There are 3,573 promises of God in the Bible. But eight of those promises are in one Psalm, Psalm 91:14-16; a compressed collection of promises, or in the words of George Herbert: "...a box where sweets compacted lie..." (George Herbert, "Virtue," in Tobin, George Herbert p. 81. -- as quoted by Tim and Kathy Keller, Sweets Compacted, August 15 (devotional), The Songs of Jesus, p. 227.)
Let’s un-compact 'the sweets,' savoring each promise, one by one.
God Will Rescue Us (Psalm 91:14)
In my experience, God rescues through Godly resources. Specifically, a) the resource of a bolstering presence, through Jesus ("I can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13); b) the resource of hope and reassurance, through Jesus ("All things work together for good for those who love the Lord." (Romans 8:28).
God Will Protect Us (Psalm 91:14)
Fundamentally, God protects us from the ultimate: final destruction and death. God doesn't protect us from difficulty and struggle. For as Jesus notes in John 16:33 -- "In this world, you will have trouble..." (John 16:33). "...But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).
God Will Answer Us When We Call On Him (Psalm 91:15)
First 'the how' of calling -- illustrated through a practical prayer: "Good morning Lord. It’s me. This is my situation. This is how I’m feeling. This is how I need your help. What shall I do? (silence.) I am concerned about these people…because…What shall I do? (silence). Lord guide me…in...Thanks, Lord for listening. I am counting on you." - John Ortberg, "Vital Signs. Spiritual Health," Sermon, Menlo Church, August 21, 2016.
Next 'the how' of hearing God's answer. Blaine Smith ‘plots out’ this path, based on Philippians 2:12-13 ("Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure."). "...Here Paul implies that God is working within us to create certain feelings...When Paul says "God is at work in you," he means literally that God is energizing you [the Greek meaning of work, energeo] in the direction of his will...[God] is…providentially forming in you, certain desires which will move you in the direction he wants you to go..." M. Blaine Smith. Knowing God's Will. Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1979, p. 179.
God Will Accompany Us In Times Of Trouble (Psalm 91:15)
This promise of God infers, that the way to deal with trouble, is to keep moving through trouble. It's interesting: the 23rd Psalm doesn't portray us wallowing in the valley of the shadow, but moving through the valley of the shadow -- with -- the Good Shepherd.
God Will Deliver Us In Times Of Trouble (Psalm 91:15)
God delivers in one of two ways: 1) God calms the storm -- or -- 2) God calms me -- in the midst of the storm. But even in ‘just’ calming me, God is working. As John Newton reflects "...Everything is needful that [God] sends; nothing can be needful that [God] withholds..." (as quoted in: (Tim Keller, Walking With God In Pain and Suffering, New York: Riverhead Books, p. 3). Thus, everything that happens is not happenstance, but "...part of God's plan, even the little things, and the bad things..." (Tim Keller, Walking With God In Pain and Suffering, New York: Riverhead Books, p. 3).
God Will Give Us Honor (Psalm 91:15)
The literal meaning of ‘honor’ in Psalm 91:1 is glory -- an abounding glory, that is numerous, rich and great! Such a promise is reminiscent of 1 Corinthians 2:9, as Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4 -- "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived, [are] the things God has prepared for those who love him..." (I Corinthians 2:9).
God Will Give Us Satisfying, Everlasting Life (Psalm 91:16)
God promises us, in the words of Lloyd Ogilvie: life as it was meant to be, best expressed in Paul’s listing of Spirit Fruit, found in Galatians 5:22-23 -- "...But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23). Wow! Experience those spiritual outcomes and you’ll know satisfying, everlasting life!
God Will Show Us Salvation, Fully (Psalm 91:16)
‘Psalm 91 Promises’ ‘end where they begin,’ with the theme of rescue, a rescue executed by the ultimate 'other,' Christ Jesus: Lord -- and -- Savior.
John Ortberg tells of attending a ‘send off’ ceremony for three graduating seniors at Azusa Pacific University. The ceremony was actually a commissioning since the seniors were headed off for India to serve the poorest of the poor. Well, after seniors were commissioned, Nancy and John thought the program was over. But then the President of Azusa Pacific turned to each of the three seniors. To the first student, the President said: "your student debt of $105,000 is forgiven." Then turning to the second senior, the President said: "your student debt of $70,000 is forgiven." Then turning to the third senior, the President said: "your student debt of $130,000 is forgiven." Apparently, an anonymous donor was so impressed by the path of 'downward mobility' (e.g. a path toward poverty, not career advancement) chosen by the three seniors, he decided 'rescue them from their debt' -- and ambush them with grace.
God wants to rescue us from our sin debt and ambush us with grace; God wants to save us. Frankly, that’s the greatest and sweetest promise, making every other Godly promise -- plausible and possible.
And so delight in God's great, sweet promises -- compacted in Psalm 91:14-16 -- but expanded -- and flourishing -- throughout God's Holy Word!
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