The Power Text: Part 1

Psalm 91 is a POWERFUL text. 

I got assigned to teach this text recently for my local Moms in Prayer group. The title itself tells you exactly what picture of God the text will paint: My Refuge and My Fortress.

God is too sweet to give us words like these: words of his character, who he is and what he promises to do.

When I was assigned the text, I read through it using my three questions I always use when I look to understand a biblical text:

1. Who is God in the passage?

2. Who does the text say I am?

3. What should I believe or do because of this text?

When we look to understand someone's identity, there are a few different factors that help us to grasp who they are: Their name, their actions and their relationships. God shows us who he is in all three ways in Psalm 91. Take time to read over the text now.

As you read through the text there is a list of names God is called:

God’s Names:

Most High

The Almighty

My refuge

My fortress

My God

Whom I trust

My dwelling place

Commander of angels

Guard

Then the text also mentioned different things God Promises to do, these also help show us his identity.

He will deliver you

He will cover you

He will command his angels concerning you

I will deliver him

I will protect him

I will answer him

I will be with him in trouble 

I will rescue him and honor him

I will satisfy him

I will show him my salvation

These words paint such a rich picture of the character of God as an almighty protector who cares for us. He cares not only to deliver us but to answer when we call, to be with us when we are in trouble; to not only satisfy us but to show us his salvation.

God’s character grows even more rich when we start thinking about the relationship he has with us in this chapter. It hit me that I understand God’s position in this chapter- I have someone I love who lives in my house, abides in my shadow, trusts me to care for them, runs to me when they have terrors at night. Someone that when they call out to me, I answer and they know me by a special name. My children.

The relationship God has with us is that of a loving father. Therefore in this text we are beloved, protected children. 

There are 5 lines in the text that point to the actions of the child being loved and cared for by God:

1. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

2. Abide in the shadow

3. If you make the Lord your refuge,

4. Because he holds fast to me in love

5. Because he knows my name.

This is our invitation when we are saved to walk in intimacy with God. All of these things are done, when we pray. Prayer puts us into the presence of the Most high, into his shadow. We are protected and covered when we pray. We are showing him we hold fast to him in love. When we pray- we call out and know his name, and not just his government name but his intimate name that only his children call him, Father.

So, what do we do with the truth of who God is and who we are to him in this text? 

We should run to him in prayer because we know him by name. There is nothing stopping you today from crying out and walking with God in the powerful intimacy of prayer.