unite our hearts in reverent fear of you and satisfy our hearts in your steadfast love
we ask and praise things in jesus name amen
psalm 91 if we're honest think as we were reading that
we attempt to think it just sounds too good to be true doesn't it
no it almost reminds me of them a manifesto a political party might bring out the run-up to
an election and you read these promises they they say they'll do if they're elected and you think
no danger is that gonna happen now i wonder if you're the same response as you read the psalm
you think it sounds too good to be true no danger is this gonna happen to me you see we read this
and we know don't we that christians get cancer christians fight anxiety for some of us the
thought of being left alone every night to our thoughts it just seems like torture
so what are these promises then in the psalm
is it just exaggeration exaggeration poetic license
one of the guys on our launch team in charleston owen he was on his on his deathbed a few years ago
he was he was waiting on a liver transplant by god's grace he got one he's he's uh he's doing well
walking with the lord loving the lord and for him on his deathbed
psalm 91 when everything to him
how could that be when we read we read through it
no harm will overtake you well what does that mean
look at verse 6 know the the person that's that stalks in the darkness of the plague that destroys
at midday here's a guy on his deathbed because of sickness
how how did this psalm possibly help him it's a psalm like
like some sort of spiritual spinach from popeye
you know you're you're feeling fearful you
you crack open the tin of spinach you read the psalm so to speak and that's it you're fine you have no fear
you're able to carry on with whatever comes your way
well of course you know that's not right
see for all of us disaster will come harm will come disease will come
terrors will come
in order for us to understand this psalm what i think we need to do
is to look at the psalm through the through the lenses of jesus
see these these promises begin to make sense when we look at them through the lens of jesus
and when we do that
we will see why owen charleston was able to sing this on his deathbed i mean every single word of it
so two points for us this evening first off a song for king jesus
secondly promises for his people
a song for king jesus promises for his people
let's look at first point a song for king jesus
now why do i say that
well in the psalm just look in verse 3
how often you see the word you
he will save you
he will cover you
you will not fear
the things throughout the psalm
this this you it's it's singular
so who is the individual then
that the psalm is talking about
who's this individual who's going to receive these promises
well like a good maths textbook at school
will you flick to the back to see the answer
and let's do that now
but let's turn to verse 14
of this um
sorry pardon me i've got a bit of a cold just now
first cold in a year i think so
forgive me if my voice cracks a bit
anyway verse 14
look at verse 14 where it says
the lord says it's the one who loves me
the one who calls on my name
here is someone who clings to god wholeheartedly
who honors god who
god says to this person
his promises will be fulfilled
to this person
i will rescue
so who is this person who fulfills this criteria
perhaps in your bible like mine
you've got a footnote as well
verse 14
that says at the bottom
that is probably
the king
i think it's spot on that the you here
that they're talking about is
is the king
god's king
there's language in the psalm that
that echoes language used by david
there's there's warlike language
in the psalm that
that's usually applied to the king
and in theory
the king trusts god
knows god
follows god
and his law
you see verse 14 should describe god's king
well we read the old testament
and see how fell
how far they fell short of that
but when we come to the new testament
the psalm is picked up on again
and we see even clearer
who is the recipient of this psalm
for help of that we turn to
i guess you could argue
a master expositor
the devil
the devil is the
the great deceiver
that doesn't mean he's clueless
when it comes to scripture
i'm going to keep a finger in psalm 91
and turn ahead to luke chapter 4
and let me read for us
where jesus has been tempted by satan
let me read for us from verse 9
of luke chapter 4
it says this
the devil led him
that is jesus
to jerusalem
and had him stand
on the highest point of the temple
if you are the son of god
he said
throw yourself down from here
for it is written
he will command his angels
concerning you
to guard you carefully
they will lift you up in their hands
so that you will not strike your foot
against a stone
now
question
what did satan call jesus here
did you notice that at the start
if you are the son of god
now that's a messianic title
satan here isn't referring to jesus
i don't think as the eternal son of god
instead he's using the messianic title
of god's promised king
like like elsewhere in the songs
why is he doing that here
how do you know that well
because of what
satan goes on to quote
he goes on to quote
psalm 91
a psalm for
god's king
and satan says here to jesus
doesn't he that
if you are the son of god
that is
if you are god's king
then psalm 91
is for you jesus
he's right
jesus doesn't tell him
that he's wrong here
let's follow satan's logic
he says
if you are god's king
then psalm 91
is yours jesus
so
jump off this building
and the angels will catch you
so no harm comes to you
god wouldn't let harm come to his king
he's promised that in psalm 91
well satan might be spot on
and psalm 91
is for god's king
but he's wrong
in how he uses a psalm
see satan reads this to jesus
and says
don't go to the cross
if god really loved you
he wouldn't let you suffer
look at his promises to you
in psalm 91
that's the temptation for jesus
don't go the way of the cross
go the way of comfort
and enjoy these promises now
let's have a look at what his promises are
for jesus
in the psalm
turn back to psalm 91 then
our car insurance
needed renewed recently
and if you can afford it
you don't go third party
firing theft do you
you go fully comp
fully comprehensive
that's what these promises are here
they are fully comp
all encompassing
nearly every situation in life
could throw at you
look at the language of what
of what jesus will receive
from god
the language of
of
of shelter
shadow
in first one
god will be his
his refuge
his
his fortress
in verse two
look in verse three
some of
the threats
the king will face
the foulest snare
that
the hidden
sneaky threats
traps laid by enemies
deadly pestilence
sickness
that
that risks
overcoming him
and didn't jesus face that
the pharisees
the scribes
seeking to lay
their traps for him
the ill
the sick
coming to jesus
yet god covered him
protected him
god's faithfulness
to his king
will be his shield
and rampart
look at verses five
and six
notice the
the language of night
and day
and then the
the darkness
and midday
he's saying that
in the
the stillness
of the darkest night
or the
brightness of
sunny midday
the king
need not fear
and look at the things
that are
that could cause him
to fear
people firing
arrows at you
a plague like
sickness
which i guess
we can relate to
terrors at night
all of these
you need not fear
god saves to his king
psalmist goes on
to describe god's
judgments
that the wicked
will fall
evil will be defeated
and you'll see it all
you'll see
your enemies
fall
and jesus did
the image continues
doesn't it
verses 10 onwards
the angels
they'll be like
the king's
security detail
i guess in one sense
they were for jesus
weren't they
the garden of gethsemane
the night before
he died
on the cross
in verse 13
you will
trample the lion
and the serpent
god says
to his king
well what does that mean
well i think when we get
this it helps us really
unlock the psalm
see the psalm
it's it finds
its fulfillment
in the death
and resurrection
of jesus
and his return
let me show you
what i mean
jesus faced
traps for his enemies
and he evaded them all
god fulfilled
that promise
that is until
it's time for him
to be handed over
to die on a cross
jesus in the gospel
like jesus is amazing
you read the gospels
and he's just
unfazed by things
he meets a legion
of demons
unfazed
there's this massive
storm
unfazed
that is
until the night
before he was
due to die
on the cross
jesus enemies
they
they did fall
because on the cross
he defeated satan
the serpent
an image for the devil
jesus crushed his head
as he died
on the cross
you see jesus is the one
who verse 14
has truly loved god
he has always trusted god
he was always in his favour
he was
he always put his refuge
in god
see verses 14 to 16
it's it's eight promises
from god
to his king
and did god
keep his word
in them
well at first glance
it doesn't seem like it
does it
because he died
you see the harm
that came to jesus
wasn't lasting
and in fact
it was in his harm
that jesus trampled
the serpent's head
and god
did rescue him
jesus rose
from the dead
see all these promises
we see
in verses
14 to 16
come after
the resurrection
he gets these things
after the resurrection
that's when
psalm 91
is fulfilled
after the cross
and resurrection
not before
as satan
tempted jesus
to do
you see
look down
from verse 14
where we see
these eight promises
and hear god himself
speaking these
says verse 14
because
the king
clings to me
in love
i will rescue him
i will
protect him
for he acknowledges
my name
the king
he'll call on me
and i will
answer him
i will be with him
in trouble
i will deliver him
i will
honor him
with long life
i will
satisfy him
and i will
show him
my salvation
see god did
come through
he did answer
these promises
but it was on the
far side
of resurrection
see jesus was
rescued
he was rescued
from death
he was always
protected from
his grip
jesus is forever
with the father
he will always
answer him
jesus was delivered
from death
raised to life
ascended into
heaven
and he's been
honored
honored with the
name above every
other name
he has life
eternal
see jesus is the
one who is
truly the
recipients of
these promises
because he is the
one who truly
loves the father
at all times
through all things
he is the one who
is truly faithful
to him
see when our
when our fears
scream at us
in our face
or
or eat us
from the inside
out
we can be
tempted to
think
if god really
loves me
then he won't
let me suffer
after all that's
what psalm 91
says
psalm 91
first and foremost
isn't a promise
for you and I
it's a promise
for jesus
and to promise
which he didn't
receive straight
away
but said after
his resurrection
see we don't
deserve these
promises
we aren't
always faithful
we're fitful
and failing at
times
we don't
qualify for
them
it's the
amazing thing
because
jesus went
to the
cross
bore the
the punishment
of the wicked
bore our
punishment
that when we
repent of our
sin when we
put our trust
in jesus
then the
psalm becomes
yours
psalm becomes
mine
it means that
these incredible
promises become
ours
some high
friend Owen
on his
deathbed
he was
completely
right
to read
to sing
to pray
psalm 91
because in
christ these
promises are
his
we've looked
at how this
is a song
for king
jesus
now let's
turn and look
at some of
these promises
for his
people
i've been
reading a
book called
rejoice and
tremble by
mike reese
and he makes
this fascinating
observation i
think he's
right here
he says that
never in a
society have
we been more
safe and yet
never have we
been more
afraid
when i asked
on facebook
what people
feared there
was one
thing that
didn't come
up which
should really
really have
come up
see if we
don't know
jesus we
should be
terrified that
satan has a
hold of us
terrified that
we have an
eternal judgment
waiting us
terrified that
god is going
to pour out
his wrath upon
us for all
the wrong
things that
we do
and the
fear of
those things
should eclipse
every other
fear that we
have
but because
of jesus we
don't need to
fear those
things anymore
that doesn't
mean that
fear is
completely removed
from our
lives
we find that
for whatever
reason god
does sometimes
he leads us
to a place of
helplessness
when we are
forced to
realise that
when we see
that all we
have is him
we realise
that we
have all
we need
let's see
how the
psalmist
describes god
here
have a look
at verse
one
he's described
as the
most high
no matter
how big
your fears
are
how much
you fear
people and
what they
think
he is
greater
he is
most high
he's the
most high
he's the
almighty
no matter
how strong
your fears
are
he is
more
powerful
he is
stronger
he's the
most high
he's the
almighty
he's the
lord and
capitals
the covenant
god
yahweh
this all
great
all powerful
god is
the god
who makes
promises
and keeps
them every
time
he is the
god who
knows his
people
who dwells
with his
people
he is the
god who
will never
let us
down
never let
us go
never give
us up
finally he
is my
god
this god
isn't some
distant and
different deity
the most high
the almighty
the lord he
is my
god
so what he
says to
me what he
thinks about
me should
shape everything
in my life
look at the
metaphors that
accompany these
names
shelter
when life
is chaos
there is
shelter
protection
shadow
like the
wings of
an eagle
over us
providing rest
from the
burning sun
a sense of
sense of
closeness
with him
refuge
he's a
place you
can run
to and
know that
we are
safe
a fortress
think
edinburgh
castle
on the
hill
strong
and
movable
protecting
everyone
inside
with walls
as thick
as I am
tall
this is
my god
and in
him
I trust
see just think of that image
from verse 4 of being
surrounded by
God's wings
think of the
mother hen
and her chicks
under her wing
if heat is burning
down the mother
dies but the chicks
live
if wind is blowing
and rain is
pouring
the mother
freezes but the chicks
live
if a prayer to come
she dies but the chicks
live
Jesus has taken
the judgment
the wrath should have
come on us
but he has protected
us from us
he has taken it
so that we
might live
and how do we know
that he did that
that he took that
punishment in full
because he rose
from the dead
because Jesus
is risen
from the dead
we can know
that God
is not punishing
you for your sins
when things come
that make you
fear
God is not
punishing you
just look at the
end of verse 4
his faithfulness
God's faithfulness
not our faithfulness
to him
but his faithfulness
will be our shield
and rampart
and he is always
faithful
he will protect you
not from harm
but through harm
even through death
itself
see God is
God is with us
God is for us
God has said that
he'll be with us
to the very end
of the age
and into the next
and one day
we'll be with him
forever
there'll be no more
suffering
no more sickness
no more enemies
no more tears
no more fears
so you remember
on the
on the cross
Jesus crushed
the serpent's head
he defeated
the devil
the great lion
prowling round
as Peter calls him
in his first letter
but like Jesus
these promises
in Psalm 91
aren't going to be
fulfilled on this
side of death
instead they help us
persevere
when we come face
to face with death
because we've seen
the Psalm
that God isn't going
to keep us
from trouble
but he'll keep us
through trouble
he doesn't say
no harm will come to you
he says no harm
will overtake you
see this Psalm
is not a promise
that we won't get hurt
it's a promise
that ultimately
we won't be harmed
because of the death
and resurrection
of Jesus
you are never condemned
never separated
because God is for you
so because
of the death
and resurrection
of Jesus
when we trust in him
he looks at you
and he says
look down at verse 14
he says this to you
he says
because he loves me
because she loves me
says the Lord
I will rescue him
I will protect him
for he acknowledges
my name
he will call me
and I will answer him
I will be with him
in trouble
I will deliver him
and honour him
I with long life
I will satisfy him
and show him
my salvation
his amazing promise
for us
so what do we do
with these promises
in the Psalm
that we have in Christ
well three things I think
first off
know
know with confidence
that God most high
is greater than any fear
and in him alone
there is safety
this Psalm reminds us
to take our eyes
off ourselves
and to lift us up
the great promises
to come in Christ
know who God is
second this Psalm
raises our affections
and reminds us
of God's amazing grace
to us in Christ
we don't deserve
these promises
but they're ours
it's just stir up
love in our hearts
for Christ
and all that he has
given us
in his grace
but if you're listening
and you aren't a Christian
these promises
aren't yours
you should be scared
of the judgement
to come
so trust in Christ
turn from your sin
and trust in him
first off
know who God is
remember who he is
secondly
have your affections
raised to Christ
and what he's done
for us
and what we have
in him
and third
I think
this Psalm
should drive us
to radical
missionary endeavours
now what do I mean
by that
Elizabeth Elliot
wrote a book
called
The Shadow
of the Almighty
of course
taking its title
from verse 1
of the Psalm
perhaps you've read
the book
it's a book
about her husband
Jim Elliot
and four other men
who on the 8th of January
in 1956
tried to take the gospel
to an Ecuadorian tribe
for the very first time
and they were killed
if you call a story
of missionary martyrdom
the shadow
of the Almighty
I think you're saying
something about
Psalm 91
you're saying
this Psalm
does not mean
that difficult things
won't happen to Christians
you're saying
even death
may come
in the service
of Jesus Christ
and yet through that
you remain
in the shadow
of the Almighty
God remains with you
see Jesus says
something similar
in Luke's gospel
he's teaching his disciples
in chapter 21
and he says this
from verse 16
he says
you will be betrayed
even by parents
brothers and sisters
relatives and friends
and they will put
some of you to death
everyone will hate you
because of me
but not a hair
of your head
will perish
some of you
will die
Jesus says
but not a hair
of your head
will perish
see as we follow
Jesus
yes
there are times
when we will
get hurt
but because
of the resurrection
of Jesus
Psalm 91
reminds us
that ultimately
we will not be harmed
so let's take risks
for Jesus
knowing that God
is great at normal
knowing that all
that Jesus
has done for us
let's take risks
for Jesus
risks like
inviting a work
colleague
to read John's
gospel with you
over your lunch break
risks like
telling your
unbelieving spouse
or parents
perhaps tonight
over tea
what you heard
at church today
take risks
for the gospel
because the shadow
of the almighty
is over you
that's why I'm so
grateful that you
as a church
are behind
church planting
see we live
in a culture
of fear
and we have
the only
message
of hope
and refuge
so let's tell
people
let me close
in prayer
together
let's pray
our father
we thank you
for these amazing
promises in
the Lord Jesus
Christ
that we have
in him
father
sorry for times
we've become
so focused
on ourselves
we forget
how great
you are
and all the
promises
that we have
in Christ
father
for those
of us
this evening
who are
suffering
who are
fearful
may they
know your
love for them
this evening
that you are
for them
that you are
with them
even through
death itself
you will be
there with
them
and these
promises
are for
them
there are
any here
who are
doubting
their
salvation
in Christ
may they
be strengthened
this evening
at all
that they
have in him
knowing their
sin has been
forgiven
and his
promises
are theirs
father
knowing that
you are
the most
high
the almighty
knowing all
that we've
been given
in Christ
may you
help us
be bold
with the
gospel
knowing that
we live
as people
in the
shadow
of the
almighty
we thank
you Lord
Jesus
for the
cross
and it
is in
your name
we pray
amen
my soul
finds rest
in God
alone
my rock
and my
salvation
a fortress
strong
against my
foes
and I
will not
be shaken
though lips
may bless
and hearts
may curse
and lies
like arrows
pierce me
I'll fix
my heart
on righteousness
I'll look
to him
who hears
me
oh praise
my
delight
and my
reward
everlasting
never failing
my
redeemer
my
God
find
find rest
my
soul
in God
alone
amidst
the world's
temptations
when evil
seeks to
take a
hold
I'll cling
to my
salvation
though riches
come and
riches
go
don't set
your
heart
upon
them
the
fields
of hope
in which
I sow
are
harvested
in
heaven
oh
praise
him
hallelujah
my
delight
my
reward
everlasting
never failing
my
redeemer
my
God
I'll
set my
gaze
on God
alone
and
trust
in him
completely
with
every
day
pour
out
my
soul
and
he
will
prove
his
mercy
though
life
is
but
a
fleeting
breath
a
sigh
too
deep
to
measure
my
king
has
crushed
the
curse
of
death
and
I
am
his
forever
oh
praise
him
hallelujah
my
delight
and
my
reward
everlasting
never
failing
my
redeemer
my
God
is our
refuge
and our
strength
our
ever
present
aid
and
therefore
though
the
earth
gives
way
we
will
not
be
afraid
though
mountains
fall
into
the
sea
though
waters
foam
and
roar
we
will
not
fear
though
mountains
quake
as waves
engulf
the
shore
a
river
flows
through
streams
delight
the
city
of
our
God
the
holy
place
in
which
the
Lord
most
high
has
his
abode
God
is
within
his
holy
place
the
city
will
not
yield
for
God
will
come
at
break
of
day
to
be
her
help
and
shield
the
nations
are
in
disarray
the
kingdoms
disappear
God
speaks
and
at
his
mighty
voice
the
whole
earth
melts
with
fear
the
Lord
almighty
is
with
us
to
strengthen
and
sustain
for
Jacob's
God
our
strong
defense
and
fortress
will
remain
one
pro
Mode
one
improved
and
happens
or
anything
is
hurting
and
이용
those
know
destined
the
points
NT
where
they
leave
let
power
pole
back
ammen
member
afraid
issy