Our Rescuing God

February 24, 2019 Background Scripture: Psalm 91:1 – 16 Lesson Passage: Psalm 91:1 – 8, 11 – 16 Satan quoted from Psalm 91 while tempting Jesus. This temptation occurred after Jesus had fasted for forty days. Psalm 91 speaks of God’s deliverance, or rescue, of His own by way of His angels. This psalm has lots of reassuring statements for children of God. It has a list to remind us of God’s providential care and endless love for His own. The only condition listed for the recipient of this divine blessing is making God our habitation or abiding under His shadow. This condition, simply put, means that God’s children should continuously seek to be in the presence of God. God’s presence provides all of the benefits listed in this psalm. There is no wonder that it has been noted that the scriptures do not present a single occasion where someone died in the presence of Jesus. Even on the cross, the two thieves outlived Jesus and had their legs broken. When Peter cut off Malchus’ ear in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jesus’ presence, Jesus touched the ear and healed it. Malchus was healed in spite of the fact that he was part of the mob that had come as an enemy to arrest Jesus. Jesus addressed many evils that occurred in his presence. There are many benefits to being in the presence of God. In this psalm, the writer takes time to enumerate several of those benefits. First and foremost, the presence of God provides shelter and protection (refuge and fortress). There is no safer place to be found than the presence of God. There is protection from the elements and the enemy. There is no fear in this because God is trustworthy. If one were to be overtaken by the enemy’s trap or some dreaded affliction, God would deliver them even from these. Even as a hen protects her chicks by spreading her wings to receive them, God graciously opens His arms to receive us from any threat of danger. His word is a standard that protects us from attack by the enemy. When the enemy dares to rush in like a flood, God lifts a barrier that stops the enemy’s advances. God’s protection is continuous. God watches over His children day and night—in the brightness of a noonday as well as the darkness of midnight. Although war, destruction, and death may be all around us, they will pose no threat to God’s children. We may see calamities, but we will not be harmed by them. Guardian angels are tasked with watching over and protecting the people of God. This is the reference that Satan quoted to Jesus. Satan was confused by who Jesus was, but he was not confused about what God said or what God meant by what He said. Of course, Satan stopped short of the stanza of the psalm that speaks about the Son of Man trampling the serpent under his foot. Satan knows that part too since it was spoken to him in the Garden of Eden. At this point, the psalm changes from speaking in the third person to speaking in the first person. The remainder of the psalm is a statement from God concerning His response to the one who loves Him. God will answer their prayers, be with them in the time of trouble, bestow honor on him, give long life and eternal salvation. He is our God who rescues us. Robert C. Hudson January 30, 2019