The First Sunday in Lent (Ps) February 26th

Psalm 91:1-16
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
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.
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.
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
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.
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.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ps 91:1–16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.


It is easy in this text to talk immediately about Satan's quotation, "For 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." Jesus reminds Satan that this is not so that we can test God. But this is given to comfort people.

Look in the text a little closer. "For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence." God is our rock and our fortress. He is our refuge in times of distress. It should remind us that there are times of distress. God does not promise in this text that everything will be a bed of roses. But God promises that he will stand by your side in all things. He will show you your salvation.

Life of a Christian is rough. We look and see thousands and 10,000 fall on either side. We see people being lead here and there by whims of doctrine. There is true terror in the night, when people are lead into sin. Satan has flung his arrows at people during the day. The people of God face plagues and death in this life. Look around and tell me you do not see destruction.

But God longs to gather his people under his wings like a hen gathers her chicks. God is our Might Fortress who defends us from evil on all sides. He is the one who gives us Armor to face spiritual threats. God also rescues his people from the Kingdom of Satan. He delivers us Life and Salvation. He shows this to us in sending his Son to die for the forgiveness of all our sins.