Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 91

A Psalm to Experience God’s Tenderness

John Stott “The Birds, Our Teachers” – 6 purposes of birds wings
1. Underwater swimming (loons)
2. Balancing (flamingos, all birds “perch”)
3. Protection from intruders, either twin wings as a weapon, or faking injury (kill deer)
4. Fishing or hunting
5. Courtship
6. Protection of its eggs and chicks. This metaphor is used 6x in Psalms
a. “I sing in the shadow of your wings” (confidence) Ps 63:7
b. “I long to take refuge in the shadow. . . (aspiration) Ps 61:4 c. “I will take refuge in the shadow . . .(determination) Ps 57:1 d. “Hide me in the shadow. . . (prayer) Ps 17:8
e. “Both high and low find refuge in the shadow. . .(God’s impartiality) Ps 36:7 f. “He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will take refuge
(protection) Ps 91:1, 4
YHWH even offers protection to strangers and aliens who come to Him for refuge. Naomi – a Moabitess seeks refuge with the people of YHWH. Boaz says :”May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12
Psalm 18, 25, 57, 91. “God’s Protection.” We find God’s tenderness –
• He is given a name characterized by feminine qualities (El Shaddai) 91:1
• He is described as a mother hen, protecting her chicks 91:4
Psalm of Moses
Meant to accompany and complete Psalm 90

FOUR DIVINE NAMES
1. Most High – 91:1 El Elyon “Emphasis on the exaltation and overwhelming majesty of
God” TWOT.
2. Almighty– 91:1 El Shaddai frequently used for God.
First used in Gen 17:1-2. Abrahamic covenant
Hebrew word for a mother’s breast. Nursing “The God who nourishes and tenderly cares
for His children

3. LORD – 91:2. YHWH – Jehovah. Covenant name. Personal name. Exodus 6:2-3 (NIV) God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.

4. God – 91:2 Elohim. Creator. Sovereign. Deserves our worship and trust. V. 5-8 Different enemies:
• terror of night
• arrow that flies by day
• pestilence that stalks in the darkness
• plague that destroys at mid day
• 1,000
• 10,000
ONE plus GOD is ENOUGH
v. 11-16. What God will do for you
• 11. Command his angels
• 12. You will not strike you foot against a stone (Satan misquotes this to Jesus at temptation)
• 13. “Lead the lion and cobra” VICTORY.

• 14. “I (God) will rescue him).

• protect him
• answer him
• be with him
• deliver him
• honor him
• satisfy him
• show him my salvation
What we must to receive this “Because he loves me” (v. 14) “he acknowledges my name”
National Geographic ran a photo several years ago that provided a thought-provoking picture of God's "wings." After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers started up a mountain to evaluate the damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. When he gently tapped it with a stick, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of the disaster that was coming, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to
safety but refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze arrived and scorched her small body, but the mother remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, the chicks under her wings would live. "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."