We do not know who authored Psalm 91. But when we read this Psalm, we immediately know the author felt comfort in the refuge of God because the writings indicate he also "lived" in God and knew God’s character. He expresses his fears but he concentrates more on his comfort in God. It is an awesome thing when we read this Psalm’s reassurance that one of the duties assigned to the angels is to watch over us! When Jesus spoke with the people at the Temple he told them, "How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now look, your house is left to you, empty and desolate." Jesus offered the people refuge under his wings but they denied him.
There is a story that pastors often use when speaking on the refuge we can find in God. The story is of a forest fire that swept across a farmer’s chicken yard. After the fire was out, the farmer was walking through the chicken yard and came upon one of his hens that had perished in the fire. He thought he could see the charred feathers of her wing moving. He poked the wing with the tip of his boot and out ran several baby chicks. As the fire was moving through, the mother hen had gathered her chicks under her wings to protect them from harm. The hen gave her life so that her children could live. What a great analogy of what God has done for us.
Whether in the throes of war are in the daily battles of life, God is our refuge. Many times soldiers, the true real life heroes, tell of battles where all seemed lost. But by some "change of circumstances", the battle raged but the troops were protected and unharmed. Many soldiers have given their lives freely so that we could live in the greatest country to have ever existed! In America, we are free because soldiers throughout our country’s history have "gathered us under their wings". I submit to you that these acts of selflessness are not by chance. Our soldiers have willingly and honorably laid down their lives so that we can be free. The most majestic animal is our country is the Eagle. Under the Eagle’s wings, God provides for us. Is our relationship with God any different? Jesus willingly and honorably laid down His life upon the Cross so that we can be free in Him.
You may not have served in the military but think back on your life and the number of times you were in bad situations but yet no harm came to you? Did you ’escape’ harm simply by luck or were you protected by a guardian angel assigned to look over you? The Bible does not teach that there is a different guardian angel assigned to each of us however God’s Word certainly teaches of guardian angels and how they look after us.
But is everyone protected and watched over? The answer is no. El Shaddai, the God Almighty, the God who is All-Powerful, certainly looks over His children. This is evident in Psalms where we are told that God looks over the ways of the righteous. God’s children look to Him for protection. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will not be afraid because You are with me. I will fear no evil for thy rod and thy staff they protect and comfort me." To be under God’s protection it is only logical that one must know Him. One must come to realize that even though we can ’battle’ our way through the daily routines of work, family, obtaining food and shelter, and all that goes along with ’life’, when it comes to life and death issues, a person is totally helpless. Faith and belief in the Lord of Lords and King of Kings becomes our only refuge. When things are totally out of one’s control, it is a comfort to know that El Shaddai, the God Almighty, is with you because you are His.
Does God want to protect everyone? The answer is a firm and resounding YES!! God desires no harm to anyone and welcomes all to take refuge in Him. The song called Your Mercy Goes Much Deeper by Lindell Cooley summarizes our need for Him. One portion of the song is "Where could I go? Where would I stand? How could I leave the shelter of Your hand?" Are you under God’s Hand of protection? Do you want to be? Many rich and powerful people in our country view Christians as weaklings. One celebrity said "Christians are weak and they need a crutch. That is why they believe in Jesus." I admit here that I am weak. I need Jesus. I need to walk with Him and I need Him to look after me and protect me. We all do. Those who believe otherwise are doomed to spend an eternity away from God. Those who believe are destined to spend eternity with God! The choice is ours. God will not force His love and protection upon us. He offers it freely to everyone. All we have to do is to accept the free gift! Take refuge in God and know that regardless of what happens in your life that God is in total and complete control. It is not possible to think of any better refuge than El Shaddai!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
We do not know who authored Psalm 91. But when we read this Psalm, we immediately know the author felt comfort in the refuge of God because the writings indicate he also "lived" in God and knew God’s character. He expresses his fears but he concentrates more on his comfort in God. It is an awesome thing when we read this Psalm’s reassurance that one of the duties assigned to the angels is to watch over us! When Jesus spoke with the people at the Temple he told them, "How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now look, your house is left to you, empty and desolate." Jesus offered the people refuge under his wings but they denied him.
There is a story that pastors often use when speaking on the refuge we can find in God. The story is of a forest fire that swept across a farmer’s chicken yard. After the fire was out, the farmer was walking through the chicken yard and came upon one of his hens that had perished in the fire. He thought he could see the charred feathers of her wing moving. He poked the wing with the tip of his boot and out ran several baby chicks. As the fire was moving through, the mother hen had gathered her chicks under her wings to protect them from harm. The hen gave her life so that her children could live. What a great analogy of what God has done for us.
Whether in the throes of war are in the daily battles of life, God is our refuge. Many times soldiers, the true real life heroes, tell of battles where all seemed lost. But by some "change of circumstances", the battle raged but the troops were protected and unharmed. Many soldiers have given their lives freely so that we could live in the greatest country to have ever existed! In America, we are free because soldiers throughout our country’s history have "gathered us under their wings". I submit to you that these acts of selflessness are not by chance. Our soldiers have willingly and honorably laid down their lives so that we can be free. The most majestic animal is our country is the Eagle. Under the Eagle’s wings, God provides for us. Is our relationship with God any different? Jesus willingly and honorably laid down His life upon the Cross so that we can be free in Him.
You may not have served in the military but think back on your life and the number of times you were in bad situations but yet no harm came to you? Did you ’escape’ harm simply by luck or were you protected by a guardian angel assigned to look over you? The Bible does not teach that there is a different guardian angel assigned to each of us however God’s Word certainly teaches of guardian angels and how they look after us.
But is everyone protected and watched over? The answer is no. El Shaddai, the God Almighty, the God who is All-Powerful, certainly looks over His children. This is evident in Psalms where we are told that God looks over the ways of the righteous. God’s children look to Him for protection. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will not be afraid because You are with me. I will fear no evil for thy rod and thy staff they protect and comfort me." To be under God’s protection it is only logical that one must know Him. One must come to realize that even though we can ’battle’ our way through the daily routines of work, family, obtaining food and shelter, and all that goes along with ’life’, when it comes to life and death issues, a person is totally helpless. Faith and belief in the Lord of Lords and King of Kings becomes our only refuge. When things are totally out of one’s control, it is a comfort to know that El Shaddai, the God Almighty, is with you because you are His.
Does God want to protect everyone? The answer is a firm and resounding YES!! God desires no harm to anyone and welcomes all to take refuge in Him. The song called Your Mercy Goes Much Deeper by Lindell Cooley summarizes our need for Him. One portion of the song is "Where could I go? Where would I stand? How could I leave the shelter of Your hand?" Are you under God’s Hand of protection? Do you want to be? Many rich and powerful people in our country view Christians as weaklings. One celebrity said "Christians are weak and they need a crutch. That is why they believe in Jesus." I admit here that I am weak. I need Jesus. I need to walk with Him and I need Him to look after me and protect me. We all do. Those who believe otherwise are doomed to spend an eternity away from God. Those who believe are destined to spend eternity with God! The choice is ours. God will not force His love and protection upon us. He offers it freely to everyone. All we have to do is to accept the free gift! Take refuge in God and know that regardless of what happens in your life that God is in total and complete control. It is not possible to think of any better refuge than El Shaddai!