The LORD Your Dwelling Place
Know: Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. (Psalms 91:9-10)
Read & Respond: Psalm 91 is often quoted by military members during deployments. Let’s see why.
A few years ago we were stationed in the D.C. metro area and experienced two uncommon forces of nature. First was an earthquake. As our house began to shake, my kids ran to my side and I directed them to doorways and hidey holes. Then we had a derecho, a storm that felt like it was raining from the ground up as we were driving. Trashcans were flying and power lines were snapping like twigs. In both of these natural disasters we were dwelling someplace relatively safe. Our dwelling places brought a measure of safety during some scary circumstances. In the storms of our lives we often feel like we are left to the power of the storm with no safe dwelling place. But according to God’s Word, this is not the truth.
Our God is that safe dwelling place. We are assured again and again that our Lord is a Savior and always has a complete plan for the storms of our lives. In Psalm 91 we see the declarations and promises of a trustworthy God but also the declarations of a confident believer who calls upon God. Do you call?
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An interesting aspect of Psalm 91 is Satan’s misapplication of verses 11-12 at Jesus’ wilderness tempting:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Matthew 4:1-11).
Jesus refutes lies by quoting Scripture, demonstrating spiritual strength in the face of tremendous physical weakness. Jesus knew the Word. We don’t memorize Scripture to play church. We hide it in our hearts because it is our lifeline. Christ is our example. The more we experience the redemptive power of God through the many storms of life, the more we desire to remain in deep awareness of His presence.
It’s easy to see why those in combat take comfort in Psalm 91. Let’s abide in Him as He abides in us.
Core Concept: The God Most High is our refuge in all of life’s storms.
Think About It:
- Have you ever experienced a natural disaster firsthand?
- Read Psalm 91. Why do you think many consider this a favorite psalm?
- What makes Jesus’ wilderness temptation so profound?
- How does experiencing God in the storms of life increase your desire to dwell with Him?
This Week’s Praise & Worship Prompts:
Day 1: Meditate on Psalm 91
Read Psalm 91 from beginning to end (it’s not long) and note what you learn about: 1) faithfulness, 2) fearlessness, 3) protection, and 4) victory. Think of a creative way to express one or even a few of your words. I like to use stamps, ink, colored pencils, etc. to express what I am learning through my study of my Bible. You can do this on paper or in a journaling Bible. Talk to God as you create.
Days 2-5: Marinating in God’s Goodness
We are going to approach Psalm 91 by making lists for the remainder this week. Use the chart from the handout (see downloadable resources at the bottom) and fill in one column each day. Use your journal to respond to the light God shines on His character and yours. Also pray Psalm 91 for your community, our nation and the world (Ephesians 6:18).
Talk About It: How does experiencing God in the storms of life increase your desire to DWELL with Him?
All Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.
Contributors: Chelsea Bastian, Claudia Duff, Muriel Gregory, Tonia Gutting, Hayley Haynes
Graphic Artist: Christie Esterline
Editor: Andrea Plotner
Copyright ©Planting Roots 2015
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