Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Once again, we find ourselves in the season of Lent and once again this season is not “typical.” While we are beginning to see the COVID numbers around us going down, the scars and the wounds COVID has left behind are raw and open. Just this week, my congregation lost another beloved member to COVID. The wounds are fresh. In the midst of this rawness, this wilderness, we enter the season of Lent.
As I think about this passage and this time, I find such hope in the words penned. And not just hope, there is also this call to remember – remember who God is and who God has always been to God’s people – the faithful One, the One who can be trusted. This Psalm and this season challenge us to stop trying to do it on our own – because we can’t. We need the “shadow of the Almighty,” the nearness of God. This is what Lent calls us to. It calls us to remember, it calls us to lay down our agendas and our need to be in control and it calls us into this intimate space with God where we can rest in the safety and security of our God.
There is such rich imagery and beautiful metaphors at the beginning on Psalm 91. The author takes great time and intentionality to expressing who God is through these descriptive words– even though words fall short. As you read Psalm 91, it is easy to begin to develop some imagination of what this may look like, to put yourself in the “story,” the words written.
PSALM 91:1 – “He who dwells (lives, abides) in the shelter (secret place, hiding place) of the Most High…”
Dwell. What does it truly mean to dwell? One commentary describes the word dwell as “having one’s abode.” It is the idea of living with. What a beautiful description of living in communion, in “togetherness” with God. This Psalm points to the fact that we can, indeed, find our home, our place of comfort and safety in God. In this call to abide in the shelter of God I hear the echo of Jesus’ words to abide in Him (John 15:4).
The Psalmist continues – “I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Again, we find this call to abide. Those who find their home in God, who dwell with Him, will find rest as they abide in His shadow, His safety and security. This is the best place we could ever place ourselves is in the shadow of the Almighty! As we draw near to God, as we dwell with God, relying on God, trusting that God will do what only God can do – God will meet us right where we are. In the shadow of the Almighty we find safety, security.
The Psalmist continues this thought in verse 2 — “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’”
In this verse the Psalmist reminds us of where this safety, security and rest comes from. Our safety and our refuge do not come from our strength, power, or will – our safety and our refuge comes as we dwell and abide in God. It is God who is our fortress, our stronghold, our protection. God is the one that provides the safety and security. God is the one who can be trusted to be our protector. God is the trustworthy one in this relationship – the sure place to put our feet no matter the circumstances that are raging around us. God is who God says God will be – our refuge and our fortress. These verses call us to remember that our confidence and trust in God is NEVER misplaced. Because God is the Almighty, the El Shaddai – the most powerful One. God is Elohim – my great God. We can confidently put our trust in this God.
The lectionary passage jumps to the end and focuses on the verses that continue this thought. The writer begins with and IF/THEN statement. In verse 9 the writer states, “IF you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling…” and then in the verses that follows, the writer goes on to give promise after promise of what a life that is dwelling in the shadow of the Most High looks like. If we dwell in God, then…
We find safety in God’s presence. In verses 10-12, once again the promises of safety and security are repeated:
Vs. 10 – no harm will befall you; no disaster will come near your tent
Vs. 11 – God will command His angels to guard you
Vs. 12 – they will lift you up, you will not fall
Not only will the person who dwells with God experience God’s safety and security, but in verse 13, the person who dwells with God will have victory:
Vs. 13 – you will trample the lion and the serpent
In verses 14-16 we hear that not only do God’s promises continue, but we also hear God’s blessing being poured out upon the one who dwells with God:
Vs. 14 – God will rescue you, protect you
Vs. 15 – when you call on God, God will answer you, be with you, and will deliver you
Vs. 16 – long life will be yours and God’s salvation will be revealed
This is what a life that dwells, find their home in God will discover. Safety. Security. Victory. Blessing. In a world that is filled with so much uncertainty, so many unknowns, this passage reminds us that when we dwell with God, we can find rest – no matter our circumstances because our trust is in God. I can’t think of a more appropriate message for these days.
This passage and this season invite us to remember – remember the goodness and faithfulness of God and remember that we are not alone. God is with us. God is our refuge. God is our strength. As we think about this passage in connection with the Lenten season, see a God who not only loves and cares for us, but we see a God who is on this journey with us. Elizabeth L. Hinson-Hasty writes, “Lent is a time to contemplate what is at the center of all reality and to balance our awareness of sin with an understanding of God’s care, lovingkindness, and compassion as our ultimate hope. The words of the psalmist will encourage people to perceive God’s creative and creating presence at the center of all reality and to reorder their own priorities” (Bartlett, 2015). I think this passage calls us to something deeper this Lenten season. Lent isn’t only about self-denial and self-examination that focuses solely on our faults, failures, and mortality. It is also a time for growth. It is also a time to focus on God and God’s goodness – to intentionally align ourselves with God’s presence, in God’s shadow; God’s secret place. As we dwell with God in God’s presence, we find ourselves in a place where we can learn and grow; where we can be strengthened and protected. It is a time for us to be more intentional about dwelling with God, to go even deeper in our relationship with God. What if, instead of focusing on what we’re going to give up, what if we shifted the focus to how we want to know God more over these next forty days? What if we saw this Lenten season as an invitation to go deeper into the shadow of the Almighty – to journey with God into the deeper places? May we open our hearts to God, letting God dwell within in us, taking us deeper, increasing our trust and faith in God’s faithful love and protection. “Lent is a time to acknowledge and respond to God’s offer to dwell in our hearts. It is a time to pour our energy into increasing our awareness of God’s presence with us, no matter the circumstances of our lives” (Bartlett, 2015).
There is so much packed into these verses that can lead a congregation into the season of Lent with intentionality, purpose, and great meaning. This passage leads us to spend some time in reflection. This could be a good place for your congregation to begin this season of Lent – wrestling with the questions that arise from this passage. As pastors, we have the opportunity to lead our people through the wresting, through the discomfort this passage can stir within us. I’m sharing some questions that stirred within me as I’ve read through this passage preparing to write. Perhaps these questions (or others) could lead your congregation into the deeper places. You can use these questions throughout the season to discover places where God wants your people to grow into deeper levels of faithfulness throughout the season of Lent. The questions I’ve listed is not an exhaustive list, by any stretch, but perhaps a place to start.
May this season bring you and your people into the shadow of the Almighty and may you discover more deeply the love and care of God.
Possible Questions:
Where in your lives are you striving to do things on your own?
Are you clinging to other things for your safety and security?
What would you need to let go of in order to move into the shadow of the Almighty?
Are there things or places in your life you need to trust God with?
In what areas of your life do you need to go deeper with God?
Ask God to take you deeper, to give you fresh vision, to increase your awareness of the working of the Holy Spirit within you and around you.
Ask God to empower you with more courage to respond to His leading. Ask God to help you be more faithful in extending compassion to others. Ask God to help you listen more attentively, see more clearly, and love more fully.
Bartlett, D. L. (2015). Feasting on the word. Year C, volume 2, Year C, volume 2,.
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