GOD IS OUR PROTECTION (PSALM 91:1-3)

Dear Members in Christ,

God is our Protection (Ps 91:1-3)

A meditation upon God’s protection and preservation over His beloved. We live in troublous times. There is a war going on in Europe. The pandemic (although we say it’s endemic) still has its residual effects. But we fear not, as children of God, we have the assurance that God is our protector. The Psalmist says,

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” Psalm 91:1-3

When we were little children, our parents protected us from the dangers and hazards of the world. Anyone who has been around little ones will know that it is so important to keep an eye out for the children. When these little charges grow up into young adults, they go to their institutions of learning, and later, they will join the workforce. There it is hoped that they will have good teachers who will teach and protect them from the dangers of the world. In the workforce, we hope those good employers will take necessary action to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees.

Who can we depend on to guard and protect us throughout our lives? What about a person’s spiritual life? Is there a protector who will guard and secure us against the dangers of falling into spiritual calamities? The opening verses of Psalm 91 give us a clear answer to the above question. God is our Protector against all the dangers and evil around us, but we have to fulfill an important act of human responsibility.

Protection for those Who are in Close Communion with God

The psalm for our meditation is Psalm 91, a psalm about God’s protection over His beloved. The psalmist begins with “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The verse begins by describing the condition of the one who benefits from God’s protective care – the one that dwells, “in the secret place of the most High.” The word “dwell” (literally, sit quietly, or to remain) is a description of one who is under a protective covering. In the wild, the smaller animals who are prone to be prey to the larger carnivores are very adept at finding cover or hiding places. We know that in the wild, birds like quails and wild jungle fowl will try to find cover in thickets and bushes to hide from their prey. All these are temporary covers and it affords them some safety from predators as long as they stay out of sight and smell.

Christians have the omnipotent and eternal God for their protection. It is a picture of being under the protection of one who is ever-watchful and all-powerful. The use of the phrase “shadow of the Almighty” paints the picture of one who is taking shelter under the shade of outspread wings, just as a mother hen will shelter her chicks under the protective covering of her outspread wings. There is another connotation with the word “shadow” or the shade from the sun which might have been familiar to the people of God. In the book of Numbers we read of how the cloud gave shade over the tabernacle by day, “And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.” Numbers 9:15. God provided a cloud as a cover and to give direction to the people of God during their Exodus journey, for we read that the presence of the cloud was, “to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.” Deut 1:33.

All these words in verse 1 describe a person who is close to the Source which offers protection. The words “dwell” and “abide” suggest closeness with God. For indeed to be in someone’s shadow you have to be standing or sitting or dwelling very close to the person casting the shadow.

Let this be our understanding and our lesson. Protection comes to those who walk close to God. Conversely, those who stray away are courting danger, for we know not when the adversary the roaring lion will pounce upon the unsuspecting Christian. Let us pray and encourage one another to walk close to God. Husbands, encourage your wives, parents your children, and likewise, children your parents. Brothers and sisters in Christ strengthen one another in the faith, to walk in close communion with God. Thus, we will know that we will be under His protective care. 

A Personal Covenant with God

The Psalmist goes on to declare that God is His personal defense and safety. He says, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2. He declares that there is none else which He seeks for a refuge, and there is no other stronghold to which he claims except the Lord God. In ancient times, and even today when there are hostilities, armies will build fortresses or strongholds in which their troops may retire for safety and rest. There are many fortresses scattered across the landscape of the ancient middle east. But the psalmist is specific that in God he finds his place of safety and refuge. Therefore, it is not just any stronghold (of the many available), but that which is towards God.

Significantly, the Psalmist says “I will say…,” this is more than just speaking words. In the language of the text, it conveys the action of giving an utterance or a declaration, just like someone who is giving a testimony of the goodness of God. It carries a tone of confidence and security in God which we read in verse 3 which says, “Surely He shall deliver me…”

What is it that gives the psalmist such confidence? The answer lies in his testimony, the psalmist refers to the Lord as “my God.” It shows that he is confident because he has a personal covenant relationship with God. On this basis, the psalmist testifies that he has faith that his safety and security are in his covenant God. The psalmist knows with confidence that in God, he is secured against any open threat of violence, for God is his fortress. He is also confident that he is protected against any unseen plots or even diseases, for he says, “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” Psalm 91:3. In ancient times, there are visible threats, such as an attack by an aggressor, or a hidden threat, like a conspiracy within, or a plague which is borne by pathogens unseen by the naked eye. To all these, the psalmist expresses no fear, for his personal, covenant God is his refuge.

Our safety and security in God Alone

In these times of the pandemic, we have much to reflect upon. Some are petrified at the thought of catching the deadly disease. Some have anxieties over their jobs and livelihoods. Perhaps there may be someone who is concerned with health issues. Remember this lesson of walking in close communion with God. He alone is our protection. God is our fortress and refuge to which we may flee to find protection from any physical or spiritual threats. But this we must do, to abide by Him, and to remain under the shadow of the Almighty. May we exhort one another to walk close to our covenant God. May God’s Name be praised!

In Christ,
Dn. Lim Seh Beng