Diggin’ In – Psalms 91: armor and protection

Diggin’ In – Psalms 91: armor and protection

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Vs. 3-4

In yesterday’s blog, no other option, I referred to the need for us to remain under God’s protection and not wander off to ‘greener pastures’ when life gets difficult. Today’s verses 3 & 4, begin to detail the beauty of what happens when we choose to remain there. Words like rescue, protect, faithful, cover, shelter and armor are all packed in here to help us get a clear picture of who God is and what He promises us when we come up under His protection.

Let’s take a look at some of the key words/phrases in verses 3 & 4 that give us a picture of what God is doing and what we are being rescued from.

1. ‘For he will rescue you’ – refers to God’s ability to save and deliver us from…
2. ‘every trap and … deadly disease’ – the dangers we face in our lives… plots to harm us or ensnare us… that which can kill, harm or destroy
3. ‘He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings’ – the reference to being covered by a bird’s feathers/wings is a metaphor to God’s protection over us; as a bird protects its chicks by hiding them under its wings.

This sounds awesome! But what does it mean to come up under God’s protection? How does this look in our everyday lives? I think the key to understanding this lies in the last part of verse 4:

• ‘His faithful promises are your armor and protection’ – this refers to the stability and reliability of God’s truths; His Word. It is His Word alone that holds His promises and He protects and rescues us according to His Word. God’s Word is our armor! But, as with any ‘armor’, our part is putting it on and keeping it on. It is when we choose to know and follow God’s truths associated with His promises that we will find ourselves putting on His armor. Without it, it’s like being naked in the middle of the battlefield. We won’t last long!

Let’s declare that we will speak and live as people who seek, sit and stay under God’s ‘wings’ of protection – His Word. We must choose to know His promises, what our part is and how they apply to our lives. It is here and here alone that we are covered by His faithful promises.

‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.’ – Ps 91:1

Jesus, thank you for your protective wings. I believe that your Word holds all your faithful promises to me. Help me to seek, sit and stay within the shelter of your Word. Amen.

Other bible references:

Ephesians 6:10-18

Colossians 3:3