Psalm Meditation 1361 ¶Proper 11 ¶July 19, 2026 ¶Psalm 91 ¶https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2091&version=NRSVUE ¶People who know they are children of God have a joy and peace about them that is beyond compare. They know that God is with them in any and all situations, even when they cannot feel God’s presence. While the psalmist goes a bit overboard in stating how God watches over each of us, they know that God is active in our lives in wholesome and healing ways, even in the face of devastation and destruction. The psalmist uses hyperbole to let us know that God is with us in the most dire circumstances whether we survive or not. ¶Now, we see the punishment of the wicked on a daily basis. Every time something happens to people or groups we don’t like, we know that God is the one punishing them. When hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters strike areas full of any of ‘those’ kind of people, we know that God’s hand is at work wreaking vengeance on sinners. However, when those same calamities fall on us and those we love, it is simply a natural disaster caused by random weather phenomena. ¶God is active in our lives. Those who choose to see God’s hand at work will see a lot of God’s activity and influence. Those who can’t or won’t see God in those same activities, may be just as grateful, without giving credit to God. I have heard, and said, “How can people look at a beautiful sunrise or sunset and not see God at work in that?” I have become aware that not everyone does see God at work in the cycles of the day, and many of them continue to marvel at that same beauty. And God is at work whether we acknowledge it or not. ¶July 13, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1219 ¶Proper 25 ¶October 29, 2023 ¶Psalm 91 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91&version=NRSVUE (NRSV) ¶Imagine if it were true that people of God will never be hurt or killed and no evil will befall them/us. There would be lines around the block to sign up for that kind of benefit. Interestingly, there are a lot of folks who have stood in crowds and lines to be a part of that kind of faith. The trouble is that it is not any of the three Abrahamic faiths. Oh, it may have the name but not the ideals and practices of any of the faiths that trace roots back to Abraham. Adherents of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have each suffered greatly at the hands of others. ¶The important part for faithful adherents to the faith is that there are always those willing to risk their lives for the things they hold dear, even when their sacrifice serves to benefit those who are not in the same camp as themselves. They work for justice for each and all, they work for peace knowing they will have to give up some things to provide for others, they work for the rights and privileges of others because of their relationship with God more than any other reason. ¶The presence of God does not protect us from harm as much as it protects us from being separated from the love of God. That love draws us into relationship with all the people of God and strengthens our resolve to bring peace and justice to all people regardless of their practices and beliefs. God is with us and holds us in powerful, loving hands. We will be hurt, we will be killed, however we will not be separated from God’s love for us, no matter what. ¶October 24, 2023 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1072 Epiphany Sunday January 3, 2021 Psalm 91 1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, 6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. 16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. (NRSV) In every time and place there are folks who will find and make ways to test our love and loyalty. In times of stress and trauma these folks seem to need to test our loyalty more deeply and more regularly. There are those who will test the limits of this psalm on a regular basis. There are congregations in which the faithful will handle venomous snakes for a variety of reasons. I can only guess what those reasons might be. It seems that some handle snakes in worship as a way to demonstrate their faith, while others do it to test the faithfulness of God in the face of danger. Those who don’t handle snakes have other ways of demonstrating faith or testing God. Making bargains with or making demands on God are a couple of the ways many of us have been known to test the limits of God’s love for us. “If you do this for me, I will do that for you.” is a familiar bargaining method. It usually requires God to stretch the laws of Creation to the breaking point or beyond. And our reaction to God’s action places some regular inconvenience in our path. “God, you need to do this for us because we told all our friends you would, and we would hate for you to look bad in front of all these people.” goes beyond bargaining to demanding that God act. And if our demands are met we do not give thanks to God, we give an ‘I told you so,’ look to our friends. God loves us without condition and will be with us through all of the calamities and traumas that happen in our lives. If we get sick or hurt it does not mean that God has abandoned us. God is with us through it all. God will always be ready as a solid refuge from all of our troubles and trials, just as God is with us in each of our moments of joy and ease. We may not be rescued from trial the way we ask or expect, however, God is with us. “When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.” December 28, 2020 LCM

Psalm Meditation 859
Second Sunday of Advent
December 4, 2016

Psalm 91
1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
(NRSV)

Being in a dangerous situation and being afraid are two different things. In some situations, we have no idea how dangerous it is so we rush in as if no danger exists and realize later how foolish we have been. Sometimes we are aware of the danger and go in because of some greater need. Sometimes we are afraid because the danger is remembered or anticipated rather than present in the current situation. And there are folks who claim not to be afraid of anything. In some situations we are less afraid because we are with one who allays our fear.

The psalmist reminds people that in whatever situation they may find themselves God is with them. While there are certainly reasons to be afraid, knowing that God is with them they can be a less so. God is present to shield them, protect them and deliver them from any and all situations in which they find themselves. God will be with them and rescue them in every trouble in which they call out for God.

I believe that God is with each person in every time and place. I also believe that God rescues more folks than we know about. People of faith are aware of God’s presence and cry out for help. When it comes they give God credit for the help they have received. God may help others as well even though they do not recognize the hand of God at work in the particular situation or in their lives. Just because we don’t recognize or acknowledge the source of our help does not mean we have not been helped.

November 28, 2016
LCM

Psalm Meditation 737
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 3, 2014

Psalm 91
1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
(NRSV)

To take this psalm literally is dangerous to body and soul. To take this psalm seriously is quite another matter. We know that suffering is a part of the life of each person and that God does not pull us out of trouble when we get into it or put up a blockade to keep us out of the dangers that are a part of life. When Jesus was tempted with verses 11 and 12 he was unwilling to test the literal truth even as he was more than willing to put his whole faith and trust in God. There are people of faith who walk into dangerous situations and come out unharmed. There are other situations in which people of faith do get hurt and do get killed without regard to their faithfulness. And there are folks who walk into situations that seem dangerous and deadly to us which hold no fear for them. As people of faith we are not exempt from the suffering and danger of the world around us.

In times of crisis, people of faith have a touch point that is missing in the lives of others. We have a place, a person, where we can turn to keep our hope and courage centered. The presence of God does not change the outward appearance of the situation in any way. The presence of God does not keep us from hurting and suffering. The presence of God gives us hope that no matter what God is with us. God offers us the comfort of the divine presence. In most times of suffering the most comforting thing to know is that we are not alone.

I imagine that for the psalmist the phrase that gets left out of many of the sentences of this psalm is, ‘it is as if…’ Secure in the presence of God, it is as if we are covered by the wings of God, as if we are kept from injury and death, as if angels watch over us to keep us from even the smallest tripping hazard. The presence of God does not change what is going on around us, protect us from or pull us out of danger. The presence of God changes us, giving us help, hope and perspective in facing the trials of our lives.

July 28, 2014
LCM