May 7, 2020
AN INVITATION TO ABIDE
This morning my Scripture reading from my devotional was verses 9-10, and 14-16 of Psalm 91. Since that’s my favorite Psalm (and perhaps my favorite chapter of the entire Bible) I read the entire Psalm. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psa 91:1). I love the sound of that! But, what does that mean to “abide under the shadow of the Almighty”? Let’s read a bit further: “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’” (Psa 91:2). That sounds great! A refuge is a shelter or protection from danger according to Dictionary.com. [As my custom is I like to look up words that jump out at me!] So this dweller in God is protected from danger in a “large fortified place” (definition of fortress).
Now, before we go on, [I hope you have your ‘shouting-clothes’ on!] I must tell you that I believe the Bible; I receive the promises as my Father (Jehovah God) talking directly to me! If this precious Book is nothing more to you than a collection of stories, historical events, or even religious speech that really doesn’t amount to much, don’t even bother finishing reading this. You won’t ‘hear’ what I’m saying – and you certainly won’t get to shouting!!
Okay, fasten your seat-belts. When I read this next verse I knew I was going to write this Encouraging Word. “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence” (Psa 91:3). Pestilence means “a deadly or virulent epidemic disease” (Dictionary.com). Are you hearing what the Holy Ghost is telling us? “Surely” – that leaves no room for doubt. If God says surely, then you can stand on what He’s about to say! He’s not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19).
Let’s go on: “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” (Psa 91:4-6). That’s the second time He mentions pestilence; and, He says “You shall not be afraid” of it! Watch this: “A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you” (Psa 91:7). Are you hearing this? Let me do a Mike Leach paraphrase: people can be dropping like flies all around you, BUT IT WON’T COME NEAR YOU!! – Why? – For one thing, because you’re abiding in God. The thing that’s killing others would have to get through Him to get to you! That’s NOT going to happen! “Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked” (Psa 91:8). The wicked are simply people who aren’t in covenant with Jehovah. In other words, they have not accepted the Sacrifice of Jesus, making Him Lord of their lives. Writing about them to the Ephesian church Paul said those folk have no hope (see Ephesians 2:12).
Let’s continue: “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;” (Psa 91:9-10). There it is again. This time He calls it a plague: “an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence” (et al). I could rest my case at this point, but why stop when we’re having so much fun? In case you’ve lost count, that’s the third time God promises to deliver us from sickness, disease; an epidemic disease no less. Are you catching on? The Almighty God is issuing an invitation to abide in Him so He can protect us from Covid-19 (and any other trouble the devil is planning on the horizon)!
In Matthew 24:7-8 Jesus tells us that there would be “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” calling it the “beginning of sorrows”. Don’t let that be a discouragement to you! Peter wrote that we should “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1Peter 3:15). Don’t you think remaining positive that God will always take care of you, and that you have no fear of any pestilence that shows its ugly head is one hope the people around us will question about? Abide in Him and you’ll be convinced of that! [Can I throw in a little side-note here? Just because the Lord foretells of something that will happen does not mean it’s by His hand, or of His will!]
Let’s finish up: “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” (Psa 91:11-13). There’s a lot here, but I wanted to group it as one thought. The book of Hebrews defines angels as “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (1:14). Both Galatians and Romans specifically tell us that if we have called on the name of the Lord to be saved (Born-Again), then we are in on that inheritance. But, just like everything else in the Kingdom of God, the provisions (promises) don’t just fall on us. Like the Israelis, who had to take possession of their Promised Land, we have to take possession of the promises of God as well! That is what is meant in the third and fourth chapters of Hebrews when we are instructed to labor to enter into His rest. We don’t work for the promises—they are given by God. We do have to renew our minds so that we would be transformed to partake of them.
For the purpose of this teaching we’re talking about abiding in God. That’s a life-style. It’s not an occasional visit, but a dwelling – where one lives! “There is a Place in God where one sustains their life” (I just heard the Lord say that!). The blessedness we’re talking about that’s enumerated in this precious Psalm are the benefits for this ‘dweller’. [Paul also wrote, “having done all to stand—STAND”!] Sometimes there’s a fight to stand. But, it’s the good fight of faith.
Now for the response of our Father: “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” (Psa 91:14-16). I don’t have the nerve to comment any further! The precious Father has said it all!
Let me encourage you today. Stop fearing what is going on in the world. It’s not going to get any easier – but then, so what? When you’re in Him, and He’s in you; when you’ve truly entered into His rest by abiding in Him, all hell can be breaking loose all around you. Remember, it shall not come near you; neither shall any plague come near you. I’m believing God that we (those of us who are hearing Him speak to our hearts these last hours) will rise up strong, push back the forces of darkness, and be the deliverers God is raising up to reap the precious fruit of the earth! – Even so, come Lord Jesus!
