Jesus sits at God’s right hand and intercedes for each of us (Romans 8:34). If we truly believe this, we do not worry or fear and know that God will work all things out for the good of His people. To help focus our attention on Jesus and keep our eyes on Him, let’s revisit an amazing Psalm of protection – Psalm 91. As you study each of the 16 verses, there are several references about how God delivers and protects us from diseases.
Verses 1 and 2 provide an understanding of our relationship with God. When we abide in Christ, we are protected and receive all the blessings promised to us through God’s Word. Healing is one of those promises and blessings.
When we dwell (live) in the shelter of the Most-High, we find rest in Him. This psalm shows that when we trust in Him, God alone is our refuge and our place of safety. To dwell in the shelter of the Most-High means we reside and remain settled in the love and protection of God. The word “dwell” doesn’t mean we only run to God when we are in trouble or only visit Him during the holidays. To dwell means to reside and remain settled there.
Verses 3 and 4 gives details on what we are protected from. In verse 3, we are told that we are delivered from the snare of the fowler and perilous pestilence. A snare is a trap, and the fowler is a hunted animal, such as a bird, goose, or turkey. Perilous pestilence are deadly diseases such as the plaque or, in today’s world, the flu or cancer. This verse is saying that God rescues us from traps of the enemy and protects us from deadly and overwhelming diseases that affect an entire community. When we stay under the protection of Almighty God, xvg we do not have to fear flu season, cancer, or an outbreak of a deadly disease.
Verse 4 paints a picture of God’s massive arms wrapped around and protecting us. This verse describes God’s arms like “feathers,” and we are under “His wings” where we can take refuge. This provides an image of a mother hen when she spreads out her feathers to protect her chicks from rain, sun, hail, or whatever is trying to harm them. We should have the same picture of God’s protection. When we abide or dwell with God, His “feathers,” “wings,” and “arms” cover us completely. Nothing can penetrate His arms! If we walk away from His protection, we run the risk of harm or sickness.
Another great example to illustrate His protection is God standing outside in the rain with a giant golf umbrella. When we stand under that umbrella next to God, we are completely covered and safe. If we choose to walk away and out from underneath that umbrella, it is us walking away not God. If we walk away from His protection, we will get wet and possibly injured. However, if we remain next to God and under His protection, just like that mother hen, we will remain protected from anything that tries to harm us.
So many times when we are sick or injured, we blame God. He is showing us in Psalm 91 of His protection when we trust and believe in Him. This doesn’t mean that at times things won’t try to attack or harm us, but it does mean that we have an Almighty God, a loving Father, who promises that if we abide and dwell in His presence, we will receive His protection.
Click here to find out how to read this psalm as a prayer for your life every day.
~Donna Jones