INTRODUCTION
Insurance policies / safety first – FSB, safety checks, regulations and procedures etc
- This Psalm shows us how to trust in God in dangerous circumstances.
- Not knowing where our safety comes from critically cripples the Christian life.
- How to know a safety and a security in God when nothing about the situation that we’re in is safe or secure.
THE PSALMIST HAS A TESTIMONY: ‘I HAVE FOUND THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD’
The first thing that we see in this passage is the TESTIMONY of the Psalmist.
He is not telling us something that he doesn’t know about. He has found a place of safety not because everything is going on right. In fact, there is danger on every side but he has learned the secret of God’s security in this insecure world. [Dramatized]
We are safe when we are at home with God.
In verse 1 the Psalmist is describing the sacred chamber called the holiest of holies.
- This is the secret place where God lives.
- As far as those ancient Israelites were concerned, they could sadly never go there
- Only the High priest went into this secret place once a year on the Day of Atonement.
- But now we have access into the very presence of God.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 10:19-20
The Psalmist says, he who dwells. It doesn’t say he that visits.
- Dwell in the Hebrew is the word for inhabit.
- It literally means to ‘make the secret place your home’.
- It describes the man who desires to be where God is;
- Where God becomes everything to them
- Where the desire is to feast in His presence, to enjoy His fellowship and to know Him intimately.
- This special intimacy brings with it special immunity.
Every child of God looks towards the Inner Sanctuary and the Mercy Seat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence. Charles Spurgeon
We are safe when we know who our God is.
He piles up metaphors for security and names of God in order to drive this home.
- Notice how in the four names of God he presses you back into a realization
- A revelation that your safety doesn’t come from your circumstances
- It comes from who your God is!
a. HE IS MOST HIGH – EL ELYON
For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Psalm 97:9.
He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named. Ephesians 1:20-21
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. Philippians 2:9
- It stresses His sovereignty and supremacy.
- He is far above all powers and principalities.
- He is in a place beyond the reach of Satan and his demons
- Is there anything in this world higher than Him?
b. HE IS ALMIGHTY – EL SHADDAI
- The God who overpowers; the all powerful God; the many-breasted God indicating sufficiency and nourishment.
- He is omnipotent; all power resides in Him.
- Is there any danger that you can face that is greater than His power?
c. HE IS THE LORD – YAHWEH
- The name was held so sacred that it was never written or spoken
- Scholars are exactly sure how it should be pronounced.
- It means “I am that I am,” or “I am the one who is.”
- The compound names
d. HE IS GOD – ELOHIM
- In the beginning God. He is the Creator. Plural speaking of Trinity.
- But He is not just God He is MY God
- It is not enough just to say `the Lord is a refuge’. He must be my refuge!
- He’s no longer just the shepherd, He’s my shepherd.
- He’s no longer just the heavenly Father, He’s my heavenly Father.
Listen to the words that he uses in vv1-2: Secret place, shelter; shadow; shade; refuge; fortress.
a. Do you remember moments in your life when you have found shelter in some tangible danger and realize that God is your shelter in every danger?
b. Have you ever been out on a hot afternoon, longing to find a tree to be shadowed under? And you found it and got relief from the blazing rays of the sun. And the psalmist is saying God is your shadow.
c. Perhaps there had been times when you felt bullied by people or unfairly treated by situations and long for a hiding place. God is your refuge.
d. Maybe you’re here this morning thinking, ‘That’s what I need in my circumstance. With what I’m facing, I need a castle around me!’ And here the psalmist says God is your fortress.
There will be troubles and threats on every side
- Situations and circumstances that are unsafe and insecure
- But my home address is security! My home address is safety
- It’s because of who I know: the person of my God
- It’s because of where I live: I dwell with Him. I abide with Him
He refused to be silent.
- In verse 2 he said ‘I will say…’
- The Greek actually reads ‘DECLARE’ or ‘ANNOUNCE’.
- To publish… to broadcast!
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13
One of the most interesting things about this Psalm is that it’s the Psalm that Satan knew.
- He memorized it and no doubt he hated it, but he employed it in his devious way when he tempted Christ in the wilderness.
- You remember what he said to Jesus? ‘If You are the Son of God, throw yourself off the pinnacle of the temple, because You know what the Bible says: God will give His angels charge over you, and He will not allow your foot to be dashed against the rock.’
- And you know what Jesus says? “You will not test the Lord your God.”
- Get this: we don’t test God; we simply trust… Trust and obey!
So the psalmist is saying, ‘Before I tell you what I’m about to tell you in verses 3-13, I want you to know this: I’m not telling you about something that I haven’t experienced myself. I have experienced the safety and security of God in this unsafe and insecure world. I know that it’s real.’ [Dramatized]
WE HAVE A GUARANTEE: ‘YOU CAN BE SAFE AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES’
Psalm 91 exposes a paralyzing fear—the fear of failing and falling under threats and oppositions. This fear keeps us from serving God and obeying His word.
- Abraham’s fear caused him to lie concerning the true identity of Sarah as his wife
- Moses was afraid to go to Egypt and lead Israel out of captivity
- The Israelites feared the “giants” in Canaan and did not possess the land God promised
God’s protection was intended to put away unhealthy fears.
Fear not because God’s protection is foolproof.
The dangers are likened to a fowler’s snare and a perilous pestilence.
- Fowler’s Snare: In days gone by, bird trapping was quite an art. There weren’t guns and you had to set traps for birds. The fowler’s snare is not seen until it is too late… an element of surprise.
- Perilous Pestilences: It literally means plagues of mischief. It is translated deadly in some Bible versions. It is fatal.
But whether the danger is invisible or seems incurable, God’s protection is comprehensive.
Fear not because God’s protection is tender and tough.
God’s keeping power is portrayed by the use of 2 images: a mother bird and metal armor
- The mother bird safely tucks her young under her wings. There they are secure. Here is the tenderness of God’s care and concern. But there is also toughness as is seen in the imagery of the metal armor.
From the perspective of the protected, God is warm and tender; from the vantage point of the attacker, God is as strong as steel.
Fear not because God’s protection is round-the-clock.
Verses 5 and 6 refer to night and day, the darkness of night and the light of day.
- The God of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers.
- He watches over us even in our sleep.
There is no danger, whether seen or unseen, anticipated or unexpected, which can catch God unaware and unable to protect us.
Fear not because God’s protection singles us out.
Verse 7 says even when men are “falling about us like flies” around us God is able to keep us.
- In Exodus when God poured out ten plagues upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians…
- In every case, the Egyptians suffered, but not the Israelites who trusted in God.
But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”… So the Lord did this thing on the morrow, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died Exodus 9:4-6
- Hail destroyed the crops, the cattle, and the servants of the unbelieving Egyptians, but the Israelites were not harmed (Exod. 9:18-26).
- The first-born of the unbelieving were all killed by the death angel, but those who believed God, applying the blood of a lamb to the doorposts and the lintel of their house, were not touched (Exod. 12).
And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes. Jude 24–25 (Message)
The protection of those who abide under the shadow of the Almighty should wipe away all unwarranted fear:
- With God as our shield, we need not dread human or demonic opposition.
- With God as our refuge, we should not fear and we cannot fall.
Notice the word SURELY
SURELY He will save you…
SURELY He will cover you…
SURELY you will not fear…
SURELY you will not fall…
SURELY you will see the punishment of the wicked…
SURELY He will command His angels to lift you up…
SURELY you will overcome Satan!
GOD HAS A PROMISE: ‘WE ARE NOT SAFE BECAUSE WE HOPE SO BUT BECAUSE GOD SAYS SO’
Our safety is only as certain as the guarantee of the God who promises it.
- Just as a buyer is assured by a written guarantee from the manufacturer
- So we are assured by God’s personal promise to protect us in verses 14-16
But the promise is not for everybody.
God is speaking to us about the requirements for those who would know this kind of safety and security in every unsafe and insecure circumstance of life.
- What is the requirement?
- How is the price?
- How much will it cost us?
It is love… a love set upon God which is the distinguishing mark of those whom the Lord secures from troubles.
- It is to love Him with ALL our heart: PASSIONATELY
- It is to love Him with ALL our soul: PERSONALLY
- It is to love Him with ALL our mind: PURPOSEFULLY
- It is to love Him with ALL our strength: PRACTICALLY
Can we even consider loving God a sacrifice? The Bible says those of us who have been forgiven much love much!
God promises 7 ‘I will’
1. I will deliver him
2. I will set him on high
3. I will answer him
4. I will be with him in trouble
5. I will honor him
6. I will satisfy him with long life
7. I will show him My Salvation
God promises not only His protection from disaster but also His presence in danger.
- The three young Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were not alone in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace (Dan. 3:25), nor was Daniel alone in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:22).
- Jesus appeared to Paul during the night as he was imprisoned, threatened by an angry mob (Acts 23:11).
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Christianity, Cornerstone, daniel chua, faith, Protection, sermon, the City Church