psalm 91 commentary john macarthur

I have read of some soldiers who were in a literal valley of death that read this chapter to feel a little more peace of mind. After clicking 'Register', you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. He is a refuge that will not fail me; for he is my fortress and strong-hold." We know that God gives His angels charge over us but only at His command and they are ministering spirits assigned to minister to His own children (Heb1:14) but as Jesus said, we should not tempt the Lord by taking advantage of the heavenly host that ministers to us. Yahweh is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Here are more promises to the same purport with those in the foregoing verses, and they are exceedingly great and precious, and sure to all the seed. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. A soldier can move the smaller round shield quickly to counter threats from unexpected quarters. Psalms 91:8-10. Note the contrast between dash your feet against a stone (v. 12b) and tread on the lion and cobra and trample the young lion and serpent (v. 13). Psalm 91, Jack Wellman is a father and grandfather and a Christian author and pastor of Heritage Evangelical Free Church in Udall, KS [https://modelchrist.org/] & also a Prison Minister. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you. God (Hebrew: elohim). In this verse, resting in the shadow of the Almighty is the blessing that the faithful person experiences for dwelling in Yahwehs presence. There are some who come to God's house; but the man mentioned here dwells with the God of the house. 2. That the powers of darkness shall be triumphed over by them (v. 13): Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. Bible Text Commentaries by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible God loved us yesterday, and will love us tomorrow. I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge (Hebrew: manseh) and my fortress (Hebrew: mesudah); my God, in whom I trust' (Hebrew: batah) (v. 2). The natural life, and is often fulfilled in our preservation from those dangers which are very threatening and very near, while yet we ourselves are not apprehensive of them, any more than the bird is of the snare of the fowler. Psalms 91:16. It is possible to misuse passages such as this that are intended to reassure us of Gods help in dangerbut are not intended to encourage us to test God (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12). 2. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, If you dwell near to God, you will not be deceived by Satan. In Vietnam, our soldiers had to watch for punji sticks and trip wires. And now, as before, we must observe. They are able to bear up the saints out of the reach of danger, and they do it with all the tenderness and affection wherewith the nurse carries the little child about in her arms; it speaks us helpless and them helpful. It is he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High, who, by Gods help, treads upon the lion and adder, and of whom it is written, The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.. What is Psalm 91 all about? - Bullinger, Rise Of The Theory Of Universal Restoration - Henry Constable, Universal Restoration Substituted for Eternal Torment, Absent From The BodyPresent With The Lord, Cross Purposes: Atonement, Death and the Fate of the Wicked. They are condescending in their ministrations; they keep the feet of the saints, lest they dash them against a stone, lest they stumble and fall into sin and into trouble. 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. We havent had to watch carefully for fowlers traps as we walk along sidewalks or drive along roadsor even when we hike through woods. II. As is customary with poetry, the psalmist doesnt amplify on the meaning of seter, but instead leaves it up to us to tease out the possibilities. However, when I was a child in the 1940s and 50s, before the polio vaccine became available, I had friends who had suffered from polio. I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. The psalmist assures believers of divine protection, from his own experience; and that which he says is the word of God, and what we may rely upon. Psalm 91 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity $30.00. Tagged as: God hides not his people in a casing of iron; their shelter is stronger than iron, yet it is soft as the downy wings of a bird for ease and comfort. It is also nimble enough to deflect blows from unexpected directions. Chicks taking refuge under their mothers wings serve as a metaphor for people finding refuge in Gods presence. There is need to fear the night filled with terror or the arrows that are visibly seen flying during the day. I will be with him in trouble; Whatever that trouble is, I will be with him in it. Psalms 91:4. Twice is he armed who hath Gods truth to be his shield and buckler. . - Darryl M. Erkel, Church Leaders and the Use of Honorific Titles, Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats - Charles Spurgeon, House-Churches? The Hebrew word qeteb means destruction, but can also mean sting (Hosea 13:14). He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. With the greatest tenderness and affection, which is intimated in that, He shall cover thee with his feathers, under his wings, which alludes to the hen gathering her chickens under wings, Matt 23 37. This psalm, without title in the Hebrew text, is a triple proclamation of God's holiness, as Isaiah would later do ( Isaiah 6:3 ). This book of praise manifests a very practical theology. Wishlist +. 2 I will say of Yahweh, "He is my refuge and my fortress; You can check these in your browser security settings. It is more probably that the word refers to the better country, that is, the heavenly, which the patriarchs desired and sought: he will show him that, bring him to that blessed state, the felicity of which consists so much in seeing that face to face which we here see through a glass darkly; and, in the mean time, he will give him a prospect of it. Great danger supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us; night and day we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous will in neither period think themselves safe. Truth is real, dependable, stablethat which we can trust. The word halas (deliver) has several meanings, at least two of which fit here. [2.] When multitudes die round about us, though thereby we must be awakened to prepare for our own death, yet we must not be afraid with any amazement, nor make ourselves subject to bondage, as many do all their life-time, through fear of death, Heb 2 15. - James P. Shelly, Genesis Week - Refuting Evolution - 100 Videos, The Enormity of the Error of Perverting the Gospel. The psalmist's comfortable application of this to himself (v. 2): I will say of the Lord, whatever others say of him, "He is my refuge; I choose him as such, and confide in him. Hardcover. b. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. II. All rights reserved. GDPR is the new European privacy regulation, which will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 in the UK and the equivalent legislation across the EU Member States. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Sadday often appears with the Hebrew word el, which is a generic word for a godany god. 4. [2.] Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Can any language be loftier? El sadday is the name that God revealed to Abram in Genesis 17:1, when God set the terms for his covenant with Abram. Such evil will never befall you. His wings and his feathers suggest both power and softness. It means delivering from danger, which is how this translation sees it. Psalms 91:14. ): Surely he shall deliver thee. If God proportions the degree and continuance of our troubles to our strength, if he keeps us from offending him in our troubles, and makes our death our discharge, at length, from all our troubles, then this promise is fulfilled. Biblical and Practical Advantages for Meeting Within Homes. Commentaries for Psalm Chapter 91 The safety of those who have God for their refuge. Psalms for the Anxious - Grace to You But we must also acknowledge that not all prayers for healing are answered. 2. 1. Psalms 91 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. That is worth noting. You can also change some of your preferences. I will honour him; those are truly honourable whom God puts honour upon by taking them into covenant and communion with himself and designing them for his kingdom and glory, John 12 26. One is that often God amazingly delivers them physically when others around them are falling. 13 You will tread on the lion and cobra. The seashore or forest where nature calms our souls and draws us to God. Psalm 91:1-3 God the Deliverer "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. The character of those who shall have the benefit and comfort of these promises; it is much the same with that, v. 1. God by his grace will keep thee from disquieting distrustful fear (that fear which hath torment) in the midst of the greatest dangers. We sent you an email. God Himself becomes like a mighty refuge and fortress for the believer. Psalm 91: Charles Spurgeon Exposition | Titus Institute . 91:1, 4. The Hebrew word lin (rest) means to lodge or dwell or tarry or rest, and can designate either a temporary or permanent lodging. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. You must, like the bee, go down into the bell of the flower yourself, and fetch out its nectar. 2 TIMOTHY 2:15. They shall be enabled, by the grace of God, to look down upon the things of this world with a holy contempt and indifference, to look up to the things of the other world with a holy ambition and concern; and then they are set on high. This is a precious promise, and speaks a great deal both of honour and comfort to the saints, nor is it ever the worse for being quoted and abused by the devil in tempting Christ, Matt 4 6. However, now we begin to hear from Yahweh directly. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. 14 Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Truth is faithful. Thanks for stopping by! An integrated digital Bible study library - including complete notes from the NIV Study Bible and the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible - is just a step away! They sicken millions of people every year, and often kill them. Life and Immortality - Basil Atkinson, M.A., PhD. Thy God will not leave thee in the glare of the sun, nor will he forsake thee when the damps of night-dews would put thee in peril. 1. Some of the most powerful evidence that proves Jesus to be Whom he claimed to be is found in the historical fulfillment of the prophsies He foretold in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Such a message is timeless. This crowns the blessedness: I will show him my salvation, show him the Messiah (so some); good old Simeon was then satisfied with long life when he could say, My eyes have seen thy salvation, nor was there any greater joy to the Old-Testament saints than to see Christ's day, though at a distance. See Ps 34 19; 2 Tim 3 11; 4 18. It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude. Some churches today cite Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19; and Acts 28:1-6 to justify the handling of deadly snakes as part of their worshipand some people die while doing that. But, (2.) Protokrator appears several times in the New Testament in passages that emphasize Gods almighty power (2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22). It would have served Israel well during Davids reign, when Israel was beset by many enemies. Is Hell eternal torment or eternal death. Psalms 91:2. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. Facing a Tolerant World with Intolerant Truth (Selected Scriptures) Pastor John MacArthur. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding themes, and probing questions to help you study the Word of God with guidance from John MacArthur, and each study includes an introduction that provides background information to each book of the Bible being studied and a . He that dwelleth in the secret place, &c. He that makes God his habitation and refuge, as he is called Psalm 91:9, that has recourse to him, and relies on him in his dangers and difficulties; that has access to him, intercourse with him, and worships within the veil, living a life of constant communion with him; shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty He shall not be . 2. Pastor John MacArthur writes, Contemporary evangelicalism has been beguiled and sabotaged by a ruinous lack of confidence in God's Word. In the light of the Lord you will see light; and you will discover the limed twigs and the nets and the traps that are set to catch you: He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.. Quantity: Cart +. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.. A crowd of people (called the "chorus") in the usual letters: verses 1, 3 - 8, 9b - 13. Therefore the psalmist is probably saying more than he understooddeliverance from trouble and salvation to eternal life. Or be unhurt by such savage and poisonous creatures; as the Israelites, when they travelled through the wilderness, in which were serpents and scorpions; and many of the servants of God have been delivered from them, or have slain them, as Samson, David, and Daniel; and so Christ was among the wild beasts in the wilderness, and yet not touched or The voice shifts with this verse. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Dale Kuiper, The Christian and the Mosaic Law - Philip Mauro, The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It. 1. He who dwells in the secret place (Hebrew: seter) of the Most High (v. 1a). Counterfeit Cross updated- Sanctification and Growing in Righteousness, Errors of the Invitation System or Alter Call, Counterfeit Cross - The Lordship of Christ in Salvation - Part II, A Historical Overview of The Lord's Supper, Set Your Mind on Things Above - Matthew Henry, Prophecies of the Destruction of Jerusalem which have remarkably been fulfilled - Thomas Newton. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Wisdom shall keep thee from being causelessly afraid, and faith shall keep thee from being inordinately afraid. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Try it free for 30 days. The other is that God often wills for his children to suffer, but forbids that the suffering hurts them in the end. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand. The word emet is usually translated truth. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. - Oscar Cullmann, Immortality of the Soul - by Kaufmann Kohler, Technical Terms and Usages Preclude Innate Immortality - Froom, The Development of the Doctrine of Immortality from the Apostolic Fathers to Augustine, The Doctrine of Immortality in the Early Church. The word kabed (honor) means to give a person honor or to make them heavy (in the sense of powerful. PSALM 91:1-2. there is no doubt about this great truth, Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.. The MacArthur Bible Commentary - Grace to You - F. F. Bruce. Psalm 91: Commentary, Bible Study and Summary - What Christians Want To That they shall be preserved in common calamities, in a distinguishing way (v. 7): "When death rides in triumph, and diseases rage, so that thousands and ten thousands fall, fall by sickness, or fall by the sword in battle, fall at thy side, at thy right hand, and the sight of their fall is enough to frighten thee, and if they fall by the pestilence their falling so near thee may be likely to infect thee, yet it shall not come nigh thee, the death shall not, the fear of death shall not." Psalm 91 Inductive Bible Study Guide and Questions for Small Group A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you (v. 7). Is Sovereign the Best Descriptor for God? 10 no evil shall happen to you, I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation (v. 16). Psalm 91 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible We know whom we have trusted. He who is the Lord of the angels, who gave them their being and gives laws to them, whose they are and whom they were made to serve, he shall give his angels a charge over thee, not only over the church in general, but over every particular believer. A Protest - Joseph Agar Beet D.D. I'm reading this passage twice a day as a prescription instruction from a Bishop. When God takes his people to dwell in nearness to himself, and they have faith in this promise, I make no doubt that, literally, in the time of actual pestilence, they will be preserved. Long life is usually a blessing (unless it involves prolonged suffering, dementia, or something else that inhibits the quality of life). The secret place of the Most High could be: The temple. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence." and show him my salvation.. Eternal Torment or Complete Annihilation? Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is my refuge: any other is a refuge of lies. Our church recently experienced a norovirus that sickened 54 of the 60 people present for worship that Sunday. However, we must guard against angel worship and the trivialization of angels popular in some circles today. Observe, [1.] Psalms 91:15. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Resource Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version(ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ), which the WEB has updated. ", You must enable JavaScript to view all available content on this page, Counterfeit Cross updated - We Walk by Faith Pt II - Taking Up Our Cross. In verses 1-2, the psalmist uses four names for God: The Most High (Hebrew: elyon). 1. Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling (vv. Commentary On Psalm 91 9 16 Working Preacher From Luther Seminary John 414 Life as a Fountain.. In that culture, as today, a persons name referred to the essential character of the personin this case, Yahweh. That the angels of light shall be serviceable to them, v. 11, 12. ', All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. The Unholy Trinity: The World, The Flesh, The Devil Psalms--BASICS Psalm 91 OUTLINE vs. 1-2: Assurance of God's Protection vs. 3-8, 11-13: The Ways God Protects vs. 9-10: An Invitation to Receive God's Protection vs. 14-16: Promises from the Lord for His Protection Surely, oh, blessed word! Talk of St. George and the dragon! The Hebrew word batah (trust) means to feel secure or to have confidence in. The psalmists faith in God gives him confidence and a feeling of security. The noun sem (name) means name or reputation or fame. Psalms: Worshipping the One True God by John F. MacArthur Jr His faithfulness (emettruth) is your shield (Hebrew: sinnah) and rampart (Hebrew: soherahbuckler) (v. 4c). Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. They shall be taken under the peculiar care of Heaven, Ps. A soldier would be equipped with one shield or the other, but the psalmist perceives Yahwehs truth as embodying the advantages of both. Psalms 91:3. Vaccines and other medical treatments have almost eliminated them for us. The first of those meanings (deliver) has God pulling the person out of the troubled situation, a scenario where the troubled person plays only a passive role. But God says, I will deliver him, and honour him.. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. For he will deliver you from the snare (Hebrew: pah) of the fowler (v. 3a). Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;I will protect him, because he knows my name. Psalm 91:1. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? 75 Bible Commentaries - Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Pulpit Commentary, etc. Psalms 91:1. Psalms 91:4. Jan. 1, 2023. Being under His wings and in His fortress and Him as the refuge, the fear evaporates during the terror at night,noon, or any part of the day. When I lived in New York City years ago, I learned not to walk close to buildings when I was walking at night. Psalms 91 Commentary - Charles Spurgeon's Treasury of David It would have served them well when King Cyrus of Persia defeated Babylon and freed Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city, where they found a ruined city and were faced with many enemies. There is also a pestilence that walketh in darkness, as that was which slew the first-born of the Egyptians, and the army of the Assyrians. Accordingly, we have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions in order to comply with GDPR. We know that death and taxes are the two certainties in lifedeath being the most certain of the two. They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. However, when Elohim refers to Yahweh, that is called the intensive plural or the majestic plural, acknowledging that all that constitutes deity is summed in Yahweh.

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