Psalms 91:9

Psalms 91:9 says, Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;  Those who make the LORD their refuge, the place where they put their faith and trust, will always be safe.  As followers of Christ, we must live by faith each moment, and not periodically during the week.  Verse ten adds, There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  Matthew Henry says that even though trouble and affliction may befall those who put their trust in God, no real evil will.  We are freed from the power of sin and Satan spiritually by the love and mercy of God.  Verse eleven states, For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  The psalmist says that we have God's angels to protect us, so all we have to do is keep our faith in God.  We are told that the angels will keep us in all our ways, or be with us in good times as well as bad.  Verse twelve adds, They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  The angels will keep us from any spiritual harm I believe, even if we do suffer physically at times.  Verse thirteen continues, Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.  Matthew Henry says these are all references to Satan, and by our faith in Jesus Christ he has been trampled underfoot.  Nothing in this world can separate us from God as long as we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen declares, Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  We are told that we are set on high and protected by God and His angels if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Once more, I don't believe that this means that nothing bad can ever happen to us physically or materially, but that nothing can harm us spiritually as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse fifteen adds, He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  As this states, if we are Christians and remain faithful to God, He will always hear us always hear us and deliver us in times of trouble.  As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ has already delivered us from the power of sin and given us everlasting life with God if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, so the trouble we have in this lifetime will always be temporary.  Verse sixteen continues, With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  We as followers of Christ have been given everlasting life, through the salvation provided by Jesus Christ, no matter how long or short our life here on earth may be. 

Psalms 91:1

Psalms 91:1 says, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  The psalmist, who was most likely David, says that those who are in close communion with God are safely under His protection.  I believe it is called a secret place because those who do not put their faith in God cannot see or understand what God's place is.  Verse two adds, I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  David said that God was His refuge and fortress, and most importantly, He was David's God in Whom he would trust.  For us to understand God and have Him be our refuge and fortress, we must accept Him as our God and put our faith in Him by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse three states, Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  God will indeed deliver us from all the things in the world that would destroy us spiritually, as long as we put our faith in Him.  Verse four adds, He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  I believe that as long as we accept the truth of God, which we can only do by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are safely under His protection forever, as long as we live by faith in Him.  Verse five declares, Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;  As David said, we have no reason to be afraid at any time, because God is the source of our protection.  Verse six adds, Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  This is just a continuation of stating the fact that we as Christians have nothing to fear in this world, but we too often do not live as though we believe that.  Verse seven continues, A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.  David  basically was saying that no matter how large the force against us, they will always fail as long as we are putting our faith in God.  Verse eight concludes, Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.  Matthew Henry says this might refer to the destruction of the first born children of Egypt which the people of Israel had seen, but regardless, we as followers of Christ will witness the destruction of those who do not follow Christ one day, even if we never see it in this lifetime. 

Psalms 90:10

Psalms 90:10 says, The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  We often hear this giving as the life expectancy of people, seventy years, and it also says maybe eighty if you are strong, and the average life expectancy is still under eighty years.  As stated, even if we defy the odds and live past a hundred, we will soon pass out of this life.  Verse eleven adds, Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.  The question is then asked who knew the anger of God, and even if no one truly understands the angel of God, we never really want to.  Those who do not accept God's gracious and merciful salvation certainly do not understand His wrath against sin.  Verse twelve continues, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  Since we realize that our lifetime is limited, we are called on to use our time wisely.  As followers of Christ, we have a purpose each day that we live, and that is to share the gospel with those around us and to help those in need if we have the ability.  Verse thirteen states, Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.  There is a call for God to return to the people of Isreal,  but it was really up to the people to return to God.  We are not to just sit around today waiting for the return of Christ, but we are to be drawn closer to Him each day.  I don't believe that we are to try to determine how long it will be until His return, but simply live each day as if it were our last.  Verse fourteen adds, O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  I believe this is a call for people to come to God early in life so that their days may be filled with purpose.  Only the things that we do for God have any true purpose.  Verse fifteen declares, Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.  Moses asked that the days of gladness be as long as the days of affliction when the people did not follow God's will.  Though our days of gladness may not balance out our days of affliction in this lifetime if we accept Christ later in life, they certainly will in the lifetime to come.  Verse sixteen adds, Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.  God's work appears to all people, but until we become a servant of God, we will not acknowledge it.  Verse seventeen continues, And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.  The beauty of God's salvation of people will be revealed when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and then He will give us work to do as His followers. 

Psalms 90:1

Psalms 90:1 says, A Prayer of Moses the man of God.  This psalm is identified as a prayer of Moses the man of God, then verse one says, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.  Matthew Henry says this was likely written during the wilderness wanderings.  Moses remembered God's care for His people in the past.  We should never forget that as Christians God is our resting place.  Verse two adds, Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.  Moses said that before there was anything else, there was God.  God is the Creator of everything, and I believe we either believe this by faith or reject God.  Verse three continues,  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.  As Moses said, though God could simply destroy mankind for their sin and rebellion against Him, He calls them to salvation instead, if they will but heed His call.  Verse four states, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.  Moses said a thousand years passed as a day with God, but even that is not an ample description, because it still sets limits, and with God time is without limits.  Verse five adds, Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which  groweth up.  Mankind is said to be of a very limited lifetime.  Moses said they were carried away continually on the stream of time.  Verse six continues, In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.  Moses said people were like grass that sprouted up in the morning but at night was cut down.  This lifetime that we have here on earth is very limited when compared to the everlasting life of the soul.  Verse seven concludes, For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.  Moses said that people were consumed by the wrath of God.  It was by the sin of mankind that death entered into the world, and even for those who continue to live in sin rejecting the salvation of Christ, it is not God that is responsible for this.  Verse eight adds, Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.  As Moses said, God knows even our secret sins.  Verse nine continues, For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.  The time that the people of Israel spent wandering in the wilderness were of little value, and neither are the years that we spend wandering in the wilderness of sin.

Psalms 89:38

Psalms 89:38 says, But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.  God is accused of casting off the descendants of David and abandoning His covenant with them, but it was the people who had abandoned the covenant.  Once we are in a covenant relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, God will never break His covenant with us.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.  Again, if the covenant had been broken and the crown of David profaned, it was not because of the failure of God, but of the people of Israel.  We may lose the joy of our salvation, but if we do, it is because of our actions and not God's.  Verse forty continues, Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.  Now God may remove His protection from His people if they stray away from Him, but anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord is saved forever.  Verse forty-one states, All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.  The people of Israel were said to be at the mercy of anyone passing by and a reproach to her neighbors.  If we are feeling helpless as Christians, we need to examine our relationship with God so that we never become a reproach to others because of our lack of obedience.  Verse forty-two adds, Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.  Though God may allow our enemies to defeat us in this lifetime because we have broken our covenant relationship with Him, we still have everlasting salvation if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse forty-three continues, Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.  Though the people of Israel may have lost God's protection, again it was because of their lack of obedience to Him.  Verse forty-four declares, Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.  Once more, it was stated that God had caused His glory to cease and cast the crown of David down.  God's glory will never cease, though we may cease to reflect it if we allow sin back into our life.  Verse forty-five adds, The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.  The days of youth were cut short, either by death or by being forced to accept adult responsibility too quickly.  Verse forty-six asks, How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?  The psalmist asked how long God would hide Himself,  but He never does.  If we as followers of Christ feel that God has hidden Himself from us, it is because of our lack of faith.  Verse forty-seven says, Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?  Our time on earth is indeed short, but if we have put our faith in Christ and have followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit, our life will never be lived in vain.  Verse forty-eight asks, What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.  Everyone will die physically, but our spirit will live on.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ will determine where we will spend our everlasting life.  Verse forty-nine adds, Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?  God's lovingkindness is always where it always is, no matter how bad things may get in this world.  Verse fifty says, Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;  Even if we feel the reproach of the mightest of men, God has not forgotten us if we are Christians.  Verse fifty-two adds, Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.  The question was asked how the enemies of God and His people could be reproached by the world.  Even if we feel that way today, we need to simply keep our faith in God without questioning His love and mercy.  Verse fifty-two declares, Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.  This should be our response today, no matter how bad things get in life.  Blessed be the LORD forevermore. Amen.

Psalms 89:28

Psalms 89:28 says, My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.  Jesus Christ is the source of salvation.  God's mercy is extended to sinners through Jesus Christ forevermore and God's covenant stands fast with Him.  Verse twenty-nine adds, His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.  Matthew Henry says this could be seen as applying to David and his descendants until Jesus came, or to Jesus Himself.  If it is applied to Jesus, His seed would be those who put their faith in Him and not direct physical seed or descendants.  Verse thirty states, If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;  There is a warning to those who claim to be God's children but who do not obey His law, and even to those who are but fail to do so.  Being a Christian does not free us from following God's laws.  Verse thirty-one adds, If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;  Verse thirty-two continues, Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.  If we, as followers of Christ, fail to keep God's laws, either by omission or commission, God will chastise us.  We cannot expect God to simply let us do whatever we want to do as Christians, even though we have everlasting salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-three declares, Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.  God said that even if those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ fail to keep His laws, He will not take His lovingkindness from them.  We have everlasting salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and nothing can take that from us, because it is secured by God's mercy and righteousness and not ours.  Verse thirty-four adds, My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.  We may break out covenant with God by failing to keep His laws, but He will never break His covenant with us, which promises us everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ.   We cannot have salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone and then lose it by our actions.  Verse thirty-five continues, Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.  This speaks of the covenant relationship between David and God, which culminated with Jesus Christ, a physical descendant of David.  God's covenant is secured by His holiness, and not by David's then nor ours now.  Verse thirty-six says, His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.  David's descendant, Jesus Christ, is the One through Whom this promise is fulfilled.  It does not mean that we must be a physical descendant of David to have a covenant relationship with Him, but that we must be a spiritual descendant through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-seven adds, It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.  God's relationship with those who enter into a covenant relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ is everlasting.  

Psalms 89:15

Psalms 89:15 says, Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.  The joyful sound would be the voice of God calling the people to walk in His light I believe.  Verse sixteen adds, In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.  Those who hear and respond to God's call to salvation should rejoice all day so that God's name will be exalted.  Since we have everlasting life through our faith in Jesus Christ, there should be nothing in the world that keeps us from rejoicing.  Verse seventeen continues, For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.  God is said to be the source of the strength of Isreal, and He is still the source of our strength as Christians today.  Verse eighteen concludes, For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.  Just like the people of Israel then, God is still our defence as followers of Christ today and He is our eternal King.  Verse nineteen states, Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.  This could have applied to David and the promises that God made to him, but in the overall view apply to Jesus Christ, Who is the true and only exalted One.  Verse twenty adds, I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:  David was indeed anointed as the king of Israel, God's chosen people, for a time, but Jesus Christ was anointed as the King of God's people for all time.  Verse twenty-one continues, With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.  God was the source of David's power,  and He is the source of power for the followers of Christ today.  Verse twenty-two says, The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.  David at times did suffer defeat, but Jesus Christ never will, nor will we as Christians in the everlasting view.  Nothing can separate those who put their faith in Jesus Christ from everlasting victory over any enemy in the world.  Verse twenty-three continues, And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.  The enemies of Christ have already been beaten down by His death on the cross and resurrection to everlasting life, and so have ours from a spiritual point of view if we have put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-four states, But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.  God's faithfulness will always be with His Son Jesus Christ, and with us if we have accepted Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-five adds, I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.  God the Father gave Jesus Christ the Son power over everything.  I do not totally understand the Trinity, but I know that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God, not three.  Verse twenty-six continues, He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.  As Christians, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father, is our rock and salvation in the world today, and nothing can ever separate us from Him.