WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday February 24, 2019
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OUR RESCUING GOD
(GOD is our refuge and fortress)
(Psalm 91)
Psalm 91 is a psalm of
protection, a psalm of praise for security. It testifies of the benefits of
trusting in GOD, and how GOD watches over the believer and even promises, and
indeed, guarantees our safety through the trials and tribulations of this life.
This
psalm is a lovely testimony concerning a security in life that can only come
from GOD. No man can guarantee us such divine security. From the opening line, “Those
who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the
Almighty”, the psalmist speaks with a confidence that can only come from having
an experiential relationship of friendship with GOD.
The
expressions “Most High” and “Almighty” suggests that the unknown writer of this
psalm truly understands GOD’s position of sovereignty as ruler over all that we
see in this world. The use of the word “shelter”, in verse 4, brings to mind “anthropomorphisms”
of the protection of an eagle that hides her young under her wings to shield them
from harm and danger.
GOD’s faithful promises act as armor and
protection from all of the harmful events of this world which, of course, HE
ultimately controls. In verses 5-6 the psalmist offers words of encouragement
advising us “… not to be afraid of the
terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, nor dread the plague
that stalks the darkness, nor the disaster that strikes the midday” (NLT).
With
GOD as our protector, we don’t have to fear the unknown, that which we cannot
see because of the cloak of darkness, nor do we need to fear those things that
we can see in the brightest part of the daylight hours. And even though a thousand
may fall all around us, those wicked events will not affect us physically. Instead,
as people of GOD, we will be a witness to how the wicked are punished (Vs.7-8).
If
we make the LORD our “refuge” (“mahseh” – “shelter from danger”), no evil can
conquer us, and no plague can come near to where we live. GOD’s appointed
angels are put in place to protect those who believe on HIM. We will be able to
overcome any obstacle that satan may try to place before us, in cloak of
darkness, and or, in the midday light. HE will, quite literally, lead us by the
hand and ultimately, keep us from stumbling (Vs.9-13).
In
the biblical Greek there is a wonderful sounding word that New Testament
writers use for “promise”. That word is “eppaggelia” (epp-ang-el-lee-ah), and it
is “an announcement of divine assurance of good”. The psalmist ends this
section of the psalter with this seven-fold promise from the LORD, and here he
shares this divine message for all to see and be encouraged by, for all time. In
verses 14-16 he writes that the LORD GOD solemnly guarantees these things to
those who follow HIM;
·
I will
rescue those who love ME.
·
I will
protect those who trust in MY name.
·
When they
call on ME, I will answer;
·
I will be
with them in trouble.
·
I will
rescue them and honor them.
·
I will
satisfy them with a long life
·
I will give
them MY salvation.
When
we decide to get off “the road to destruction” and get on “the road to
salvation”, taking the path that JESUS blazed through this dark world for us, the
LORD GOD will “rescue us”, “protect us”, “answer our prayers”, “be with us”, “honor
us” (honor our GODly works), “give us a long life” (because our life pleases
HIM), and for those who endure to the end, HE will reward us by “giving us HIS spiritual
salvation”, in Heaven.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
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