“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday…Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…”
(rf. Ps. 91:1-6, 9-10 NKJV)
With all of the concern and consternation that we have all experienced over the past few months regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, I believed that it was time for some well-needed encouragement from God’s Word. We have endured the trials of “social distancing” and the closure of businesses, restaurants, sporting events and venues, along with our educational institutions. We have had to suspend our church gatherings and plans while continuing to connect via our online presence through our website and Facebook page. It would seem that much has been lost due to this virus and the perils it has brought with it. However, the psalmist gives us tremendous hope in the midst of such crisis.
The psalmist reminds us at the outset that our hope lies in living or dwelling “in the secret place of the Most High (God)” (vs. 1) and in the shadow of His wings (or “His feathers”—vs. 4, figuratively speaking, of course). The Lord is portrayed here as an eagle protecting his children by having them hide under the cover of his wings. Because of that position under His protection, the psalmist tells his readers that they have no reason to fear, though the enemy send “terror by night” or even “destruction by day” (vs. 5-6). Even when “pestilence” enters the picture, the Lord is still upholding His people, giving them the courage to go on in the midst of such danger, promising to them that “no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (vs. 10).
This is a promise of God to be with His people through every possible circumstance that we may face, even those that are life-threatening. This sense of peace, comfort and assurance comes from having that enduring relationship with the Lord, trusting in Him to be our “refuge” and our “dwelling place”, the One who can keep us under His protection always (vs. 9).
It is said that when a plague broke out in London during the pastoral tenure of C.H. Spurgeon, he was initially afraid to go out on the streets to minister to his flock for fear of contracting the deadly, devasting illness. However, while endeavoring to make those important pastoral visits, he saw a sign in a store window that disclosed these same verses from Psalm 91. From that point forward, he went on to fulfill his ministerial duties, assured that the Lord would keep him safe amidst the troubled times.
There is also one of my favorite quotes from the famous general of the Confederate armies, Stonewall Jackson. Having studied his life at length, I have always been in awe of his faith in the Lord, trusting in Him no matter the circumstances. When asked by a junior officer about this constant assurance in the heat of battle, Jackson replied, “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to always be ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would equally brave.”
Indeed, if we have the same faith in the Lord as did Jackson, Spurgeon and the psalmist, we will and would be able to endure all manner of events, good and bad, knowing that He will always be faithful to us as His people. As we go forward into a different and uncertain future, let our trust not be in the situation but in the One who is sovereign and ruler over all. Only in Him is the peace to continue and to conquer.
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