Psalm 91
June 24, 2018
preached by Ryan Bouton
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward … promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

~C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

“It is hard to imagine Tamar in her desolation after her rape, for instance, writing upbeat songs of joy Indeed, it would be false if she were to write and sing such songs—unless they were about her ultimate redemption and the wiping away of her tears. Her life in this world was ruined by the wicked act of her half brother, and so, even any songs of joy she might have written and sung would have been full of tears as long as she walked in this broken world.

The character Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings makes a profound statement. He says that there are sorrows in this world so great that their tears are never wiped away in this life. Any of us who has lost a child to accident, crime, or sickness, or who has a family member of friend for whom this is the case, will know the truth of Aragorn’s words.”

~Jerram Barrs, Echoes of Eden

“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread,
are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan his work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.”

~William Cowper, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”

Sermon Passage

Psalm 91 (ESV)

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.”