July 3, 2024 – suggested reading: Psalm  90:1 – 93:5

“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” Psalm 91

I don’t know if you can find more reassuring words than the first six verses in Psalm 91. This Psalm has often been found among those going into battle. We have a wonderful hymn in the Lutheran hymnal that is based upon this Psalm. My commentary reads, “This is one of the most beautiful and most reassuring biblical statements of God’s protection of the faithful in all times of danger.” I don’t know if I can add anything to this statement that would do this Psalm justice. If you are looking for a text to memorize, or at least to read on a daily basis, you may have found one in Psalm 91.

Here is a prayer meditation based upon Psalm 91 from the website “SoulShepherding”:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God who sees everything

Will rest in the shadow of El Shaddai, (the Almighty God who nurtures us like a mother hen caring for her little chicks).

I will say of Yahweh (the I AM who has promised to love us intimately forever)

He is my refuge and my fortress, my El-o-heem’ (my Creator who makes a way for us), and in him I trust.

Surely he will save you, little chicks, from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

Like a mother hen he will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge.

His faithfulness will be your shield and your rampart (the defensive wall around your castle).

Pastor Dave