The Rise of Skywalker is a movie that came out in 2019. It’s of the many movies in the Star Wars series. There is a scene where the good guys are in a heated fight with the enemy. The dark side is big and bad and ugly—and the good guys are finding themselves far outnumbered. One of the leaders, a man named Poe, is wondering what to do. A fellow pilot yells out to him from her own ship: “Poe, what now?” As he considers his options, and as he looks out over the airspace battlefield, a landscape in which it appears that they are heavily outnumbered, he realizes that victory will not be possible. Exhausted and defeated he says, “My friends, I’m sorry. I felt we had a shot. There’s just too many of them.” But then another voice cuts through on their communication system: “But there are more of us, Poe; there are more of us!” It’s the voice of Lando. He’s flying the Millennium Falcon; his co-pilot is Chewbacca. He arrives out of hyperspace with hundreds and hundreds of ships. It’s unbelievable. The Star Wars theme music comes on “Da-da-da-da-da-da-da…!” The tide is turned. There are in fact reinforcements and it is darkness who needs to retreat! In the spiritual realm, the true battle ground has favourable odds, because the Most High is in fact King. The Lord does battle for you; you may experience difficulty, but never defeat. We’re in the midst of a series on the most famous psalms. We arrive at the much-beloved Psalm 91. It seems to provide protection from hardship, from battle, from fear, from pestilence, from danger! Over time it has gained a reputation of being associated with wading off evil spirits and Satan himself. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why some people over time have had small print outs of the Psalm and placed it in lockets around their necks. There are stories from NATO soldiers keeping the words of Psalm 91 on a small card and reciting it as they went about their duties in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is one of the reasons why it is sometimes called The Soldier’s Psalm. Here are our questions: What does this psalm teach us about God’s protection in our lives today? And what do we do with it when calamity strikes and when its promises of protection seem, therefore, to be hollow? Before we dive in, we should ask who wrote it? In short, we don’t know. As we have seen, many of the other psalms have an author attached to them. This one, however, is anonymous. But let’s note something. Psalm 90 (the one immediately before this one) is ascribed to Moses. The two psalms share a lot in common, and this certainly sounds like Moses. After all, he speaks about dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, which kind of sounds like someone who has experience being under the direct shelter of God: perhaps like the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day leading the Hebrews through the wilderness with Moses’ leadership. In verse 10 it talks about living in tents; this too sounds nomadic, which fits with Moses. As we begin let me highlight a three-part structure to the Psalm: Part 1 is verses 1-2; it speaks of the author or psalm-writer’s personal faith. Part 2 is verses 3 to 13; it is the author speaking to the listener—and doing so, I should add, in a very direct way. It’s addressed to “you” and is for “you.” In Hebrew, “you” is in the singular, meaning that it’s directed directly to who is listening. Every time you hear the word “you” you could substitute in your own name. For example, “For he will deliver you, Matthew, from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you, Matthew, with his pinions, and under his wings you, Matthew, will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” That’s a part of what gives it an ultra-personal thrust. Part 3 is verses 14-16. This is when God is speaking, and it forms the conclusion to the psalm as a whole. Let’s begin. Psalm 91 (ESV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say[a] to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” In these first two verses we again come across the theme that will govern the rest of the psalm. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” This is clearly a very personal faith. The text refers to “he,” but of course this is a representative figure, so it could be a he or she. ‘Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High,’ is being very close. Imagine taking shelter in a storm. Just prior to doing this research I was outside and it started to rain. I ran to take cover under a big maple tree; the leaves were so full and wide that it sheltered me from getting soaked. In Psalm 91, someone is “dwelling” (always staying with) the shelter not of a maple tree, but of “the Most High.” Let’s not miss that in the first two verses God is referred to in a variety of ways; this is someone who is “dwelling” in his shelter. All of this indicates a close and ongoing relationship. It’s not distant. It’s not occasional. This person calls out to God as my refuge and my fortress. This sounds like Psalm 46. Someone who needs a refuge and a fortress—and a shelter for that matter—is clearly feeling under attack. This is the God “in whom I trust.” With the use of the word “fortress,” we are again reminded of battle. William Gurnall shares a word which is helpful here—it is also a prayer that any of u could adopt: “castle me in the arms of your everlasting strength… I ask you to bring the whole force of your power to the battlefield for my defence.” (as per Chester, IHP, 82). 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. These next two verses speak about what God is doing in his life. He will deliver (or save) him from the “snare of the fowler.” A fowler is a hunter or trapper. He will also deliver him from “the deadly pestilence.” This Hebrew word is translated as “plague” in the CSB and “disease” in the NLT. Since it’s unlikely that the psalm-writer is being hunted by a hunter, this is most likely metaphorical language about a political enemy, war opponent, or even Satan. I can’t help but include a word from the ever-poetic King James Version: “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” When I hear my kids wrestling upstairs I should tell them to stop that “noisome pestilence”! But, of course, the psalm-writer is dealing with more serious threats. Next, God—Elyon (Most High), Shaddai (Almighty), the LORD (Yahweh), God himself (Elohim), will “cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.” Pinions means feathers. The scene here is very personal. The Almighty is also a loving Father. Think of a scared three-year-old finding comfort and stability and support in the strong arms of a parent. The child simply collapses into his father’s or mother’s arms. It’s a scene which is both personal and powerful. Tim Keller passed away in May 2023. Someone tweeted one of his quotes that speaks to this kind of close relationship, even between child and the Almighty. “The only person who dares wake up a King at 3 a.m. is a child. We have that kind of access.” Verse 4 ends by saying that God’s faithfulness is a shield and buckler. A buckler is a protecting wall. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked. Beginning at verse 5, there are more assurances. You will not fear the terror of the night—perhaps a reference to a surprise attack by an enemy, but possibly anything that might attack at night, including our own thoughts! In the day you won’t fear the arrow. Or the pestilence that stalks (or moves in) in darkness, or the destruction that wastes (or destroys) at noonday. Thousands may fall all around you, but you yourself will not fall. This may be a reference to military battle, or possible to disease. Picture myriads of people all around you, fallen. Bodies everywhere. During the Bubonic plague (also called the ‘black death’) it is estimated that in some parts of Europe over 40% of the population was lost. There are about 3 million people in the wider Toronto area. That would be the equivalent of 1.2 million people dying. Or think about small town Ontario, with a population of 10,000 people. Imagine 4000 dying. Imagine the impact that seeing that would have on you. While we consider these things, remember that all of it traces back to verse 1. You will not fall because you are dwelling closely and consistently with the Almighty. You can’t be under his wing and left exposed at the same time. In verse 8: You will see the recompense (or pay-back, punishment) of the wicked. They will get their just desserts in the end. 9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge[b]—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. In verses 9 and 10 we are reminded that the turning away of evil, and the rescue from plagues is because you have made the LORD, Yahweh, your “dwelling place.” In verses 11 and 12, we learn that God will send his own angels to guard the one who is under his care. You won’t fall—why? Because you are sustained by the very wings of angels! I think there’s a song about that. Anyway, you will not even strike your foot against a stone. In an ancient world roads didn’t come into the picture until the Romans started making them. So travel was dangerous on even crude pathways. Going over on an ankle was a much more serious thing than it is today. Hospitals and sick pay weren’t very common. Hard labour was. So, physical well-being was very important not only for yourself, but for those who you supported. Verses 11 and 12 sound family, don’t they? He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. This sounds familiar because it is quoted in Matthew chapter 4 by none other than… Satan! It’s from when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days the Devil came to him. The second temptation is where Satan quotes Psalm 91. Let me share it with you: Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (verses 5 to 7) Let’s note a few critical things from this interchange. First, the Devil quotes the Bible. James 2:19 indicates that demons even believe in God and tremble before him. So if you think that someone is the epitome of holiness because they say they believe in God and can quote a few Bible verses, think again. Any Joe Blow can do that, including Satan! Throwing around Bible verses out of context is not a good idea. Second, Jesus rebukes him with Scripture. Satan’s Achilles heel is biblical truth and prayer in Jesus’ name. Time and time again Jesus makes his points by appealing to the authoritative word of God. Third, don’t test God. That’s the scripture he replied with. It’s from Deuteronomy 6:16. We are unwise when we say to God, ‘Oh, you have to do this because such-and-such in the Bible says you do.’ God is never untrue to himself. At the same time, he is loving and good and almighty according to his timing and wisdom, not ours. Back to Psalm 91:13. You will tread on the lion and the adder (snake). Instead of them getting you, you will get them! Then we come to the closing section of the psalm, part 3. This is when the narration changes; now, God is speaking. 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.” Notice that God will “deliver him” for a reason: “because he holds fast to me in love.” He loves God and is holding fast to him; this includes a deep and abiding trust, and also a steadfast and ongoing loyalty. James 4:8 comes to mind: Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. In the 17th century the Spanish priest Peter Claver wrote: “Seek God in all things and we shall find God by our side.” (Harter, PWJ, 82). Ah yes, you will find him being a God of deliverance and protection “because he knows my name.” Knowing God’s name is about knowing him personally. Rhyming off some verses is one thing, but knowing him is another. Verse 15. When he calls to God he will receive an answer. He will rescue him and honour him. This verse also says that God will be with us in trouble. That’s nice, isn’t it? But hold on. Up to this point it has sounded like no problems will ever come our way because we are dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty? Not so fast. The text clearly says that God will be “with us” in trouble. In other words, we will experience trouble, but God will be with us. This verse pushes back on the notion that faith guards you against all hardship. We should also remember the larger story of scripture which also contributes to our understanding about what we will endure in life. Jesus and Paul both speak about God’s people being persecuted. (See Matthew 5:11-12 and 2 Timothy 3:12). But in and through it all, the Almighty will be with us, sustaining us. The closing verse tells us that this person will experience long life and the salvation of God. Very good things indeed. A long life is a blessing, but that doesn’t mean that short life is a curse. Some live a long time, some don’t. We commend it all to the care of God. You could also translate that phrase “length of days”—i.e. God will satisfy him with length of days. In this more literal sense, it could be a reference to eternity; remember that Jesus was totally obedient, good and faithful, and only lived physically on planet earth for 33 years. I have lived 13 years more than Jesus. If you’re 60 you have lived 27 years more than Jesus. If you are 85 you have lived 52 years more than Jesus. In faith we always have “length of days” because our days are not limited to our time on earth. An inspiring word is appropriate here from puritan William Gurnall: “Our Savior never lost a battle, not even when He lost his life.” (TCICA, Jan 2) We end our close look at the text there. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Having looked at the psalm, let’s return to those two questions we started with: What does this psalm teach us about God’s protection in our lives today? And what do we do with it when calamity strikes and when its promises of protection seem, therefore, to be hollow? Let’s start with the second. First, let me note that the text doesn’t indicate that perfect protection always occurs, at least in the way we want it. Verse 15 implies as much: We will have trouble, but God will be with his people through it. John Stott says: “Divine deliverance does not always mean an escape from trouble; it sometimes means finding God in trouble.” (book: Favorite Psalms) If we remember this, we are less likely to see the entire psalm as a 100% slam dunk protection from hardship. Second, it might be the case that verse 8 holds the key to interpreting this psalm. There it states that you will look and see the recompense (or the punishment) of the wicked. Some commentators take this to mean that the psalm is really about being protected from divine judgment on the last day. As one of God’s children, you will have trouble in life (as verse 15 states and many other parts of the Bible teach), but in the end, you will be preserved on the day of judgment and beyond. The wicked will not. The famed preacher Charles Spurgeon states this about the faithful in the face of calamity: “the most crushing calamity can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward… Losses enrich him; sickness is his medicine; reproach is his honor; death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good… he lives where others die.” (The Treasury of David) If we take this view, we are also less likely to see the entire psalm as a 100% slam dunk protection from hardship while living our brief days on earth. Third, others have suggested that this psalm was originally used when God’s people went on a religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The reference to being in the shadow of the Almighty might be a reference to being in the Jerusalem Temple with its tall structures and long shadows. This view is even more compelling if we remember that the temple was considered the very home of the Lord. Since everyday life was set aside when people went to Jerusalem in pilgrimage it might mean that they are saved from danger when doing their religious duties in the Holy City. The tents that are referenced might mean the temporary places where they sleep when out of town on pilgrimage. The reference to feet not dashing against stones might be a word of protection when travelling from afar—perhaps somewhere in Galilee or the Decapolis. If we take this view, we again are less likely to see the entire psalm as a 100% slam dunk protection from hardship since we can see how it was probably primarily about protection while on pilgrimage—at least at first. Let me share a different perspective. God is in fact doing battle for you. It’s just that you don’t always appreciate what is truly happening in your life on a spiritual plane because you can’t physically see it. Let me provide an illustration. A small child walks into a street with his head down. They are simply not paying attention. A truck is racing toward him, but a woman on the other side steps out and puts her hand up to stop the truck who puts on the brakes and swerves to the side, missing the child. The boy doesn’t even notice. He continues down the street in the direction of a man who is yelling lies about who to trust and who to believe; he’s a firebrand who preys particularly on the impressionable minds of young people. Seeing the child come close, a neighbour engages in a conversation with the firebrand, contradicting his statements and diverting his attention. As a result, the boy strolls past unaware that he just missed a menacing encounter. He heads toward home and takes a longer route through a park. Someone had anticipated his route and has set out a lemonade strand to quench his thirst, a bench so he can rest his little legs, and even swept off the path so his way home would be more easily discerned. Through all of this child thought he was on his own. But out of sight, and beyond his knowing, he was being protected and cared for. So it is with us. Let’s look at some possible examples directly from the words of Psalm 91: Verse 3: “For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.” How many times has God done battle for you, delivering you from the Evil One, or warding off an illness… but because you didn’t see his intervention, you thought it was chance or luck. Verse 4: “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” How many times has done enfolded you with his protecting wing to provide you refuge. How many times has his shield gone before you or behind you, preserving you through countless situations… but because you didn’t physically see his intervention, it didn’t even cross your mind. Verse 5: “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” How many times have you had a good sleep? How many times has your day been well? How many times have you been spared a horrific outcome?... but because you didn’t physically see his intervention, you assumed he wasn’t involved. Verse 11: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” How many times have you encountered demonic spirits, trying to thwart you or get into your home, unceasingly assaulting the thoughts of your mind, but the attack stopped and perspective was restored… but because you didn’t physically see them, you assumed that nothing was actually going on. Let me say this. You may think you are fighting your own battles, but no. The Lord is doing battle for you, even if you can’t see it. The Lord does battle for you; you may experience difficulty, but never defeat. How do we keep this top of mind? The Psalm tells us: Verses 14 and 15 are in Part 3 of the psalm when God himself addresses the person who has been speaking about God. Here are his words: “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him…” We are told three things about what we are to do. Hold fast to God in love. What do you “hold fast” to? You hold fast—another word might be ‘cling’—to things or people you love. If someone you care about is about to go away on a long trip, that last hug good bye is often a long one. You are holding fast. The same could be true for a welcome-home hug after a long absence. Holding fast to God means sustained loving commitment. Is there evidence in your life of sustained loving commitment? What does sustained loving commitment look like? God delivers those people. Know God’s name. In the Bible, the word “know” usually means more than collecting information about something. I remember being confused when I was reading the Bible in elementary school. It said that “Adam knew his wife.” Well, of course he knew her; they were married! But as I grew up I learned that in the Bible, to “know” someone sometimes (depending on the context), means to have sex with someone. Here in Psalm 91, that’s clearly not the meaning. But the sense of intimacy is included. To know God’s name is to know him intimately. How do you know someone intimately? You spend time with them. You listen to them. You talk to them. You have a genuine concern for what they want. You trust them. Is there evidence that you know God intimately? What does intimacy with God look like? God protects those people. Call out to him. This has to do with talking to him honestly in prayer and expecting a response. Do you talk at God or talk to God? What’s the difference? Do you see things happening in your life and wonder if these are responses to what God might be doing in your life? Or do you say you believe that God does things, but then when things happen do you just chalk it up to change? When we call out to God “I will answer him,” he says. God answers the people who call out to him. But lastly, and mostly, I encourage you to remember that God does battle for you, even if you can’t always see it. If he didn’t, the universe would collapse. If he didn’t, your life would be an abject disaster. If he didn’t, Satan would win over you every single day. If he didn’t, you’d never get out of your bed. If he didn’t, you would never do anything meaningful in your life. If he didn’t, you’d never smile, never stop weeping, never stop experiencing disaster day after day. If he didn’t, you’d be dead and shrieking a thousand times over. Every single drop of goodness in your life is because God fights for you. The Lord does battle for you; you may experience difficulty, but never defeat. As many of you know I was in Halifax last week for a national gathering of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It was called the General Assembly. It is the highest decision-making body in the denomination. One of the good things about going to an event like that is getting to talk to people from different parts of the country. I had lunch one day with a man who knew a lot about the Halifax explosion which levelled many parts of that city in 1917. He told me a story about it. Apparently some men working on a ship in the harbour, saw the ship on fire—the ship which held incredible amounts of explosives. They knew that the blast would be huge, and so they jumped into the water and started swimming to the other side of the harbour trying to get as far away as they could. When they got to the shore there were families having a picnic on the grass. The men who got out of the water probably looked crazy. Their eyes were full of urgency and fear. They were yelling at the families to run away because something terrible was about to happen. But there was a problem. The men didn’t speak English. So to the people having a picnic, it all sounded like gibberish. That’s when one of the men had an idea. He went up to one of the families who children and grabbed a baby and started running away. And guess what happened. They started to chase him! He and the others ran over a hill, so that they would protected on the other side of it from the explosion that was coming behind them. They all got there on time and were saved. Friends, there is so much in our lives that we don’t understand. How often is God sheltering us and saving us and protecting us and guiding us… when we have no idea that he is using other people, places and events to do so, even confusing or difficult ones? The Lord does battle for you; you may experience difficulty, but never defeat. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Amen.