Psalm 91 & Matthew 23:37-39
Psalm 91
(KJV)
1 He that DWELLETH in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will SAY of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, My God; in him I will TRUST.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings though shalt trust: his truth shall be they shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High thy HABITATION;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: the young lion and the dragon thou shalt trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
These are wonderful promises to meditate on. I used all caps for certain words to highlight what our part is in this chapter. God promises that His protection is available for all of us, but Verse 1 and 9 tell us that we must dwell and habitate in the secret place of the Most High (God), verse 2 says that we must say or speak that God is our refuge, and we must trust (believe) Him. Our part is pretty easy. Verse 4 says God will cover us with His feathers and under His wings we will trust. God's protection is like the wings of a mother hen that shelters her babies. All the babies have to do is stay under the mother's wings, and they are protected. Likewise as long as we stay under God's shelter, we are also protected.
Matthew 23:37 (NLT) tells us that God wanted to protect Jerusalem (where His chosen people [the Israelites]) lived. The verse says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers How often I WANTED to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me." This verse tells us that God wanted to protect His people, the Israelites, but they chose another path. God didn't reject them, they left God's shelter. The next verses (Matthew 23:38-9) say, "And now look, your house is abandoned and desolate. (39) For I tell you this, you will never see me again UNTIL you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD.'" God is still there waiting for His chosen people to come back to Him, but it is their choice, just as it is our choice whether or not we dwell and habitate under God's sheltering wings, believe that He is our refuge, and trust Him for His protection.
Replies
I just wanted to add Romans 10:21 (NLT) to what was said above, "But regarding Israel, God said, 'All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious." The next verse goes into the next chapter Romans 11:1 "I ask, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not...." Later in chapter Romans 11:11-12 says, "Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But He wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. (12) Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it."
I wanted to add those verses to show that we all have a choice in whether we accept God's protection or reject it. I also wanted to reiterate what we have protection from as it tells us in Psalms 91: 5-7 & 10 "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. (6 )Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee." (10) "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." God's protection is available, but it is not automatic, we have a part to play.
Thank you for sharing with us. There is always something new to learn.
Thank you Carly, I always appreciate your input!