How do you all interpret this kind of passage?

[Braveheart47]

ignore the little letters etc inbetween stuff, i cut and pasted from another site.
Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

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 observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."


Ok, this says if I dwell in the Lord, I will be protected safe, no harm done to me etc. Now any of us who have been around for awhile, or some not who have, still know that bad things happen to good people. Godly people who do exactly what this verse says but experience terrible harm in many different ways.

I am a born again Christian, I hear God's voice, I feel him move in my heart, I have seen him do miracles. but there are many verses like these..i find comfort in them, but taken literally they don't pan out.

So , any thoughts.

 

[watchmen]

ignore the little letters etc inbetween stuff, i cut and pasted from another site.
Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

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 observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."


Ok, this says if I dwell in the Lord, I will be protected safe, no harm done to me etc. Now any of us who have been around for awhile, or some not who have, still know that bad things happen to good people. Godly people who do exactly what this verse says but experience terrible harm in many different ways.

I am a born again Christian, I hear God's voice, I feel him move in my heart, I have seen him do miracles. but there are many verses like these..i find comfort in them, but taken literally they don't pan out.

So , any thoughts.

Psalms 91 is referring to the Tribulation. God has a place prepared for Christians during the Tribulation were He will protect and feed us while there will be devistation all around us. (Reference Revelation 12:6 and 14)

 

[Braveheart47]

But what makes this particular passage mean it is talking about the tribulation. There is nothing indicating that.

 

[Braveheart47]

Also passages like, "Delight theyself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart", there are many manay verses that talk about what he will provide if we do such and such. I guess first it seems cconditional, and 2nd, it doesn't work that way.

 

[watchmen]

But what makes this particular passage mean it is talking about the tribulation. There is nothing indicating that.

Everything about this passage say it is referring to the Tribulation. We will be delivered from the snare of the fowler as well as the noisome pestilence, not to mention the terror by night and the arrow the flies at night. The pestilence that walks in darkness, the destruction at the noon day. This is referring to the Tribulation. When else will 1,000 fall on your right hand and 10,000 on your left yet not come near to you. Those who trust in the Lord will have divine protection during the Tribulation, and this is what this is saying.

 

[watchmen]

Also passages like, "Delight theyself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart", there are many manay verses that talk about what he will provide if we do such and such. I guess first it seems cconditional, and 2nd, it doesn't work that way.

psalms 37 is referring to the Tribulation also.
Psalms 37
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Check out verse 7. who do you think this is talking about?

 

[thefightinglamb]

It seems to be talking about Jesus foremost...but I don't delve too much in tribulation readings--I am not knowledgeable in those interpretation so perhaps that also...a prophecy...but also spiritually all of this is true for a Christian that takes refuge in Christ from evil and from their own sins even...

 

[Thaddaeus]

2ch 16:9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show HIMSELF STRONG in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.


you said bad things happen to Godly people.Show me one person that has completely sold out to God. I think it was D.L.Moody that said it has been unseen what God could do, through a man/woman that was totallly sold out for God. I have questioned God about His protection concerning two people that I know I thought these two people had sold out for God, only to see them struggling with storms after storms. and I went to God for these people and said why God, the first one gave his Farm to God then lost it. I really struggled trying to comfort Him. only to have God reveal that he was in an adulterous affair, traveling all around singing for the Lord, started sleeping with a lady he was singing with. the second person, she was in a custody battle over her children, came to church one day said she had dismissed the cusody battle, that she realized that it was coming between her and God , that it was causing her to have hard feelings against her Ex and His family and that she knew that was not pleasing Her Lord . I was like WOW. she struggled with money problems , she couldn't find more work, the Church was having to help her with some bills. I went to God for this lady , why God, she has given up her children for you. why aren't you keeping your promises. God revealed to me shortly after this,
outside the church this lady could put a sailor to shame. she cursed and she cursed. yep I have learned the hard way never question God, if He said it, you can bank on it. even if we don't believe. it is not God at fault but weak man.

Ro 3:1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?Ro 3:2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.Ro 3:3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?Ro 3:4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

 

[Lauren]

I am a born again Christian, I hear God's voice, I feel him move in my heart, I have seen him do miracles. but there are many verses like these..i find comfort in them, but taken literally they don't pan out.

So , any thoughts.

Braveheart, I like your questions here. You've put into words things I've been thinking myself. For example, I know we are to pray having faith that our prayers will be answered. Now I understand that not all prayers can or even should be answered the way I want them to be answered, but because of this, I guess I've hit a wall with my praying because I kind of feel like, "what's the point?"

I guess that's where the faith part starts to come in. Even though I feel like it's not doing any good to pray.... I need to stop relying on my feelings, and go completely 100% on faith. I've never consciously put aside my feelings and just gone on faith alone. There's always been a mixture of feelings and faith before for me. In the past, it was easy for me to have faith because I was a new Christian, and there were all these great feelings that came along with being born again, and even signs and wonders. Faith was easy. But now I need to stop relying on miracles and signs to fortify my faith. I need to trust that in the end, the bigger picture is more important than an instant answer.

Sorry Braveheart, I was totally thinking out loud there....I have had these questions in my head for so long, similar to what you're asking, and by you posting here and me kind of "talking it out", I think I finally understand. Keep asking questions, you will find some answers, God will impart the answers to you somehow. I've had this on my mind for a long, long time, and thanks to your posting, I think I finally get it.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Psalm 91 is conditional, upon "dwelling in the shelter of the Most High ". It truly can be taken literally for any situation. I see by thinking you can't take it literally because bad things happen to good people, you are already doubting God's promises in these passages. That's interpreting the bible according to our (or other's experiences). Some christian websites even go so far to add to what scripture says simply because they can't comprehend or believe Gods promises in Psalm 91, they say :

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aiia/psalm91promises.html
In order to rightly claim the promises of Psalm 91 for myself today, I would preface them with a little qualifying phrase that is, I believe, clearly implied by the rest of Scripture and a common sense knowledge of life. The phrase is: “Except that God in His love and wisdom allow it for the ultimate good...”

Jesus and the apostles experienced this kind of protection numerous times when crowds wanted to kill them but they escaped.

Some people think Psalm 91 is only spiritual in meaning, meaning our soul. Sure our souls are kept safe too, but the language about infirmities and diseases and arrows etc can only mean the body.

Jesus also said similar to Psalm 91 when He spoke about birds and how not one falls to the ground apart from the Father's will. Jesus is basically telling them not to be afraid of what men can do, as they would face persecution. Sure they eventually were martyred for their faith, but their enemies had a hard time finding, catching, and keeping them in jail.

So whatever happens can only be in God's will.

 

[MaggieMye]

OK, so I read a few of the posts here and have to say that I disagree! Psalm 91 is to teach us how to rest in Him! It is a declaration (when prayed as a prayer) of who He is to us and who we are to Him. This declaration is an IDENTIFICATION of who we are and what we have access to:

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, “You are my refuge and my fortress;​

My God, in You will I trust.”​

Surely You shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler​

And from the perilous pestilence.​

You will cover me with Your feathers,​

And under Your wings I shall take refuge;​

Your truth shall be my shield and buckler.​

I 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.​

A thousand may fall at my side,​

And ten thousand at my right hand;​

But it shall not come near me.​

Only with my eyes shall I look​

And see the reward of the wicked.​

Because I have made You, the Lord, who is my refuge,​

Even the Most High, my dwelling place,​

No evil shall befall me,​

Nor shall any plague come near my dwelling;​

For You shall give Your angels charge over me,​

To keep me in all my ways.​

In their hands they will bear me up,​

Lest I dash my foot against a stone.​

I shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,​

The young lion and the serpent I shall trample underfoot.​

“Because I have set my love upon You, therefore You will deliver me;​

You will set me on high, because I have known Your name.​

I shall call upon You, and You will answer me;​

You will be with me in trouble;​

You will deliver me and honor me.​

With a long life You will satisfy me ​

And show me Your salvation.” ​

...In Jesus’ name, Amen
Maggie

 

[Kakashi]

Also passages like, "Delight theyself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart", there are many manay verses that talk about what he will provide if we do such and such. I guess first it seems cconditional, and 2nd, it doesn't work that way.

This one i can answer. i believe the word "delight" in Hebrew means to " to bend" so if you bend yourself to God's ways he will give you the desires of your heart....because your heart will be on the same wavelength of God's so you will both want the same thing! That's what my father taught me. Does that make sense?

 

[Braveheart47]

I hear what you all are saying. I just sometimes when I read these passages that talk about protection, they seem to contridict some of the other parts of the bible that say we will suffer. And I know many who have "sold out for God" though I wouldn't use that term. And life still happens to them. And the God that I know give gifts as gifts. Its not if I do this or that. God doens't ahve strings. yes if we follow his laws, our lives will be easier because it will protect from certain things, but there are things that just happen in life that cause us pain and suffering and I don't believe that it has to do with someones sin fi they are suffering. So that is why i struggle when iread these kinds of passages, because there are many other passages that seem to read just the oppisite.

 

[Dragoon9]

Hi Braveheart,

If I'm hearing you correctly, you're not just asking what the passage means, but also how we reconcile vastly different statements in the Bible.

I'd also add... when we come across something that we see as a contradiction, how do we deal with it?

Do we say that God is wrong, and choose the idea that we most like?
OR
Do we continue to read and pray, knowing and trusting that even if we perceive contradiction, God does not change like shifting shadows and He will have a reason. God's ways will rarely conform to our worldly expectations though.

Gotta run now, but I'll try to write something later, Spirit willing

 

[eric51]

ignore the little letters etc inbetween stuff, i cut and pasted from another site.
Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

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 observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."


Ok, this says if I dwell in the Lord, I will be protected safe, no harm done to me etc. Now any of us who have been around for awhile, or some not who have, still know that bad things happen to good people. Godly people who do exactly what this verse says but experience terrible harm in many different ways.

I am a born again Christian, I hear God's voice, I feel him move in my heart, I have seen him do miracles. but there are many verses like these..i find comfort in them, but taken literally they don't pan out.

So , any thoughts.

The psalmist is using methaphors. Why would you take the words literally. God has feathers? Maybe God is a bird? [being facetious].

What is being said is there are many benefits in trusting in God. Look at the epilogue: God Himself speaks, confirming the psalmist's words.

God Bless.

Eric

 

[Dragoon9]

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Note that Satan applies these verses to the Son of God, and uses them as he tries to tempt Jesus in Mt 4:6. Given this, the next passage in this Psalm also likely refers to the promised Messiach, though scripture can refer to multiple things in the same passage.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

In Christ, we find the penultimate fulfillment of God's words in Genesis.
"he will crush your (the serpent's) head, and you will strike his heel." (Ge 3:15)
Satan is also referred to as a 'prowling', 'roaring lion' in 1 Peter 5:8. I think 1 Peter is well worth reading in the context of this Psalm as well, because of the echo of themes that are repeated over and over throughout the scriptures;
Resist him (the Devil), standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Pe 5:9-11) Amen

There's that contradiction you talked about. In Psalm 91, it talks over and over of God's protection... yet in 1 Peter, it speaks clearly of sufferings which all our brothers around the world are suffering.

In fact we are told that 'everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Ti 3:12).
And again that ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.’ (Rev 3:19)

Is this a lie? How can God claim to protect us in one passage, yet speak of all who desire Him suffering in others? Should we turn from God because these two things seem contradictory? Many do.

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son (He 12:5-6)

…God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (He 10-11)

God does not desire weak servants. God does not desire children who are always drinking spiritual milk, never able to bear fruit. He desires us to grow strong… but this strength is not from us, or worldly knowledge or power.

As I read over (and over and over again!) the words of Psalm 91, I see two messages.

The first is that God will save us from true destruction.
“Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.” (Ps 91:3)
Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. (Ps 91:14)

Yet in the face of all things, we are not to be afraid.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. (Ps 91:5-7)
We are to be like Paul .
…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Ph 4:12-13)

The Lord is our allotted portion. He is sufficient. We need have no fear because all things are being worked for the good of those who love him… even our troubles.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

There are many so called ‘contradictions’ in the Bible. The contradictions are not with God, but with our applying human wisdom to the things of God… because they are spiritually discerned.

Peace be with you this day, and if anything I have written is not in accordance with the word of God, I will joyfully accept your correction and rebuke.

 

[1still_waters]

The devil used this same portion of scripture when tempting Jesus. Satan said..

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

How did Jesus reply? He interpreted this scripture in light of other scripture and said, thou shall not tempt the Lord your God.

Some may view interpreting this Psalm in light of other scripture as, 'adding to God's word and not accepting his true promises."

Jesus knew enough to interpret this Psalm in light of other scripture and so should we.

Yes he will protect us from all harm, but the Bible also shows a God who at times may let some come. Everything God does is good and isn't harmful. So if something looks harmful to us and God allows or directs it, we can rest assured it's a good thing in His eternal plan.

The same Spirit that inspired Psalm 91 is the same that inspired Psalm 44. Before the verses I will give below, there is a list of 'harmful' things that happened.

17 All this happened to us,
though we had not forgotten you
or been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals
and covered us over with deep darkness.



The devil tried to make Jesus focus on one scripture without looking at others. Let's not let him do the same to us.

 

[Scribe]

I really don't understand the question, nor do I agree with your statement that there is any contradiction in this scripture and the real life experience of the righteous who walk by faith in Christ, and The Word of God.

I think maybe the verse " then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent. " is what you are having a problem with?

Why is it so difficult to understand that it is NOT HARM to you to go through difficult times, if you are trusting in the Lord with your whole heart. God knows what is going on in the invisible world, and you do not. What you may think is HARM, that you have seen a true believer walk through, if you asked them about it, they would not say it was HARM at all, and that HARM would be living what others think is a HAPPY life full of this worlds goods, and yet no true growth that only comes through experience and learning to trust in God by faith. HARM is when one is trusting in their own understanding, and hardened by their own deceipt and arrogance, and rushing head long into hell, shouting christian cheerleading songs, thinking they are being financially blessed by God, and therefore must be ok and have God's stamp of approval, all the while they are blind and miserable, and wretched and naked and poor, and even spiritually bankrupt, and reprobate. That is HARM. This shall not come nigh you if you trust in the Lord with all your heart, even in circumstances that seem strained, straightened, or challenging. Eternal Life means exactly that. No harm can come to one who has been given Eternal Life. Death cannot touch those who cannot die. It is the second death that is HARM. And believers are promised deliverance from the second death. It shall not touch me. All you have to do, is imagine Jesus Christ reading this chapter, and imagine what Jesus would be meaning when he is saying it... doesn't your conscience tell you that Jesus would be referring to a much MUCH Greater promise than earthly things?

Reread it with that BIG PICTURE thinking of being Eternal Minded, and then you will see that this is not only 100 percent accurate, and that there has never been a moment in all of history when any believer has ever been let down concerning this chapter, but also you will suddenly see so much more in this chapter than you had ever imagined was there.

Scribe

 

[MahogonySnail]

The devil used this same portion of scripture when tempting Jesus. Satan said..

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

How did Jesus reply? He interpreted this scripture in light of other scripture and said, thou shall not tempt the Lord your God.

Yes, very good points. Also note that the devil quoted it literally and Jesus never said the devil's interpretation of it was wrong. The devil had the right interpretation of it, taking it literally (not a metaphorical or symbolic or only spiritual protection from danger). The problem in this case was not the devils interpretation of it, but his purpose for using it. Sure, we can't just jump off a cliff and expect God to protect us from that, that is testing God.