Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
There are two ways we can read Psalm 91. One way is to take it to be about the Christ, who dwells in the shelter of God. He is safe from everything, even if people are falling all around him. No evil comes upon him. Even death cannot hold him. He tramples the lion and the adder, pictures of Satan.
The other way to read Psalm 91 is a little more complicated, but possibly more satisfying to us. We who depend on God are dwelling in his shelter. We, then, are perfectly safe.
As I said, this is more complicated. My writing schedule finds me working on this postas the recent news speaks of many Haitians who have lost all their possessions and even their lives from an earthquake and a tropical storm. We are also seeing the images of people desperately attempting to escape from Afghanistan, and hearing of Christians who, despite credible threats, intend to remain there, bringing words of eternal life. How is God keeping these people?
He looks at the eternal. The one who has put his hope in God, who comes to him for security, is perfectly safe. Even if thousands should die by our side, and, for that matter, even if we should die, that death will not keep us. As Jesus rose from the dead, so we will rise in the last day.
Regardless of the way we interpret Psalm 91, we still conclude that God is able to keep those who trust in him. This is most certainly true.
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