WEBVTT

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 Psalm 91, let me read it out loud first.

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 Actually, let me pray before I read it.

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 Heavenly Father, as we read your word, as we hear your word preached,

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 we pray that you would work powerfully as you promised through your word by your spirit.

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 So that what this psalm speaks of, this truth about you and your faithfulness,

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 about your protective care, about your sovereignty,

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 would translate to how we think, what we believe, how we live.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Psalm 91.

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 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

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 I will say to the Lord,

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 My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.

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 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

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 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.

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 His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

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 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

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 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

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 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,

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 but it will not come near you.

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 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

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 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place, the Most High who is my refuge.

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 No evil shall be allowed to befall you.

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 No plague come near your tent.

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 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

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 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against the stone.

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 You will tread on the lion and the adder.

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 The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

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 Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him.

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 I will protect him because he knows my name.

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 When he calls to me, I will answer him.

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 I will be with him in trouble.

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 I will rescue him and honor him.

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 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

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 I kind of spaced out the paragraphs and sections in Psalm 91.

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 As you guys can actually, you will see it in your ESV Bibles as well.

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 So verses 1 to 2 is kind of introduction.

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 It gives the main theme of the Psalm.

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 And then verses 3 to 13 is some other speaker trying to basically exhort another believer

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 to trusting God for these and these following reasons.

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 And then verses 14 to 16 is God speaking.

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 So you can kind of divide it into verses 1 to 13 being kind of the believer's affirmation of faith.

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 And then 14 to 16 being God's assurance of salvation.

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 And so if you look at verse 1, it says,

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 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

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 On the first read that kind of sounds redundant, right?

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 It sounds like you're saying the same thing twice.

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 It's like it's because dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty

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 seem like two different ways of saying the exact same thing, right?

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 And in a way it is, right?

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 Because it's parallelism and it's poetry.

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 But then also second idea kind of advances the first idea a little bit further.

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 So because it means that he who chooses to dwell in the shelter of the Most High will abide or remain in his protection.

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 So the same idea is expressed in verse 14 where God says,

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 Because he holds fast to me in love, that's dwelling in the shelter of the Most High,

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 I will deliver him.

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 I will protect him because he knows my name.

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 So we can summarize this whole psalm to mean that those who cling to God,

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 who hold fast to him for shelter, will be kept under God's protection.

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 So that's kind of the main idea.

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 And concerning that article of faith, because of this article of faith,

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 our profession should be as believers.

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 Verse 2,

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 I will say to the Lord,

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 My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.

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 I notice in verse 1,

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 it calls,

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 you use several different kind of titles for God.

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 At first he says God the Most High,

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 and then it says the Almighty, right?

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 Both of those are names we see throughout the Old Testament,

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 but they were also the names that the Canaanites,

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 unbelieving Canaanites,

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 used of their supreme deity.

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 They call them the Most High, the Almighty.

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 But here the psalmist tells us that that kind of,

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 that God,

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 the Almighty God,

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 the Most High God,

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 is in fact Israel's God.

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 Because it says in verse 2,

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 I will say to the Lord,

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 that's the personal name of God, right?

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 He's saying that the true God of all creation,

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 the Most High God,

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 the Almighty God,

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 is not anyone else's God,

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 but our God,

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 the Lord God,

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 who delivered them out of Egypt,

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 who saved his people.

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 And so,

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 and then verses 3 to 13,

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 continue the believers' affirmation of faith,

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 reasons why we should believe.

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 And it employs a series of metaphors,

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 really vivid metaphors,

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 that are helpful for us,

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 and really evocative for us.

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 Verses 3 to 4 says that God will deliver you,

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 when you are caught in the fowler's trap.

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 He will deliver you from deadly diseases.

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 And I love this image.

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 It says,

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 He will cover you with his pinions,

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 another word for wings,

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 a bird's wings.

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 And under his wings,

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 you will find refuge.

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 Various type of birds,

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 typically the mother birds,

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 right,

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 use their wings to protect their young from predators.

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 They also use their wings to guard,

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 shield their young from the elements like rain and wind.

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 And that's the image that's being painted here,

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 of God,

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 who,

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 like a mother bird,

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 shelters his people,

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 and protects them.

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 And then God's faithfulness is here described in verse 3

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 as a shield and buckler,

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 right,

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 that shield,

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 the bracing shield,

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 that protects us as the arrows are flying in our direction,

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 and spears are being hurled in our direction.

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 He is that shield,

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 for his faithfulness is that shield to us.

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 And then verses 5 to 6 continue the wonderful description

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 of God's provident care.

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 And there's a pattern of describing God's protection,

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 both in the nighttime and in the daytime,

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 in darkness,

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 in the light of noonday.

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 Read with me again,

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 verses 5 to 6.

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 You will not fear the terror of the night,

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 nor the arrow that flies by day,

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 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

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 nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

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 That's the brightest part of day, right?

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 So this pattern of darkness and light

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 is intended to show us

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 that there is nothing at all

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 that God's people need to fear

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 at any given point,

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 at any given time,

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 because at all times,

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 God is watching over us,

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 day and night.

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 It's not just day and night.

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 He's saying all time,

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 God is watching over us.

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 And because of that special protection,

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 verses 7 to 8 is reality.

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 It says,

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 A thousand may fall at your side,

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 ten thousand at your right hand,

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 but it will not come near you.

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 You will only look with your eyes

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 and see the recompense of the wicked.

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 Imagine a field of battle

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 when there's heavy casualties everywhere, right?

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 But there's a thousand people falling here.

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 Ten thousand falling around us

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 on the right side.

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 But even then,

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 we will not fall in the midst of that

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 because we will only look with our eyes

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 at the recompense that God deals on

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 his enemies, on the wicked.

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 And isn't this such an amazing thing

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 to think about, right?

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 Because if you really believe

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 in God's sovereignty

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 and his providential care for us,

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 as this psalm is talking about,

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 that means we are just as safe, right,

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 in, I don't know,

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 suburban, wealthy suburban Belmont

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 or Newton

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 as we are in urban Roxbury

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 or Dorchester, right?

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 If we really believe

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 in God's sovereignty,

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 oh, is that where you're in?

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 Yeah.

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 I don't know where that's.

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 Oh, okay, yeah.

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 In Boston,

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 that's kind of probably

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 the roughest place in Boston, yeah.

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 And if we really believe this,

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 that means we are just as secured

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 by God, right,

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 in here in the United States of America

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 as we are in war-torn Afghanistan, right?

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 If we really believe

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 that God is caring for us

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 and we're going to be alive, right?

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 And his intention is to keep us safe

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 and alive in that place.

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 And that's amazing, right?

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 I mean, that's,

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 because as it says in verses 9 to 10,

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 this is the reason why that's the case.

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 You have made the Lord

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 your dwelling place.

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 The Most High,

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 who is my refuge?

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 No evil shall be allowed

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 to befall you.

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 No plague come near your tent.

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 Because the all-powerful God

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 and God who is all-present

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 is our refuge,

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 will be invulnerable, right,

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 in that sense,

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 as long as God intends it.

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 And four, again,

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 there's a repetition

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 of the reason for the security

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 in verses 11 to 12.

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 He will,

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 for he will command

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 his angels concerning you

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 to guard you

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 in all your ways.

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 On their hands,

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 they will bear you up,

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 lest you strike

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 your foot against a stone.

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 All your ways

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 doesn't refer literally

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 to kind of physical journeys

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 that we make,

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 you know,

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 or going about,

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 striving around,

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 whatnot,

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 but it's a metaphorical reference

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 to all of one's activities

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 and conduct in life, right?

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 So all of ways of life.

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 And angels appear,

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 obviously,

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 in many places

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 throughout scripture,

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 but this is the only passage

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 in the entire Bible

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 where the idea

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 of a personal guardian angel

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 is brought up,

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 where this is thinking

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 about the image,

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 and we have God commands

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 his angels concerning us

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 specifically as believers,

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 individually.

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 And the idea of an image

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 bearing us up on their hands

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 unless we strike our foot

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 against a stone

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 is similar to a parent

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 who is watching over

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 a newly minted

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 walking toddler, right?

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 Who is just stumbling about

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 and a parent making sure

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 that he doesn't trip

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 over anything

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 or sort of strike

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 a foot against a stone

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 and fall, right?

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 And so that's kind of the care,

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 that close, intimate,

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 personal care

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 that God commands

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 his angels

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 who are more powerful

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 beings than us.

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 God commands his angels

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 concerning us,

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 for us.

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 That's the kind of care

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 with which God

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 looks over us.

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 And the result of this

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 is verse 13.

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 You will tread on the lion

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 and the adder,

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 the young lion

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 and the serpent

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 you will trample underfoot.

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 Just like the metaphor

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 of the journey of life

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 used in verses 11 to 12,

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 these are metaphorical, right?

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 Lions and venomous snakes

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 were well known

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 and widely feared

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 in the ancient Near East.

00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:52.579
 They represent dangers

00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.219
 that lurk

00:10:53.219 --> 00:10:54.620
 in someone's journey,

00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:55.419
 dangers that lurk

00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:56.099
 in hidden places

00:10:56.099 --> 00:10:57.519
 that you can encounter

00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.459
 when you're journeying about.

00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.439
 And so it fits

00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:01.099
 with that metaphor

00:11:01.099 --> 00:11:01.599
 of the journey

00:11:01.599 --> 00:11:02.500
 that you just mentioned

00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.899
 in verses 11 to 12.

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.179
 But because of God's

00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:05.980
 protected care,

00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:07.720
 his people will be protected

00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:09.079
 from striking a foot

00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:09.779
 against a stone

00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.480
 or getting attacked

00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:11.120
 by snakes

00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.559
 and dangers

00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:14.519
 in their walk of life.

00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:16.600
 And of course,

00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:18.459
 because a lot of these

00:11:18.459 --> 00:11:19.799
 are metaphorical images,

00:11:20.079 --> 00:11:21.000
 they have wide-ranging

00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:22.059
 application, right,

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.459
 to many of the dangers

00:11:23.459 --> 00:11:24.000
 in our lives,

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.360
 disappointments that we face,

00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:26.579
 threats that we face,

00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:28.000
 struggles and suffering

00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.299
 of our lives.

00:11:30.079 --> 00:11:31.719
 So that's the believer's

00:11:31.719 --> 00:11:33.039
 affirmation of faith.

00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:35.679
 And then after the believer's

00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.519
 affirmation of faith,

00:11:36.599 --> 00:11:37.599
 we hear God's assurance

00:11:37.599 --> 00:11:38.419
 of salvation

00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:39.779
 in verses 14 to 16.

00:11:40.359 --> 00:11:41.179
 So God responds,

00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:43.139
 Because he holds fast

00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:44.159
 to me in love,

00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.579
 I will deliver him.

00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:47.179
 I will protect him

00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:48.359
 because he knows my name.

00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:49.839
 When he calls to me,

00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:50.979
 I will answer him.

00:11:51.219 --> 00:11:52.599
 I will be with him in trouble.

00:11:52.719 --> 00:11:53.620
 I will rescue him

00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:54.419
 and honor him.

00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:55.479
 With long life,

00:11:55.579 --> 00:11:56.740
 I will satisfy him

00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:58.620
 and show him my salvation.

00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.839
 To know God's name

00:12:00.839 --> 00:12:01.719
 is to know him

00:12:01.719 --> 00:12:02.759
 personally and intimately.

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:03.799
 It's to know him

00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:05.379
 as your God.

00:12:05.479 --> 00:12:06.339
 It's to be in covenant

00:12:06.339 --> 00:12:07.319
 relationship with him.

00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:09.240
 And so notice that

00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.679
 there's the descriptive language

00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:11.539
 of this relationship

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.240
 in the beginning

00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.419
 of verse 14.

00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:16.120
 Because he holds fast

00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.059
 to me in love.

00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.379
 Do you hold fast

00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.399
 to God in love?

00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.519
 That's what God's

00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:22.279
 seeking of his people

00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.139
 because he's promising

00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:24.559
 that those who cling to God

00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.679
 for shelter

00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.360
 will be kept

00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:27.279
 under God's protection.

00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:29.620
 And now this doesn't mean,

00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:30.120
 you know,

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:34.519
 you guys should go out there

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:36.059
 and try to find snakes

00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:38.019
 and try stepping on them

00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.159
 or lions

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.580
 and try confronting them.

00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.019
 Imagine that you're Samson

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:42.980
 or, you know,

00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:44.039
 or this doesn't mean

00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:44.600
 that, you know,

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:45.500
 you should, you know,

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:48.639
 be irresponsibly flinging yourself,

00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.559
 putting yourself

00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:50.240
 in compromised,

00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:51.139
 dangerous situations,

00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:51.460
 thinking,

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.340
 oh, God cares for me

00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.800
 because we learned that lesson

00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:54.780
 from Jesus' temptation,

00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:55.180
 didn't we?

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:57.019
 Because Satan uses this verse

00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.120
 to tempt Jesus.

00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.420
 Hey, throw yourself down

00:12:59.420 --> 00:13:01.660
 from this high place

00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:02.740
 and he will command

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:03.700
 his angels concerning you

00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:04.500
 lest you strike your foot

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.040
 against the stone.

00:13:05.540 --> 00:13:06.300
 Interestingly enough,

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.540
 Satan omits

00:13:07.540 --> 00:13:08.700
 part of the verse.

00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:09.580
 He skips it.

00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:11.100
 So if you look at

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:13.519
 Psalm 91

00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:19.139
 verses 11 to 12,

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:19.400
 right?

00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:19.679
 He says,

00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.419
 for he will command

00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:21.659
 his angels concerning you

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.840
 for what?

00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:23.840
 To guard you

00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.860
 in all your ways

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.620
 in your life

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:26.659
 as you're trying

00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:27.340
 to follow God,

00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:27.539
 right?

00:13:27.579 --> 00:13:28.600
 That's the promise

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.500
 that's connected to it.

00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.480
 But he skips that

00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.179
 and he simply says,

00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:31.860
 for he will command

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.019
 his angels concerning you

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.899
 on their hands,

00:13:33.959 --> 00:13:34.639
 they will bear you up

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.419
 lest you strike your foot

00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:35.980
 against the stone.

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:36.620
 Isn't that interesting?

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:37.639
 Right?

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:39.899
 Take it out of context

00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.919
 and tries to manipulate it

00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:43.220
 to our own use.

00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:44.220
 And that's what Satan

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:44.639
 tries to do,

00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.279
 but Jesus says,

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.460
 thou shalt not test

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.139
 the Lord your God,

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.400
 right?

00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:48.879
 So that's not what

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:50.040
 we're trying to,

00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:50.820
 that's not what I'm

00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:51.560
 trying to tell you guys

00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:52.139
 to do here.

00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:54.040
 But,

00:13:54.180 --> 00:13:54.860
 but,

00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:57.040
 and also look at

00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:57.600
 verse 15.

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.280
 This teaches us

00:13:58.280 --> 00:13:58.840
 why we shouldn't

00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.400
 apply it that way

00:13:59.400 --> 00:13:59.740
 because he says,

00:13:59.900 --> 00:14:00.600
 when he calls to me,

00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:01.420
 I will answer him.

00:14:01.780 --> 00:14:02.780
 I will be with him

00:14:02.780 --> 00:14:03.639
 in trouble.

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.180
 I will rescue him

00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:05.860
 and honor him.

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.500
 Notice that God

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.460
 doesn't promise us

00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:07.980
 that our lives

00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:08.700
 will be free

00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:09.940
 of all kinds of troubles.

00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.580
 He says here,

00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.259
 he promises

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.720
 to be with us

00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.779
 in trouble.

00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:15.759
 Right?

00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.060
 He,

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.040
 what he does mean

00:14:17.040 --> 00:14:17.980
 is that no trouble

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.100
 will ultimately prevail

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.820
 over us

00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.300
 because he is with us

00:14:21.300 --> 00:14:22.740
 because he will rescue us

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.340
 through them

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.519
 and he will honor us

00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.779
 with his love and care.

00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:26.740
 And,

00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.180
 and like all the other passages

00:14:28.180 --> 00:14:29.560
 in the scripture,

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.740
 this Psalm 2

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.899
 points to

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.379
 and ultimately

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.779
 is fulfilled by Jesus

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:35.440
 and what he does for us

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.460
 because God assured

00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:37.639
 his people in verse 16,

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:37.879
 right?

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.840
 With long life

00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:40.019
 I will satisfy him

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.160
 and show him

00:14:41.160 --> 00:14:42.200
 my salvation.

00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:42.759
 Right?

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.679
 It's an interesting word

00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.259
 to use there

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.539
 after talking about

00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.399
 all these kind of

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.319
 life protections

00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:48.279
 and salvation.

00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.819
 And the Hebrew word

00:14:49.819 --> 00:14:50.419
 for salvation

00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:51.360
 is Yeshua,

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:51.899
 right?

00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.000
 Yesu

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.120
 or Jesus.

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:54.960
 That's the name,

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:55.960
 that's where we get

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.559
 the name Jesus.

00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:58.539
 The long life

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.059
 and salvation

00:14:59.059 --> 00:14:59.779
 of the Old Testament

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.319
 promises,

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.939
 it foreshadows

00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.360
 the eternal

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:04.720
 resurrection life

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.679
 that Christ

00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.019
 imparts to us

00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.840
 and the salvation

00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.919
 that he accomplishes

00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:09.759
 for us on the cross

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.620
 by dying for our sins.

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.799
 That's why Acts 4.12

00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:12.120
 says,

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.080
 about Jesus,

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.840
 there is salvation

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.879
 in no one else

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.560
 for there is no other name,

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.720
 name is mentioned here

00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.740
 about knowing God's name,

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.980
 there is no other name

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.519
 under heaven

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.279
 given among men

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.679
 by which we must be saved.

00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.899
 To know God's name

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.139
 is to know Christ's name,

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:25.799
 to know Christ

00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:27.060
 is to know God the Father.

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.500
 And it's only through Christ

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.360
 that we can experience

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.200
 this salvation.

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:32.519
 And notice all the parallels there.

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.639
 Jesus once lamented

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.259
 over Jerusalem,

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:34.960
 what did he say?

00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:35.799
 How often

00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.159
 would I have gathered

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.560
 your children together

00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.699
 as a hen

00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:40.859
 gathers her brood

00:15:40.859 --> 00:15:41.939
 under her wings?

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.199
 And you are not willing.

00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:45.500
 Matthew 23.37.

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.739
 Verse 4 of this psalm

00:15:46.739 --> 00:15:47.179
 says that God

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:47.819
 will cover you

00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:48.759
 with his pinions

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.899
 and under his wings

00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:51.039
 you will find refuge.

00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:52.959
 Jesus is the son of God

00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:53.719
 who does this

00:15:53.719 --> 00:15:54.519
 for all those

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.459
 who dwell

00:15:55.459 --> 00:15:56.039
 in the shelter

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:56.719
 of the Most High.

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:57.619
 Similarly,

00:15:57.739 --> 00:15:58.239
 this psalm says

00:15:58.239 --> 00:15:59.599
 God's faithfulness

00:15:59.599 --> 00:16:00.699
 is a shield

00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:01.379
 and a buckler

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.439
 and teaches us

00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:02.979
 that the arrow

00:16:02.979 --> 00:16:03.799
 that flies by day

00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:04.479
 will not hurt us.

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.700
 Ephesians 6.16

00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.539
 commands us

00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:07.519
 in all circumstances

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.120
 take up

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.080
 the shield of faith

00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.899
 with which you can

00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.820
 extinguish all the

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:12.480
 flaming darts

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.720
 of the evil one.

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:14.980
 Our faith

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.259
 in the faithfulness

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.779
 of God,

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.259
 right?

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.379
 The faithfulness

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.180
 demonstrated for us

00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:19.899
 in the sacrificial love

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.259
 of Jesus

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.580
 who died for us

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.019
 for our sins

00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.519
 on the cross

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.360
 that's what can

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.139
 extinguish all

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:24.879
 the accusations

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.420
 and lies

00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:26.139
 of the evil one.

00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.019
 And I don't think

00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.639
 it's coincidence

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.240
 that the evil one

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.180
 the primary metaphor

00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:33.320
 that is used

00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:33.980
 to describe him

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.860
 is that of the serpent

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:36.779
 and that of a prowling lion,

00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:37.279
 right?

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.560
 In 1 Peter,

00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:38.960
 right?

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.899
 That's why

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.680
 and that's why

00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:42.680
 Jesus says to his followers

00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.480
 in Luke 10.19,

00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:43.980
 Behold,

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.080
 I've given you authority

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.120
 to tread on serpents,

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:48.500
 scorpions,

00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:49.700
 and over all the power

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.279
 of the enemy

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.580
 and nothing shall hurt you.

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.519
 The psalm is fulfilled

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.019
 by Jesus

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.539
 and those who have

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.300
 entrusted themselves

00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:55.200
 to Jesus Christ

00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.340
 for salvation

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.220
 are under God's

00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:58.860
 eternal and infinite protection.

00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.019
 And of course,

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.580
 that means

00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.620
 Jesus is the one

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.480
 that bears the brunt

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.060
 of the pain,

00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:03.440
 right?

00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.599
 Because if you're

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.420
 going to shield something,

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.460
 the shield has to absorb

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:06.839
 the pain

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.480
 so that you're free

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:07.880
 from it,

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.099
 right?

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.339
 If the mother hen

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.180
 is trying to protect

00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:10.779
 her brood

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.559
 under her wings,

00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.900
 she has to absorb

00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.900
 the pain

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.880
 of the attack

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.799
 of the predators,

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.099
 right?

00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.259
 That's what Jesus did

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.319
 on the cross.

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.120
 He paid our punishment,

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.339
 paid our penalty

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:23.460
 so that instead of

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:25.319
 the pain that should

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.920
 have been inflicted

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.759
 on us for our sins

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.059
 is inflicted on him

00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.740
 and the peace

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.980
 that was his

00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.819
 becomes ours,

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:32.420
 the righteousness

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.059
 that was his

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.740
 becomes ours.

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:35.059
 And so really

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:36.000
 the psalm becomes

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.220
 a message for Christians

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.799
 to cling to Christ

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.019
 because those who

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.519
 cling to Christ

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.500
 for shelter

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.180
 will be kept

00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:44.279
 under God's protection.

00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:45.700
 And