Enfolded: A Reflection on God’s Psalm 91 PromisesSample

Psalm 91:9 begins with a "because" statement (in the original Hebrew).

“If [because] you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” (vv. 9-10, NIV).

Intentional connections between verse 9 and verses 1 and 2 include words and phrases like Lord, refuge, Most High, and dwelling. Other concepts like "coming near your tent" (v. 10b) reflect YHWH's bastion of prevention. Verse 10 sets us up for God's protective action in the coming verses. "No harm will overtake you" (v. 10a).

All leaders, when planning, give thought to assessing and managing risks. "Near your tent" comforted itinerant workers and traveling warriors, who set up temporary tents while on assignment. Their environments were unsafe. Both accidental and intentional disasters were likely common.

Construction workers on the Golden Gate suspension bridge who concentrated more on not falling to their deaths than on their work could not give their best. However, a giant safety net was placed to catch accidental falls. Not only were lives saved, but the workers performed more than 20% better. The safer they were (and the safer they felt), the better their performance.

Rest assured that if the Lord is your refuge and dwelling place, no harm will overtake you. You can freely live for Him.