Safety and Protection in the Presence of God
Psalm 91 is an amazing psalm of protection. As you study each of the 16 verses, there are several references about how God delivers us and protects us from diseases.
Verses 1 and 2 help us to understand 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 us that God alone is our refuge, our place of safety, when we trust in Him. To dwell in shelter of the Most High means we are residing and remaining 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 give us details on what we are protected from such as plaques and deadly diseases. In verse 3, 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, we do not have to fear flu season, cancer or an outbreak of a deadly disease.
In verse 4, we see a picture of God’s massive arms wrapped around us, protecting us. Psalm 91 describes God wrapping us with “His feathers” and under “His wings” we can take refuge. This gives us the 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 protecting us. 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