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Psalm 91 is known as the Soldiers Psalm because so many warriors have prayed this Psalm before battle. I am afraid that some have tried to make it a ‘rabbits foot’ which it is not. No prayer will deliver us from suffering. We are called to suffer just as Jesus was called to suffer. The Psalm does state a wonderful truth and promise: God is our refuge. The Hebrew word machaceh, found here in verse 2 and nine is the same word used in Psalm 46:1, “God is my refuge.” A machaceh was a literal shelter or refuge. In most cases, it was a rock, a huge rock but it could be a cave, a building, a wall or even a tent. Primarily, the shelter or refuge was a place to hide during a storm but in a figurative sense, it was a place of safety from evil. Storms may threaten our life but evil threatens body, soul and spirit. The only thing we should fear more than evil is God.
The GOLDEN GATE bridge was constructed in the 1930’s. It is one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. The bridge is 8,981 feet in length [1.7 miles] and 746 feet high. It is 200 feet from the lower part of the bridge to the water. Construction began in 1933 but progress was slow due to the element of danger. Several workmen fell to their death. As the engineers discussed this problem, one came up with the idea of a safety net similar to what trapeze artist use. The giant net was constructed at a cost of 100,000 dollars which was a considerable sum in those days. The net was suspended beneath the work area and the work began to progress. They discovered that prior to the net, the workers were expending more energy to keep from falling than to do their work. Once the net was in place, they didn’t have to worry about falling to their death. They might fall, but nor far because the net would catch them. We accomplish more when we feel secure than we do when are plagued with fear. When we are overwhelmed by feeling of insecurity, we expend all our energy trying to keep from falling. It saps our energy and our work is neglected.
We are human and we are going to fall. It is not a matter of if but when. The good news is: we have a safety net and His name is Jesus. You may fall indeed but His grace will catch you. Jesus is our HIGH ROCK mentioned in Psalm 27:5, He puts us out of the reach of evil. In this world, we are all going to suffer and we are going to die but we don’t have to worry about it because Jesus is our safety net. If we die, we simply fall into His hands. Our prayer should not be, “LORD, add years to my life but LORD, add life in my years.” When you take the tour through the Billy Graham Library, you end up at the cross and they intentionally give you some time alone. My spirit had already been stirred before I got to this final station and my heart was burdened to pray. I knelt at the foot of this life-size cross and rededicated my life to Christ. I prayed a brief and simple prayer: “Father, I don’t know how much time I have left but whatever time I have, I do not want to waste it. Please help me to be more faithful in presenting the gospel simply, clearly and with passion.”
Yes, I do think about which nursing home my kids will place me someday but I don’t allow such thoughts to occupy my time, I rebuke them. There is no need in worrying about tomorrow, I have enough to deal with today. Fear is a crippler, not an enabler: don’t dwell on falling, dwell on Jesus.
- I made the mistake of watching the Texas A&M game last night: they had a 34 point lead and blew it. You talk about a momentum change, that was probably the most dramatic one I have witnessed in my life.
- Speaking of wild games, Danville won a wild one on Friday night. I congratulate the boys on their win.
- I am loving the fall like weather and of course I love holidays. I hope you have a happy Labor Day.
- June and I enjoyed our little mini-vacation. I guess the Billy Graham Library was the highlight of the trip. If you go, walk through the stations: its a moving experience. June did not like The Biltmore Estate. She said it depressed her. I don’t regret going but probably will not go back.