Living Psalm 91 in the Days of Coronavirus

The days we are living in now are showing us what we are made of AND what we really believe.  I see memes on Psalm 91 flowing through Facebook like a river with people encouraging one another with this comforting Psalm.  But do we really believe it?  Are we living it out as this pandemic invades our nation and our communities?  Psalm 91 is most noted for its promise of God’s protection in terrifying times.  Let’s break down each verse using two versions of the Bible: The Amplified Bible and the Passion Translation Bible.  I believe we can glean even more good news and hope out of Psalm 91 that we can apply to our daily lives as we walk “through the valley of the shadow of death.”

I’m going to take each verse and turn it into a short blessing prayer that you can speak out each day during this time of hardship.  Watch what God does in your life!  I know my life is changing…

Blessings…

Verse 1 (AMP) ~ “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].”

Verse 1 (TPT) ~ “When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, 
you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.”

The Amplified version shows how we live with the Most High, while the Passion Translation shows us our POSITION with God Most High.  This verse alone gives me a warm fuzzy feeling of security and rest!  Let’s put this in a blessing to the Lord.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who has enthroned me under Your shadow; in whose presence I dwell!  For it is in the shelter of God Most High I am secure and I rest in Your shadow, whose power no enemy can withstand!  Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, who has hidden me in Your might strength and power!”

Verse 2 (AMP) ~ “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!”

Verse 2 (TPT) ~ “He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me,
the only God for me, and my great confidence.”

Here is where your mouth comes into play.  We must SAY what we believe!  Do you believe He is your refuge and fortress?  If so, speak it out!  Do you trust Him?  Do you actually rely on His care for your life?  These are important questions that make a difference in living in fear or faith during times of crisis.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who is my refuge and my fortress, You are my God in whom I trust wholeheartedly!  You are the hope that holds me and the Stronghold that shelters me!”

Verse 3 (AMP) ~ “For He will save you from the trap of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.”

Verse 3 (TPT) ~ “He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, 
and he will protect you from false accusations and any deadly curse.”

This is a timely verse.  The trap of the fowler can be translated as false accusations.  With the shelter in place orders all over the country, people are experiencing accusations from others for different things they are doing that others don’t agree with.  In Nepal, pastors are being arrested for doing live stream preaching.  A pestilence, of course, can be a virus or a bacteria.  We are living in strange times right now.  Our government has shut down the economy and taken control of our daily movements.  But we have a refuge, a hiding place that we can run into!

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who rescues me from every false accusation and who protects me in every way from any deadly pestilence and curse!”

Verse 4 (AMP) ~ He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, And under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.”

Verse 4 (TPT) ~ His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you.  You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.  His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.”

Notice how in verse one, we are shown what to do and now each verse shows greater and greater promises of protection and care by the Lord.  He promises COMPLETE protection.  His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.  I can’t imagine any devil being able to get to you wrapped in the massive arms of God, can you?  What a promise!

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who has wrapped me in Your massive arms and completely covered me in Your protective embrace!  Whose faithfulness is my everlasting shield!”

Verse 5 (AMP) ~ “You will not be afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,”

Verse 5 (TPT) ~ “You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night
nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.”

God has us covered all day and all night. No matter what is happening on the news and in our communities, WE are in the place of faith in God’s ability, faithfulness and willingness to shelter us.  The key is to BELIEVE His promise!

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who has delivered me from all fear, Who has caused me to rest in confidence knowing nothing shall by any means harm me!”

Verse 6 (AMP) ~ Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.”

Verse 6 (TPT) ~ Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil launched against you.”

Jesus said in the last days there would be perilous times, and we don’t escape them, BUT we do have the authority to apply God’s promises to our realm of influence.  If we are in the Secret Place with God, pestilence can’t stalk us there nor can destruction and sudden death live one second there.  We are commanded to “DON’T FEAR A THING!”  Notice the intensity.  God is serious about us not letting fear grip us.  If you are full of fear, snap out of it and back into faith!  Your God is bigger than pestilence.  Day or night, any demonic power cannot touch you when you are hidden with Him.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Whose promises are true!  I will not fear anything the enemy tries to do because I live with You, hidden from his view!”

Verse 7 (AMP) ~ A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, But danger will not come near you.”

Verse 7 (TPT) ~ Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed.”

The ultimate confidence in God is to trust Him when everything around you is falling apart.  When it seems like you are in a sifter and no solid ground is around you…EXCEPT that you are standing on the Rock of Ages.  We can move through this pandemic in confidence that God has us and we will remain unscathed and unharmed…IF WE BELIEVE.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who keeps me from the danger, death, and destruction that lays waste all around me.  It shall not come near to me because You are my shield and buckler!”

Verse 8 (AMP) ~ “You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes
And witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High.]” 

Verse 8 (TPT) ~ “You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment,
for they will be paid back for what they have done!”

Christians should live in a place of safety and victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.  We should be exhibiting supernatural peace to those around us.  This will help them cope better, but if we are just as fearful as they are, how can they see a big God if we don’t display Him?  We are seated with Christ in heavenly places and we need to act like it during this pandemic.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who has caused me to be a spectator only as Your judgments come to the wicked.  Like Noah, I am sheltered in the billows of Your robes!”

Verse 9-10  (AMP) ~ Because you have made the Lord, [who is] my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.”

Verse 9-10 (TPT) ~ “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High,
our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?”

A lot of times people like to quote these verses without considering their lifestyles and level of relationship with Him.  He is clear in these verses.  Psalm 91 is only for those who live in the shadow of God Most High; who have made Him their secret hiding place.  People who have no passion for God, won’t experience these promises.  I’m sorry but that is just the way it is.  Running to God when a crisis hits is being like the foolish virgins who didn’t have enough oil to get through the night.  It’s those who live with Him in the good times who have the confidence to weather the storms in the bad times.  But we can all begin today to start getting to know Him!  You draw near, and He will draw near.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who is my secret hiding place!  Who shields me from all evil and all diseases; they will never prevail against me nor any disease infect me!”

Verse 11-12 (AMP) ~ “For He will command His angels in regard to you,
To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They will lift you up in their hands, So that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone.”

Verse 11-12 (TPT) ~ “God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling.”

This is getting better and better!  When we dwell with Him, it activates the angels into our realm of influence to help us during these crises.  How are they activated?  Through our steadfast faith that God is faithful to us.  We have to believe Him and we can’t do that unless we KNOW HIM INTIMATELY.  This pandemic is a perfect time for people to really seek God’s face…not His hand.  Just start talking to Him.  It’s that simple.  I promise you, He will answer you.

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, who sends Your angels to help me and rescue me if I make a mistake!” 

Verse 13 (AMP) ~ “You will tread upon the lion and cobra; The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.”

Verse 13 (TPT) ~ “You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness,
trampling every one of them beneath your feet!”

Jesus said in Luke 10:19 that He has given us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.  Psalm 91 is the promise that He fulfilled.  Look at the power of this verse!  We will walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness in total victory!

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who has given me all authority to destroy the works of the devil!  They are all under my feet by Your great Name!”

Verse 14 (AMP) ~ Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him;
I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never].”

Verse 14 (TPT) ~ For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you have delighted in Me as My great lover, I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face.”

Here we can see how God feels about our pursuit of Him.  Look at these promises!  God Himself promises to save you, to set you on high, He will greatly protect you.  He acknowledges your pursuit of Him.  He sees your devotion.  He is your delight; even His great lover!  You will ever be before His face…who can harm you there?

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who has set me in a high place, safe and secure ever before Your face.  I am Your great delight and your great lover now and forevermore.”

Verses 15-16 (AMP) ~ “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With long life, I will satisfy him and I will let him see My salvation.”

Verses 15-16 (TPT) ~” I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble.  I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast.  You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you.  For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”

The secret place of fellowship with Him brings such an intimate friendship, that when we call upon Him, we KNOW He will help us.  It’s not hard to believe Him!  And that is the key to living Psalm 91 in the middle of a crisis like we are in now with this virus.  No matter how far away from God you may feel at this moment, just taking the first step towards Him will bring His presence.  Believe me, I know…

“Blessed are You, O Most High, King of the Universe, Who hears my cries and answers right away!  Who is an ever-present help in my time of trouble and hardship.  You will always satisfy my life with good things!  You have given me your great salvation and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever!”

 

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