Session 12 

August 23, 2020 

Unit 2: Look to the Lord (Psalms) 

Overcoming Fear 

Meaningful faith in God gives us hope in the midst of fear. 

The Word 

Psalm 91:1-16 

Session Outcome 

To understand the value of trusting God in circumstances that induce fear. 

Discover: 

Illustrated Bible Life describes the ministry provided by angels in Scripture, and provides verse-by-verse commentary on the Scripture passage. 

Last Week: 

We looked at the importance of being honest with ourselves and with God the moment we become aware of sin in our lives. 

This Week: 

We will look at the ways God’s presence is the answer to our fear. 

Listen: 

What exactly are angels, and what is their role in the lives of believers? This week’s Illustrated Bible Life podcast on FoundryLeader.com explains. 

Discover: 

The words for “angel” in both Hebrew and Greek mean, literally, “messenger” or “envoy.” Angels are spiritual beings who minister for God in numerous ways. Although we may have heard a wealth of information about angels, the Bible actually tells us very little about them. This week’s Illustrated Bible Life article gives us an intriguing guide to what we can know about “The Ministry of Angels.”

Engage the Word 

Opening Declarations
Psalm 91:1-2 

Verse 1 provided an up-front summary of the main point of this psalm: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” It was a bold claim, stated with strong assurance. The basis of the claim was the nature and character of God. Like the Near Eastern kings whose kingdom boundaries provided protective shade for their subjects, so God’s “shadow” (v. 1b) as divine King protected those who were subjects by faith. 

Therefore, the psalmist affirmed this God as a trustworthy “refuge” and “fortress” (v. 2a), no doubt based on experience. This psalm begins with two declarations: a general statement for “whoever” (v. 1a) and a personal testimony of the psalmist that begins with “I will say . . .” (v. 2a) 

An Exhortation of Encouragement
Psalm 91:3-13 

The psalmist, after giving personal testimony, exhorted others to share in that same faith. “I” language turned to “you” language. Others should trust in God because He saves (v. 3) and He protects (v.4). What does God save from? The images of “the fowler’s snare” (an animal trap, v. 3b) and “the deadly pestilence” (disease, v. 3c) represent all kinds of things that could entrap or threaten a person or people. The source could be natural causes or human enemies; either way the result is destruction. In light of these threats, God is like a mighty bird providing protection with “feathers” and “wings” (v. 4ab). The Hebrew mind would associate this with the wings of the cherubim in the temple where the protection was primarily in the form of God’s faithful presence. That protective faithfulness was like a shield around God’s people (v. 4c). 

The one addressed was encouraged not to fear the four-fold dangers one might encounter during a 24-hour period (vv. 5-6). The list alternates between actions that occur in periods of darkness and light: “terror (from a sudden physical attack)-night”, “arrow (from hunters or lightning)-day”, “pestilence (attacks of illness)-darkness”, and “plague (attacks of illness)-midday.” The point is that attacks of all kinds can happen at any point in life, and that the attacks can be physical and spiritual.

One reason we fear attacks is by seeing others succumb to them. The psalmist, aware of this line of thinking, pointed out that just because others fell, even “ten thousand” (v. 7b), does not mean that the addressed would. Rather, in an almost detached way (rooted in trust), “you will only observe with your eyes” (v.8a) the falling of others while you remain free from what caused their destruction. These others are clearly designated as “wicked” (v. 8b), that is, those who do not make the Lord their refuge and, therefore, whose behavior threatens the well-being of the community.

Verse 9 begins another section that reinforced the key message of this psalm: God is a sure refuge against any assault of destructive forces that would “harm” (v. 10a) or bring “disaster” (v. 10b). And it doesn’t matter where you are. “Tent” (v. 10b) simply meant any home, habitation, or dwelling of a person of faith. 

Angels played a role in the psalmist’s understanding of God’s protection (vv. 11-12). They were understood to be divine beings with special powers to protect humans from harm. They embodied and expressed God’s special care for people, like parents who would do all they could to keep their child from falling or stubbing their toes. 

The final image in this section goes beyond the theme of protection and safety, promising the addressed the possibility of being the aggressor instead of the one aggressed against (v.13). “Treading” or “trampling” on the lion and cobra-serpent were vivid images of victoriously subjugating creatures who were normally encountered in surprise attacks from places of hiding. What looked like sure defeat ended up in victory. 

The main point of the accumulating images and situations of this section is summarized in verse 11: God will “guard you in all your ways.” 

Divine Oracle
Psalm 91:14-16 

This psalm culminated, appropriately, with God as the speaker. The person addressed was invited to hear these words as an oracle, a message given on behalf of another using first person speech. In this case, it was on behalf of God, the One described in the previous testimony and exhortation. God added God’s direct authority to the exhortation, magnifying the case for assurance and encouragement. 

Who received the benefits of God’s protective faithfulness? The person described in verse 14, one who “loves” God and “acknowledges” God’s name. These qualifications are significant because they are not about human accomplishments; rather they point to a relationship with God based on intimate, affectionate devotion. Just as God was all in with God’s whole being, so too, this person responded with complete trust. 

Did You Know? 

Psalm 91 is an exuberant song of praise. It begins with the joy of the believer who finds a dwelling place in God. Here is the praise of one whose hope is anchored in God. This believer is aware of the dangers of life, but is not overcome by them. He gives credit to the Lord for his safekeeping. 

Think About It 

God’s presence comes in response to our single-minded devotion—because we have set our love upon Him, have come to depend so completely on Him, and because we know His name. 

Reflect 

In what ways do you need God’s presence in your life this week? 

Douglas Hardy 

Discussion Guide 

Insight 

It’s a fact of life in our world: bad things happen to good people. When we encounter times of trouble or tragedy, the first question on our lips tends to be “Why?” The hard truth is God doesn’t always answer the “Why?” question. However, this does not mean God is silent on the issue of tragedy and suffering. In fact, God gives us the best answer we could ever dream of—God gives himself. In Christ, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, God is present with us when we suffer. 

Connect to My Experience 

Today’s psalm is about being under the watch-care and love of God in the face of fearful circumstances. Begin this session with this word picture: Imagine a cliff in the middle of the wilderness. The cliff is high—50 feet or more—and very steep. The bottom of the cliff is littered with sharp, jagged rocks. It’s surrounded by lions, snakes, hunters and disease.  About half way up the cliff is a small rocky shelf, upon which a mother eagle has built her nest. She has three baby chicks, who are just beginning to learn to fly. 

What threats do the baby eagles face? 

How might the mother protect them? 

Transition: 

Today’s psalm was written with this image in mind. God is presented as the protecting parent, and God’s people are the young hatchlings under the care of their parent. In it we find hope and encouragement when we face times of wilderness in our own lives. 

Connect to the Word 

Invite a group member to read Psalm 91:1-2 and discuss the following, 

View these verses in light of the cliff image from earlier. The nest built into the side of the rock is like a fortress. When the younglings rest in its shadow, they’re in the presence of the God in whom they can place their trust. 

Share within the group life examples of times when you’ve known God’s protection and care. What are some times when God showed His trustworthiness to you? 

What might it mean to trust in God in the future? (Remember, the baby chicks in the image of this psalm are helpless and hopeless if they are found outside the nest without their parent. So it is with us.) 

God is described in verses 1-2 using what four names? (Most High, Almighty, Lord, My God) What do the names tell us about God? (The first two names speak of power; the third speaks of covenant relationship; the fourth of intimacy.) 

What four terms are used to describe places of safety? (shelter, shadow, refuge, fortress) Why do you think the psalmist used this imagery? 

In what ways have you experienced God as a shelter, shadow, refuge, or fortress? 

Invite a group member to read Psalm 91:3-13 and discuss the following, 

All the images used in this part of the psalm make more sense when viewed through the analogy of the cliff nest the psalmist is using. The threats listed in the passage might not be very threatening to a human, but to a fledgling bird, they are deadly. 

What are some examples of “the fowler’s snare,” “the arrow that flies by day,” the “pestilence,” and the “plague” in our daily lives? (Notice not all fear happens in darkness; sometimes fearful events happen in the middle of the noonday sun.) 

Does the Bible promise us a life completely free from fear and concern? Why or why not?

According to this passage, what can we expect from God in times of trouble? 

What would it look like for God to cover us with His feathers and shield us, caring for us in our lives the way the mother eagle cares for her young in the psalm? 

Imagine one of the fledgling birds fell from the nest, headed for the jagged rocks below. What does it mean for God to provide a way of rescue as in verses 11-12? 

What might it mean for us to live lives set free from fear such as in verses 12-13? 

Invite a group member to read Psalm 91:14-16 and discuss the following, 

The conclusion of the psalm contains words from the Lord. It contains some pretty serious promises, but it’s important to remember these promises are contingent upon our response. 

List the actions we are called to in verses 14-15. (We are called to love the Lord, acknowledge His name, and call on Him in trouble.) 

What does it mean to love the Lord? (Use the baby chick-parent image here. What does it mean for the fledgling to love its mother?) 

Protection is only the beginning for believers. According to verse 15, what else does God’s provision for those He loves include? 

What does it mean to acknowledge the name of the Lord? 

What does it mean to call on the Lord in times of trouble? (It helps to have been calling on Him all the way along, even when we are not in trouble. It also means relying on God first and not in our own strength and way of doing things.) 

What would it mean to go through trouble without the Lord’s presence with us? Discuss the hope we have knowing God is with us in times of trouble. 

Connect to My Life and the World 

Read the following below from Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (Sing to the Lord, 30): 

Did we in our own strength confide,
Or striving would be losing.
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He!
Lord Sabaoth, His name.
From age to age the same.
And He must win the battle. 

Share with the group that Luther describes the failure for which we are destined if we trust in our own strength. In the same way as Psalm 91, Luther calls us to place our trust in the “Mighty Fortress” who is our God. 

Invite the group to get quiet before God as you reread Psalm 91. Then, close in prayer, asking God to strengthen our faith and trust in God in every circumstance of life. (Consider playing a song such as “God Will Take Care of You” or “Lord I Need You” before closing in prayer.)

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