"Under God's Protective Shelter" Psalm 91

The following is the message I shared with Destiny Church on March 15, 2020, via written message, due to the Coronavirus crisis making circumstances such that I could not meet with them personally. Our members who live at the Reserve at Hamilton Trace were able to gather:

Good morning Destiny Church. I wish I could be with you today for this service, but I am excited to know that you are meeting, and I am thankful for each one of you being present to encourage, serve, and minister to one another. 
 
            Mamma Mia! People in our world are in need of a sound mind in the present crisis we are in. Instead, people are acting like they are losing their minds—fighting over toilet paper and other supplies! 
 
            I had to laugh as I began to prepare this message, because when I went onto my Bible program to look up Psalm 91, I accidentally typed Psalm 911.  And, I thought to myself, “How appropriate!” There is indeed a sense in which we need to turn to the Lord and His Word as our emergency 911 rescue worker in a time of crisis. For certainly, our nation and world is in a crisis (illustrated by the fact that I cannot be with you this morning) and it is not just a health crisis, but it is also a crisis of fear. The remedy for this crisis is laid out in a beautiful way in our text this morning.  I have entitled today’s message: “Under God’s Protective Shelter.” Listen to our text (read meditatively a phrase at a time):
 
            Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. 9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 14 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 "With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation."
 
            Our text is a beautiful declaration of the faithfulness of our God to watch over and take care of those who love Him. This text is not a promise that we will never have a problem in life, but rather a promise of a life blessed with the Presence of God to shelter us as we go through this life. I can experience peace in a shelter during a storm, but I may still have to face the storm.  
 
            Norman Vincent Peale in his book, A Guide To Confident Living writes of a friend named Jerry Henderson. 
            “Henderson was in the Canadian Rockies at Lake Louise to climb and to ski with a party of friends. Shortly before, one of the most famous ski masters had been killed in a heavy avalanche and the suggestion of danger was potent. 
            Henderson’s party went with their guide to climb White Eagle peak. They climbed all morning, and by noontime had surmounted five thousand of the nine thousand feet they had set out to climb. At this point the guide told them that they had to cross a transverse valley lying before them. The sides shot down at an angel of forty-five to fifty degrees. 
            ‘Do not call of whistle or raise your voices for it might start an avalanche,’ the guide warned. Since hearing of the death of the ski master all had been impressed by the danger of avalanches. 
            The guide took from his pack a big ball of red yarn. He cut off fifty-foot lengths and gave to each one. 
            ‘Tie this around your waist, ‘ he said. ‘If an avalanche starts, shake off your skis, throw away your poles and start swimming just as if you were in the water. This will tend to bring you to the top. If the avalanche buries you, the end of this red yarn will protrude and we can find you.’ 
            In the party was a girl in her twenties. She looked down at this steep declivity and thought of the possibility of an avalanche, and she became very frightened. She began to whimper and cry, and said to Jerry Henderson, ‘I can’t do it. I’m terrified. I simply can’t do it. ‘ 
            He did not feel any too blithe about it himself, but Henderson believes in and practices the ten great words (“If God be for us, who can be against us?”). He takes the position that one need not fear if God is with him; that one can reasonably count on God to see him through whatever comes. 
            He turned to the trembling, hysterical girl and said quietly, ‘The Lord has watched over you throughout your life, hasn’t he? You believe that, do you not?’ 
            ‘Yes,’ she sobbed. 
            ‘Well, then, can’t you trust Him to take care of you for the next twenty minutes?’ he asked. 
            A remarkable change came over the girl. She made the descent beautifully, taking her place in the long graceful line as each skier followed the other about forty yards apart. She made the descent with exultation. She had achieved a marvelous sense of victory over herself” (PP. 60-63).
 
            The apostle Paul wrote to 2 Timothy 1:7: 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV) 
            
            Friends, we are not alone! We have an invitation to dwell in the shelter of the Most High God, to find our refuge under His protective wings, to abide in His Presence. And, the Lord has promised to be with us always, to never leave us or forsake us. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He will bring us into His beautiful rest as we trust in Him. 
            
            So, I encourage you, look up, fix your eyes on Jesus, and remember that our Redeemer, our Savior, our Fortress and Protector, is mighty, powerful, and strong. We have nothing to fear!!!!!!! 
            I close with this blessing from Numbers 6:24-26: 24 The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' 
 
            In Jesus’ Name, Amen.