousand at your right hand; The Lord's Supper - A Historical Overview, Ten Indictments Against the Modern Church - Paul Washer - Video, The Bible Without Comment - William E. Cox, Amusing Ourselves to Death - Neil Postman, Everybody Loves Jesus: The Culture Cherishes a Counterfeit Christ, Historian David Barton on Jon Stewart Show, Hollywood's War on Traditional Values - Video, Homosexuals Brainwashing Our Children in Elementary Schools, The Homosexual Propaganda Campaign in America, The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (Hays Code), The New England Primer - First Elementary School Textbook - 1777, What same-sex "marriage" has done to Massachusetts, Why Does Socialism Always Fail? You will tread on the lion and cobra. Aye, that is true, you will say, who makes any doubt of it? I. $30.00. These thousands and tens of thousands are most likely the victims of pestilence and destruction mentioned in verse 6? Commentary on Psalm 91:1-8 (Read Psalm 91:1-8) He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. But he that has his treasure and heart in another world has soon enough of this; he would not live always. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: Notice, that it is, He shall, and I will. The mighty grace of God shall make us pray, and the Almighty God of grace will answer our prayer: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. How I love these glorious shalls and wills! However, the words shadow and shade also acknowledge that the faithful person dwells in a world that is sometimes dark. I conclude that Psalm 91 means two things about the suffering of the saints. Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him? The Hebrew word lin (rest) means to lodge or dwell or tarry or rest, and can designate either a temporary or permanent lodging. (2.) We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. This, however, is not a book that helps in grappling with problem verses; it simply helps a preacher or teacher come down to earth. O death! Hell Under Fire - CIANZ Annual Conference Address, Jesus' Teaching on Hell - Samuel G. Dawson, The Nature of Hell - Evangelical Alliance, The Origin of Hell-Fire in Christian Teaching, The Bible Verses the Traditional View of Hell - Babu G. Ranganathan, Applying the Resurrection
Is My Church Really A New Testament Church? - updated, Counterfeit Cross - Lordship of Christ in Salvation - updated, The Credibility of the Testimony of the Apostles, Audio of "Children and the Rod of Correction", Audio of "The Origin of Dressing Up for Church", Audio of "The Origin of Hell-Fire in Christian Teaching", Examine Yourselves as to Whether You Are in the Faith, Refutation of Baptismal Regeneration - James P. Shelly, Was Jesus a Friend of Sinners? Yahweh (Hebrew: YHWH or yahweh). (2.) The important thing is not the place but that we meet the Most High there. Plagues and pestilences of various kinds are still occasional threats in first world countries, and are frequent threats in less developed countries. The Life of Jesus: Lord, Liar or Lunatic? As is customary with poetry, the psalmist doesnt amplify on the meaning of seter, but instead leaves it up to us to tease out the possibilities. He will call on me, and I will answer him. The word kabed (honor) means to give a person honor or to make them heavy (in the sense of powerful. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Registered User
There are some who worship in the outer court . He will deliver those people. Is Hell eternal torment or eternal death. They shall be enabled, by the grace of God, to look down upon the things of this world with a holy contempt and indifference, to look up to the things of the other world with a holy ambition and concern; and then they are set on high. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. In singing this we must shelter ourselves under, and then solace ourselves in, the divine protection. (4.) - Herman Hanko, Problems and Limitations of the Traditional "Sermon" Concept, Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing - Ingrid Schlueter, Should One Man Be The Dominant, Focal-Point Of A Church Service. 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, What does the phrase "gnashing of teeth" mean? Psalms 91:10-11. That famous old Puritan, holy Mr. Dodd, having to cross a river, had to change from one boat into another, and being little used to the water, he fell in, and, when he was pulled out, in his simplicity and wisdom he said, I hope that I am in my way. That was the only question that seemed to trouble him. It would have served them well when King Cyrus of Persia defeated Babylon and freed Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city, where they found a ruined city and were faced with many enemies. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Satan said, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will put his angels in charge of you. and, On their hands they will bear you up, so that you dont dash your foot against a stone' (Matthew 4:6). That is worth noting. See an excellent practice of this, Psalms 91:1, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; that is, he shall be safe from all fears and dangers. The angels keep the charge of the Lord their God; and this is the charge they receive from him. In verses 1-2, the psalmist uses four names for God: The Most High (Hebrew: elyon). Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. He shall cover thee with his feathers, The psalmist uses a wonderful metaphor when he ascribes feathers to God, and compares him to a hen, or some mother-bird, under whose wings her young find shelter. Yahweh is promising to exalt the person who knows his name. Help Grace to You bring important resources like this to people in your community and beyond, free of charge. This verse repeats the idea of verse 1b, but with different imagery. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (3.) 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Is Sovereign the Best Descriptor for God? The seashore or forest where nature calms our souls and draws us to God. The promises which are here made, in God's name, to all those that do so in sincerity. The Immortality of the Soul: A Protest - Joseph Agar Beet D.D. See the comments on verse 3b (above) for an explanation of deber (pestilence). 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Oh, yes, he values the love of his people, for he knows where it came from; it is a part of his own love; the creation of his grace! You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.. We are all, by nature, God's enemies, and we deserve His wrath. 91:2 ), from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others, Ps. Take a look at another study and commentary: 6 Important Reasons To Bring Hidden Hurts To God For Healing, 7 Sample Prayers Before Surgery or a Medical Procedure, 25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength, Words of Encouragement: 30 Uplifting Quotes, Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Relationships: The Role of Gods Grace and Mercy, The Trinitarian Nature of Effectual Calling, Why So Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen, Christian Dating: A Guide to Navigating Relationships with Faith, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island Movie Review. We know that death and taxes are the two certainties in lifedeath being the most certain of the two. To this the great God is pleased to compare his care of his people, who are helpless as the chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are invited to trust under the shadow of the wings of the divine promise and providence, which is the periphrasis of a proselyte to the true religion, that he has come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Ruth 2 12. - Oscar Cullmann, Immortality or Resurrection? Thanks for stopping by! I will set him on high, because he has known my name. The blessing of His preservation: And show him My salvation. If the face of such a harsh reality as this, God is placed in the position of being the protecting parent of His young as their fortress, shield, and protector. We will do well to avoid such dangers, but the promise is that Yahweh will enable us to tread on and trample them without fear. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you. Yahweh does David an honor by using this word for David, where he refers to David as the elyon (highest) of the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27). The natural life, and is often fulfilled in our preservation from those dangers which are very threatening and very near, while yet we ourselves are not apprehensive of them, any more than the bird is of the snare of the fowler. God hides not his people in a casing of iron; their shelter is stronger than iron, yet it is soft as the downy wings of a bird for ease and comfort. Yahweh is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He will live as long as he wants to live. i. I will be with him: So, no man need add solitude to sadness, but may have God sitting with him, like Jobs friends, waiting to comfort him with true comfort. (Maclaren), ii. To know Yahwehs semhis name or reputationis to know Yahweh. This is a precious promise, and speaks a great deal both of honour and comfort to the saints, nor is it ever the worse for being quoted and abused by the devil in tempting Christ, Matt 4 6. Nay, not thy person only, but thy dwelling, shall be taken under the divine protection: There shall no plague come nigh that, nothing to do thee or thine any damage." The Hebrew word sadday means almighty or the Almighty. Guest. That seems to overstate the case. GOD IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS. PSALM 91:1-2. That is true in this verse, where we see the wicked being punished. Does God value such feeble and imperfect knowledge of his name as we possess? That believers shall be kept from those mischiefs which they are in imminent danger of, and which would be fatal to them (v. 3), from the snare of the fowler, which is laid unseen and catches the unwary prey on a sudden, and from the noisome pestilence, which seizes men unawares and against which there is no guard. We often find ourselves afraid in the middle of the nightwhat I call the Three Oclock Terrors. Such a message is timeless. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. Once at the beginning of day. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Should Pastors Be Salaried? We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Thy God will not leave thee in the glare of the sun, nor will he forsake thee when the damps of night-dews would put thee in peril. They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. Angels are not appropriate objects of our worship. His books are include: Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children, Do Babies Go To Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?, "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible.". i. The "Clergy/Laity" Distinction: A Hindrance to the Church? Whatever is done our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to be afraid of that. Some of the most powerful evidence that proves Jesus to be Whom he claimed to be is found in the historical fulfillment of the prophsies He foretold in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. 10 no evil shall happen to you, - Hal Licino, Why Modern Liberalism is Contrary to Christianity, Matthew 24 The End of the Holy City - Morrison Lee, Scripture Charts As Relates to the Second Coming, The Beast of Revelation Revealed - Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry, The Destruction of Jerusalem - Proof of Christianity, The Last Days According to Jesus - R. C. Sproul, All the N.T. What royal protection we have, a guard of angels, who count it their delight and their honour to wait upon the seed-royal of the universe, for such are all the saints of God! 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. It was in the day-time that that pestilence wasted which was sent to chastise David for numbering the people, on occasion of which some think this psalm was penned. Many people have told me that only the supernatural intervention by angels commanded by God could explain certain miraculous situations that they were involved with, some having their lives being spared. The ending of all of this is the most powerful of all as God says He will show him [or her], His salvation. If you have salvation, all of these other serious circumstances of plagues, night terrors, thousands dropping at your sides or any other threat are only temporary because ultimately, God is our refuge, our fortress, our shield, our buckler, and His love overshadows us and will bring us safely into the kingdom someday. 2. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. To whom these promises do belong; they are described by three characters:(1.) Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 14 Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. Their Worm Does Not Die: Annihilation and Mark 9:48, Evidence for the Resurrection - William Lane Craig -Text and Audio, The Evidence for Jesus - William Lane Craig - Text and Video. They are such as have set their love upon him; and those who rightly know him will love him, will place their love upon him as the only adequate object of it, will let out their love towards him with pleasure and enlargement, and will fix their love upon him with a resolution never to remove it to any rival. The Hebrew word hasaq (set his love) means to attach, love, delight, or bind. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! It is he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High, who, by Gods help, treads upon the lion and adder, and of whom it is written, The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Christ has broken the serpent's head, spoiled our spiritual enemies (Col 2 15), and through him we are more than conquerors; for Christ calls us, as Joshua called the captains of Israel, to come and set our feet on the necks of vanquished enemies. Take a look at another study and commentary: Psalm 27. (1.) The Hebrew word qeteb means destruction, but can also mean sting (Hosea 13:14). To the extent that we believe that, it will allay our fear. Even if he should have but few years, yet he shall have a long life; for life is to be measured by the life that is in it, not by the length along which it drags. I will set him on high (Hebrew: sagab), because he has known (Hebrew: yada) my name (Hebrew: sem) (v. 14b). Once again, the idea is of the protection afforded by the Almighty God. What is Psalm 91 all about? Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. The word sillumah means punishment, but carries the connotation of deserved punishment. Globally, we are faced with wars and rumors of warplagues and pestilenceenemies equipped with the Bombtyrants and corrupt politiciansa world changing so rapidly that it makes our heads spinand a host of other problems. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nervous as you are, and naturally timid, when you dwell near to God, your fears shall all go to sleep. Resource Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version(ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot (v. 13). God Himself becomes like a mighty refuge and fortress for the believer. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day; nor of the pestilence (Hebrew: deber) that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction (Hebrew: qeteb) that wastes at noonday (vv. What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? Cobras and serpents serve as a metaphor for smaller but equally deadly forces that appear suddenly, seemingly from nowhere. 9-10). Why I Don't Have a Television - John Piper, Why People Find the Bible Difficult - A. W. Tozer, Your Life is Like the Morning Fog - James P. Shelly, A Challenge to Unscriptural Traditions and Practice - Video, Are Seminaries Legitimate? With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Facing a Tolerant World with Intolerant Truth (Selected Scriptures) Pastor John MacArthur. Why is the church losing its young people? An integrated digital Bible study library - including complete notes from the NIV Study Bible and the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible - is just a step away! I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation (v. 16). - Oscar Cullmann, Immortality of the Soul - by Kaufmann Kohler, Technical Terms and Usages Preclude Innate Immortality - Froom, The Development of the Doctrine of Immortality from the Apostolic Fathers to Augustine, The Doctrine of Immortality in the Early Church. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Can any comfort be surer? They shall triumph over their enemies, ver 13. The charge given to the angels concerning the saints. 14b (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1973), Limburg, James, Westminster Bible Companion: Psalms (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000, Mays, James Luther, Interpretation: Psalms (Louisville: John Knox, 1994), McCann, J. Clinton, Jr., The New Interpreters Bible: The Book of Psalms, Vol. Psalms 91 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Surely, oh, blessed word! They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God's protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever. All rights reserved. They shall live long enough: they shall be continued in this world till they have done the work they were sent into this world for and are ready for heaven, and that is long enough. Therefore the psalmist is probably saying more than he understooddeliverance from trouble and salvation to eternal life. Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Both night and day thou shalt be safe. It goes beyond head-knowledge to heart-knowledge. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Long life is usually a blessing (unless it involves prolonged suffering, dementia, or something else that inhibits the quality of life). The large shield offers protection over a larger areaand a line of soldiers can put their rectangular shields together to form a nearly impenetrable wall against enemy arrows. 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High. A Protest - Joseph Agar Beet D.D. The word deber means plague or pestilence. (5.) The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his keeper (ver 2), from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others, ver 9. but it will not come near you. Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection? Some of them are speedily taken home; still this text is, as a rule, literally fulfilled, With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. He shall see Gods salvation even here; and when he dies, and wakes up in the likeness of his Lord, he will see it to the full. Dale Kuiper, The Christian and the Mosaic Law - Philip Mauro, The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It. of the Traditional "Sermon" Concept, A Biblical Defense of Conditional Immortality, Biblically Dispelling the Myth of Eternal Torture. However, we must guard against angel worship and the trivialization of angels popular in some circles today. The sprinkling of blood secured the first-born of Israel when thousands fell. I have often noticed how long Gods people live. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies as sidebars throughout. II. We find this name as early as Genesis 15:2, but whether that name was familiar to Abram is uncertain. The psalmist assures believers of divine protection, from his own experience; and that which he says is the word of God, and what we may rely upon. As it will aggravate the damnation of sinners that with their eyes they shall behold and see the reward of the righteous (Luke 13 28), so it will magnify the salvation of the saints that with their eyes they shall behold and see the destruction of the wicked, Isa 66 24; Ps 58 10. Purgatory: Purifying Fire or Fatal Fable? Does The Bible Provide an Adequate Answer to Suffering? You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,nor the destruction that wastes at noonday,and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. There shall be but the appearance of evil, not the reality of it: There shall no evil befall thee.. Used by permission. will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Growing Up With Two Moms: The Untold Childrens View. Quantity: Cart +. That he will not only keep them from evil, but from the fear of evil, v. 5, 6. We read of fear in the night, Cant 3 8. lin) in the shadow (Hebrew: sel) of the Almighty (v. 1). The word halas (deliver) has several meanings, at least two of which fit here. HELL:
This psalm, without title in the Hebrew text, is a triple proclamation of God's holiness, as Isaiah would later do ( Isaiah 6:3 ). The verb yada (has known) means to knowbut more. Psalm 119:90 Psalm 119:91 Psalm 119:92 Psalm 119:93 Psalm 119:94 Psalm 119:95 Psalm 119:96 Psalm 119:97 . John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Oh, labour to get to that blessed position! He brings in God himself speaking words of comfort to the saints, and declaring the mercy he had in store for them, v. 14-16. See Ps 34 19; 2 Tim 3 11; 4 18. It would have been familiar to the author(s) of Genesis. There are some who worship in the outer court of the temple; but he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High lives in the Holy of Holies; he draws near to the mercy-seat, and keeps there; he walks in the light, as God is in the light; he is not one who is sometimes on and sometimes off, a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home, he dwells in the secret place of the most High. El means god (note the small g), and can be used for any god. When the child is in perfect health she can leave it in the hands of the nurse; but when it is sick she will attend it herself; she will say to the nurse, You may attend a while to some other business, I will watch over the child myself. (Dawson, cited in Spurgeon), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. But, (2.) Psalm 91 continues to be a source of strength, hope, promise and encouragement for every generation. "Nothing can ultimately hurt me." If Christ's life is the interpretive lens through which we read Psalm 91, then the promises of protection found in that psalm must have something to do with resurrection. We owe it, more than we are sensible, to the care of the divine Providence that we have been kept from infectious diseases and out of the hands of the wicked and unreasonable. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding themes, and probing questions to help you study the Word of God with guidance from John MacArthur, and each study includes an introduction that provides background information to each book of the Bible being studied and a . The way of the righteous. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Or be unhurt by such savage and poisonous creatures; as the Israelites, when they travelled through the wilderness, in which were serpents and scorpions; and many of the servants of God have been delivered from them, or have slain them, as Samson, David, and Daniel; and so Christ was among the wild beasts in the wilderness, and yet not touched or This word the devil left out when he quoted the promise to enforce a temptation, knowing how much it made against him. Yahweh is an accessible God, who answers when called and walks with people in the midst of their troubles. Both are appropriate in this verse. Truth doesnt shift with every passing folly. The Immortality of the Soul:
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. and show him my salvation.. They sometimes appear in human form (Genesis 18:2; Ezekiel 9:2). Psalms 91:8-10. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided. It is not every man who dwells there; no, not even every Christian man. This article is also available and sold as a booklet. Great danger supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us; night and day we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous will in neither period think themselves safe. Observe, I. Let us come boldly there; and, when we once enter, let us dwell there. There being no reason to question his sufficiency, fitly does it follow, In him will I trust. Scriptural Evidence for the Necessity of Obedience in Salvation, The Doctrine of Immortality in the Early Church - John H. Roller, Luther's views on soul sleep and the after life, Make Good Use of Your Servitude - Observations on Biblical Slavery, The Consensus of Current Scholarship: The Soul is Not Immortal, Killing the Canaanites - A Response to the New Atheism's "Divine Genocide" Claims. Yahweh is his mesudah (hiding place, stronghold, fortress). Previous post: 6 Important Reasons To Bring Hidden Hurts To God For Healing, Next post: 7 Sample Prayers Before Surgery or a Medical Procedure. He assures us that we can enjoy the same confidence if we dwell in he secret place of the Most High (v. 1). The end of this psalm recaps any calamity that can happen and when His children are placed in harms way He promises to deliver them, to protect them, to rescue them, and to answer them in their time of trouble. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Because we dont want you to incur expenditure for which you are not prepared, could you please confirm whether you are willing to pay this charge, if necessary? 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Ross, Allen P., A Commentary on the Psalms, 90-150, Vol. Those of us who live in first world countries have almost forgotten the dangers of deadly diseases that spread rapidly and kill large numbers of people. A. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. The word emet is usually translated truth. Since the UK is now no longer a member of the EU, you may be charged an import tax on this item by the customs authorities in your country of residence, which is beyond our control.
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