Many years ago, when I was walking through a season of life’s more shaking challenges, a dear friend directed me to Psalm 91 for stability. She told me to write down every verse and to read it and speak it out over my life 2-3 times a day.
At the time I knew God, I had received Jesus as my Savior and had read through the entire Bible. But, what I didn’t know was Jesus as my Lord. I honestly had never taken the time to read scriptures aloud, study them, and fully apply them to my life. I had heard “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17 preached numerous times but had I actually taken responsibility and applied it to my life? No!
During this season of my life, my back was totally up against the wall. I had no job, I was deeply in debt, my funds were dwindling rapidly and I was navigating a very difficult divorce. I was under tremendous pressure from every side and I had nowhere to turn. My faithful friend listened to my repeated cries of woe and finally got tough with me. She drew a line in the sand and emphatically told me that she would not listen to any more whining, and it was time to get engaged by reading and speaking the Word of the Lord starting with Psalm 91!
Because I had no other options I got tough with myself, got off my pity party, and committed to following her direction. I wrote down the sixteen verses of Psalm 91 and started speaking them out in my room and in my car multiple times a day. Much to my surprise, as I read through the verses aloud I became more and more captivated with the message, the promises, and the covering of protection.
Because I had no other options I got tough with myself, got off my pity party, and committed to following her direction. I wrote down the sixteen verses of Psalm 91 and started speaking them out in my room and in my car multiple times a day. Much to my surprise, as I read through the verses aloud I became more and more captivated with the message, the promises, and the covering of protection.
Quickly I started to recognize that my anxiety was diminishing and I was actually enjoying reciting the passages and hearing the words come out of my mouth. The more I heard the words and received them into my heart the more I felt my faith grow, my fears diminish and I watched my life dramatically improve. Speaking God’s words over my life remains a commitment and fruitful habit to this day.
Now, let’s have some fun and walk through Psalm 91 together and start speaking the words and doing a little word study.
V 1: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most-High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
There are five keywords to reflect on:
- He: individual or every person that means anyone who will receive from the Lord
- Dwell: to sit down, to settle, take up a homestead
- Secret place: the hiding place
- Abide: to stop, to stay permanently, dwell
- Shadow: defense, protection of the Almighty, where one will be safe
V 2: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God in him will I trust.”
There are four specific things God is for those who are in the secret place.
- A refuge or hiding place
- A fortress or place of protection
- God, true and faithful God
- A trust, a place of security
V 3: “Surely he shall deliver then from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.”
V 4: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
What things does God do for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most-High?
- Delivers from the fowler
- Delivers from the noisome pestilence (raging epidemic)
- Covers with His feathers
- Protects with His wings
- Makes truth a shield and buckler (protective armor from the arrows of the enemy)
V 5: “Thou shall not be afraid of the terror by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day:
V 6: Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness: nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
V 7: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
V 8: Only with thine eyes shalt though behold and see the reward of the wicked
V 9: because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most-High, thy habitation
V 10: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come night thy dwelling.
V 11: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
V 12: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
V 13: Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt though trample under feet.
V 14: Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high because he hath known my name.
V 15: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him and honor him.
V 16: With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
There are twenty-three promises of God in Psalm 91.
- You shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
- He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
- He shall deliver you from the noisome pestilence (raging epidemic)
- He shall cover you with His feathers
- His truth shall be your shield and buckler
- You shall not be afraid of the terror by night
- You shall not be afraid of the arrow that flieth by day
- You shall not be afraid of the pestilence
- You shall not be afraid of that which destroys
- Though 100 or 10,000 fall at either side it shall not come near you
- Only with your eyes will you see the reward of the wicked
- No evil will befall you
- No plague comes near your dwelling
- God gives his angels charge over you.
- Angels will bear you up in their hands
- You shall tread upon the lion, adder, young lion, and dragon
- God will deliver you
- God will set you on high
- God will answer you
- God will be with you in trouble
- God will honor you
- God will satisfy you with long life
- God will show you His salvation.
In 2022 I encourage you to take the challenge to embrace Psalm 91. Speak it out over your life, family, household, workplace, finances, etc. Do it multiple times every day and take communion over it. Keep yourself reminded of and fully connected to His promises of protection. Don’t ever back down or relax your hold on the Truth of His Word.
If you will apply this to your life daily you will always be found standing on the Lord’s side!
Leslie Becker
Study Reference Source: Dake Annotated Reference Bible.
February 8, 2022
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