Slices
Prepare
This is a psalm many will be acquainted with; perhaps Paul recited it himself while detained. It is reassuring and comforting. But let’s pray that we don’t miss anything through overfamiliarity. Pray that God will open your heart anew.
Bible passage
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honour him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.’
Explore
The psalmist reminds us of God’s perfect shelter (v 1), using two Hebrew names for God that add depth and richness. Elyon (translated here as ‘Most High’) exudes God’s unmatched authority. If his will is for us to be protected, we are truly safe. Shaddai (‘the Almighty’) reinforces this, expressing the Lord’s omnipotence – he is uniquely able to keep us safe. Who or what do we need divine protection from today?
Some of the specific ‘safe from’ scenarios may seem obscure. As someone allergic to down, the freedom from pestilence personally appeals more than the covering with feathers! But we see here exquisite examples of God’s compassion.
Verses 11 and 12 confirm the reality of angels (‘to guard you … [and] lift you up’). The corrupt quoting of this segment by Satan (Matthew 4:5,6; Luke 4:9,10) also reminds us of the spiritual warfare that rages. As Jesus responds in Luke 4:12 (himself quoting Deuteronomy 6:16), ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Let’s take heed.
God speaks directly in the concluding verses, assuring his presence, power, provision and protection for those of us who love him, underpinned with the security of salvation as our eternal home.
Respond
Putting our trust in God is not just a one-off action – it is best practised often! Deliberately choose to trust him today, and experience afresh his incomparable comfort.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 26–28; Psalm 74
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that God will provide all that is needed for the expansion of the dormitories at the Cerro de Luz centre run by SU Honduras and that the centre will enable many to encounter Jesus in new ways.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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