Sitting in the Shade of God
By Jeff Cranston
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are looking for hope and security in the midst of a world that is uncertain and unstable. Psalm 91 is an intimate prayer that shows you where you can place confidence in the middle of these tragedies. God is the only One who can ensure your safety and security. Read Psalm 91.
1. You can trust the Lord to be powerfully close to you.
In Psalm 91:1-3, God is referred to in four different ways:
The Most High or El Elyon in Hebrew (verse 1). It suggests a Supreme monarch, one who is elevated above all things. The name signifies God’s majesty, sovereignty and pre-eminence. The verse also speaks to the protection of one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High. Do you dwell in the pandemic news cycle? In your own fear? Your own self-doubt? Do you dwell in what could be or what could have been? Or do you dwell in the shelter of the Most High God, the Holy King of heaven who promises to protect and keep us?
Almighty, El Shaddai. This name primarily suggests a mighty, powerful God who is strong beyond our imagination and is more than capable to supply our every need. He is the God who parted the sea and controls all of creation. In His name and in His power, there is no need that cannot be met, and no circumstance He cannot overcome.
The LORD, Yahweh or Jehovah. This is a personal name for God, revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 6:2). The significance of this name is that it represents a relatable God who wants you to know Him on a deep, personal level. The God who is the all-powerful, Divine ruler of all things is also the God who knows every hair on your head, every joy and fear in your heart, and desires you to know Him as intimately as a friend.
My God, Elohim. This name first appears at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” In Greek, God is translated as Theos, which means the one who is first, or the creator, and it is technically a plural word. So it is fitting that this is how God is referenced in Genesis 1:1—as a creator who is one, yet plural (Father, Son, Spirit). The psalmist is proclaiming that the God in whom he trusts is the same God who created all things—the first and the last—and the God who is forever faithful to His creation.
In the span of these verses, we see the beauty of God: His ways are higher than our ways, yet we can speak to Him as a friend. What a takeaway! God is at the same time unsearchable, yet so very near to us. In His shadow and in His shelter, you can find strength, comfort and rest for your soul.
2. You can trust the Lord to provide for your safety.
Having established who the Lord is, the psalmist now addresses what the Lord does. Read Psalm 91:4-13. In these magnificent verses filled with powerful imagery, we are informed concerning the multifaceted nature of the safety that our Lord provides for His children. The personal pronoun “you” or “your” is prominent, occurring 19 times. It is also singular: For you. For me.
Let Him keep you from fear. We live, right now, in a culture of fear where people are worried about everything from toilet paper supplies to identity theft to terrorist attacks to COVID-19. Here, the psalmist exults not only in God’s saving power but in His keeping power. Does this mean we will be immune from danger? No. But it does mean that regardless of the physical, emotional or financial battles surrounding us, the Lord Himself is our refuge. Therefore, what else do we need?
Let Him keep you from falling. Verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. In the third temptation, Satan caused Jesus to be taken up to the pinnacle of the Temple. “Jump,” he said. “After all, You won’t get hurt because the angels will keep You from dashing your foot against a stone.” But Satan conveniently overlooked or forgot to finish the verse, “in all your ways.” In other words, this promise was made that Jesus, and God’s children, would be kept in all His ways—not Satan’s.
What we are experiencing right now gives us the same opportunity. Trust your Heavenly Father.
3. You can trust the Lord to bless you.
Read Psalm 91:14-16. These final three verses are a divine pronouncement or declaration. Six blessings are showered on us by the Lord resulting in spiritual satisfaction now and forever. Two are found in each verse.
Verse 14 says that when our response to Him is love, then He will deliver, or rescue, us. And that when we acknowledge His name, we honor Him. We honor Him and amazingly, He honors us.
In verse 15, we call on Him in prayer because He is our God in whom we trust, the one who delivers us from any and every conceivable danger. His response: I will answer. The final phrase of verse 15 is a precious promise indeed. When trouble comes, He will deliver us and He will honor us. To be with me is enough. To deliver me is more than I could ask. To honor me is too much to comprehend!
In verse 16, the psalmist informs us that God will show us His salvation, amplifying what it means to be delivered from trouble and satisfied by the Lord.
When or where do you feel the most secure?
The psalmist reminds us that the most secure place to be is under God’s protective care. And as a child of God, you are. Safety is something we all seek in life. We want to be protected from the start. When we're young, we fear things like darkness, thunderstorms, being alone, animals, or our big brother. When these fears arise, we want the protection of our parents. In this life, there are enemies who are out to get us. But our Almighty Parent, our Heavenly Father, is always there to protect us. We just have to run to Him!
Jeff Cranston is lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, South Carolina.