Lesson 11 of 13 May 12, 2013 “Testifying of God’s Security and Deliverance” Psalm 91 Study Aim: To summarize the psalmist’s testimony of how God provided security and deliverance and his provision of this for me in my life All Scripture quotes are from the NIV version unless otherwise indicated. Most lesson comments are from the Study Guide followed by (SG). PowerPoint by Don Cannata BaptistWay Press, Dallas, Texas 1

Overview of 13 Lesson Series in Psalms 1. Lord of All 2. God’s Majestic Greatness 3. It’s a Wonderful Life 4. Trusting God in the Darkest Hour 5. Committed to the Lord 6. The Joy of Forgiveness 7. Desiring Life and Finding Its Source 8. Gratitude for God’s Help 9. No One Does Good 10. A Desperate Cry 11. Testifying of God’s Security and Deliverance 12. Let us Worship, Let Us Obey 13. Give Thanks for the Lord’s Steadfast Love 2

Lesson 11 – Psalms 3 Overview of Psalm 91 The theme is security: God preserves those who abide in him and love him. The abiding life (1-4) produces the assuring life (5-13), the life without fear, which leads to the abounding life (14-16). Source: Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word, Thomas Nelson, Nashville,1991, p. 366

Lesson 11 – Psalms 4 Words of Assurance (91:1-2) In the space of one verse, the psalmist has established the idea that any person who lives with God will enjoy the absolute safety of God’s unmatched power. Verse 2 follows with the readers response. SG Psa. 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psa. 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Lesson 11 – Psalms 5 Structure and Meaning (91:3-4) He used images that were familiar to the people of that time period. They would have understood a “fowler’s snare” to represent hidden dangers laid by enemies. SG Psa. 91:3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. Psa. 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Lesson 11 – Psalms 6 No Cause for Alarm (91:5-10) With fear of evil spirits so prevalent in ancient cultures, it is probable that the night terror in verse 5 refers to demonic activity. SG Psa. 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Psa. 91:6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. Psa. 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. What do you do when you are afraid?

Lesson 11 – Psalms 7 No Cause for Alarm (91:5-10) It is the complete immersion in God’s Spirit that shields us from outside threat. We can’t plant our hearts just anywhere and expect to enjoy the same degree of peace and confidence that comes from total submission to God’s sovereignty. SG Psa. 91:9 If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge — Psa. 91:10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. Have you ever felt God’s deliverance?

8 Lesson 11 – Psalms Devine Relationship (91:11-16) To confirm just how effective and complete God’s protection is, the psalmist introduced a new and surprising element. Angels had appeared throughout Israel’s history. SG Psa. 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Psa. 91:12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Have you ever felt as though you had been protected by an angel?

9 Lesson 11 – Psalms Devine Relationship (91:11-16) He will “rescue” and “protect.” God saves the one who loves him, the one who acknowledges his name. SG Psa. 91:14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Psa. 91:15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. Psa. 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Lesson 11 – Psalms 10 Questions to Ponder About the Lesson What about martyrs who weren’t delivered? Do their deaths invalidate the psalm’s promises? The whole focus of Psalm 91 is more the condition of our hearts than the safety of bodies. SG 1. How might the psalmist have described our trust in God and God’s protection over us if he were writing prose instead of poetry? 2. How is it possible to spiritually “dwell” in God’s presence when our bodies are stuck in a physical world?

Lesson 11 – Psalms 11 Questions to Ponder About the Lesson 3. When the psalmist wrote of pestilence, arrows, lions, or serpents, he was calling up images that terrified the people of his time. What frightens you most? 4. What steps might you take to strengthen your trust in God and to practice submission to his lordship? End of Lesson 11 Lesson 12 is entitled “Let Us Worship, Let Us Obey” The focal text Psalm 95

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