Psalm 91

Psalm chapter 91. We'll finish with this one. Psalm 91 is a really, a beautiful Psalm. It's just talk. We were talking earlier about promises in God's Word. This would be a great Psalm to share with somebody who needs to be reminded of the goodness of God, the power of God on behalf of the believer. I'm going to just read through this Psalm. And I'm going to let... I just encourage you to let the words just wash over your heart. If maybe you've been going through a rough stretch and you just need to be reminded of God's goodness, then let this be a reminder. Okay? Verse 1,

Those last three verses are the Lord speaking prophetically in the first person. Can I share something with you here real quick? One of the Bible commentators that I read regularly, is a man by the name of William MacDonald - Bible commentator - wrote a lot of books. He shares the following story about this Psalm; Psalm 91. Listen to this. He writes: "In 1922, in the western Hebrides (which is a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland) a five year old lad was dying of diphtheria. A mucus membrane was forming across his throat and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. His Christian mother turned her back, so she would not see him take his last breath. At that very moment there was a knock at the door. It was her brother-in-law from an adjoining village. He said, 'I've just come to tell you that you don't have to worry about the child. He's going to recover and one day God is going to save his soul.' She was distracted and incredulous. 'Whatever makes you say that?'” ---

--- Then he explained he'd been sitting at his fire reading Psalm 91, when God distinctly spoke to him through the last 3 verses again, which say,

And then MacDonald writes this, "I was that boy. God delivered me from death that night. He saved my soul 13 years later. And He has satisfied me with long life." Isn't that beautiful? Fact of the matter is, William MacDonald went to be with the Lord in just 2007, at the age of 90. And he would tell people that although he was very willing to share this Psalm, he wanted them to know this was his Psalm. Because this is the one that the Lord spoke to his uncle, and said, yeah, I'm going to save this little boy. Now, most scholars believe that Psalm 91 is Messianic, and it is. And Messianic means, that it speaks prophetically of Messiah. We know that even Satan understood it as Messianic because he quotes from this Psalm, to try to get Jesus to jump off the temple and make a big scene so that everybody will think He's cool. Which was the sinful temptation of, the pride of life. But, Satan tipped his hand in a sense there, by revealing that this is in fact a Messianic Psalm. And it's a beautiful Psalm. But as with any Psalm, even though it speaks ultimately of the Messiah, these verses can be appropriated in our lives as well. And I hope that the Lord speaks to you through His Word. I really do. Just like we heard in that story about William MacDonald. I hope as the... As you read the Scripture, the Lord, from time to time, just gently taps you on the shoulder and says, this is for you. This is for you. You can accept this. This is yours. You can embrace this. It's a wonderful, glorious thing when the Lord does it. And I would encourage you just to stay in the Word. Be in the Word. Hang out in the Word. Especially when you're seeking answers. Especially when you're seeking answers. Ask God to give you answers to your problems right from the Scripture as you read the Word of God. Feed your soul, strengthen your heart and get the answers you're looking for. God will speak to you. God will make you aware.

There have been a few occasions in my life where I've been reading something in the Scripture and the Lord will just stop me, and just say, son, pay attention. This is My message to you. And it is just such a wonderful thing! And when it happens, all you can do is just be humbled and say, thank You, Lord. Thank You for speaking. But I would really encourage you to do that. Beautiful, lovely Psalm. We're going to end there. Let's pray. Lord, what a glorious God You are. A God who speaks to His children and brings comfort and peace. Lord there are so many things in this life to steal our peace, to take away that comfort that we would otherwise experience and You know what they are. Lord, help us to surrender all of those things at Your feet. Whatever is attempting to steal our peace tonight, we choose to lay that thing down. We choose to place it on the altar, set it ablaze, offer it up to You. Lord, take our hearts, our fears, our challenges, our pains, our hurts. Lord, You know the areas of our heart that need healing. We offer them up to You tonight. Let Your healing hand touch us, Lord. Fill us with hope. Fill us with life, Your life. The life that only You can give. Be with us we pray, Father. Strengthen our hearts. For we ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, amen. ---