Enfolded: A Reflection on God’s Psalm 91 Promisesنموونە

Rampant inflation; pandemic threats; formula, food, and fuel shortages; and national tragedies of war and killings dominate the headlines. We are all vulnerable. So, let’s move forward in Psalm 91, beyond abstraction to application, and consider God’s preservation of believers. In prevention, you are covered. In protection, you are carried.

“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence” (v. 3). Like a majestic bird covers its young, the Lord will be your shield and a rampart (v. 4). “Rampart” communicates prevention from sudden, deadly attacks and continuous attacks, whether at night or day (vv. 5-6). These attacks may fall a multitude, but you will be prevented from coming close (v. 7). Though unable to defend yourself, you will still get to see attackers meet their fate (v. 8).

God’s “preventive” mercies alert us to how much we don’t know. In heaven, we will find out how often and close we were to danger and destruction. At present, we know partly and see darkly. When we see the Lord face-to-face and know fully, our words will simply be “I see” (1 Cor. 13:12).

Until then, here are four features of God’s promises in verses 3-8 of preventive covering:

Continuous—in time. Whether you are awake or asleep, no part of day or night weakens God's attention.

Comprehensive—in scope. The covering listed in verses 3-8 and verses 10-12 is parallel to the attacks from human enemies or supernatural forces, be they physical or verbal, visible or invisible, private or public, sudden or ongoing.

Coordinated—for God's purposes. Nothing is random or accidental. He works all things for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28). He even turns evil into good (Genesis 50:20).

Consistent—in intensity. Truly nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).