Psalm 91

Psalm 91 is one of the best known and most beloved of all the Psalms. It has been referred to as everything from 'deep revelation' to 'a spiritual vitamin', and everything in between.

And, certainly the seventh verse is every bit as majestic as its scriptural peers. But, let's read that seventh verse of the beautiful Psalm and see what we can learn:

"A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee." Psalm 91:7

Isn't this an extreme statement? Had it been uttered by anyone other than the Psalmist of Israel, who gave it under the presence of haRuach, most folks would consider it rude if not heretical.

"After all," they would say, "those who fell were believers too. It just seems unkind that they would face such a fate."

Lets see what's going on.

Well, first of all this Psalm, this verse, this promise, has made the claim that though all around you were falling, dying, and being destroyed 'it', the destruction, would not come to you.

Let's take this further and ask why? Why would it not come unto you? Is it because you are a believer? No, the others who were referred to, the others who "fell", they were also believers. According to this Psalm they were those who were standing at your side and around you. The Psalmist was writing of Israelis, children of the covenant, heirs of the promise. They were believers, yet a thousand heirs of the blessing fell at one's side and ten thousand at his right hand. What makes this 'one' so special that he would be safe when so many others of the covenant promise fell to the destroyer?

Did God arbitrarily favor one over others? Did He just like one more and despise the others, leaving them to experience a harsh fate at an enemies hand. Heaven forbid that such be said about my Lord.

How can we make sure that we are that Psalm 91 'one' who survives and experiences God's goodness when, and if, other 'believers' do not? And, let's be honest, everyone has story after story to tell of friends and acquaintances who succumbed to one thing or another which brought them low. These were often good people, saintly people, people who were in all likelihood better than many others, as man would judge. Yet, they fell.

So, what is the answer? The fourteenth verse of this same Psalm states:

"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name." Psalm 91:14

To know His name! To love Him because you know Him!

So many people love God, but it is a passive love, a love without a knowing. They choose to love Him the way they perceive Him to be. Try that level of apathetical behavior with anything else in your life and see how passive you really are about the things you love. Your spouse, your children, your car, your favorite tee-shirt or even the local sports team has your undying loyalty and affection; you know everything about these because you truly love them and your temper will flair if they are slighted by others or attacked by antagonists. But, when it comes to God many dear folks just shrug their spiritual shoulders and say,"You never know what God is going to do." This is often code talk for, "Don't know, don't care; He does His thing and I do mine." Apathy rules the day, love has waxed cold.

He is to be loved for who He has revealed Himself to be through His Word and Spirit. Once we come to the knowledge of God our love for Him is able to grow, and grow, and grow, right along with the knowledge and understanding we have of Him. We will no longer welcome passivity when it comes to defending God's honor.

And, love is very much about defending and protecting everything about those we love. Our walk with the Lord is no different, satan tirelessly attempts to besmirch, and attack, the Word and promises of God. He ruthlessly tries to dishonor the name of the Highest and does all to resist God's will from coming to pass on this earth. Honest love will not allow such to happen. It calls us to prayer, to witness, to authority in His name ...that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Now, it is up to us to learn of Him in order to protect Him and to do His will.

Let us learn what is the length and breadth and depth of the name we are to know... the name of Yeshua, the name in which deliverance lies.

Then as Psalm 91:14 says, may you be one set on high...