In The Shadow Of The Almighty
Psalm 91
July 24, 2022
Abraham Hong
Sermon Script
Every once in a while here at Highland, we take a break from the current sermon series and spend a few weeks in the book of Psalms. And I’m so thankful that we’re able to do this. Because there are so many psalms that we’re not familiar with. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never really read and studied Psalm 91 until this past week. I’m willing to bet that the same goes for you.
But praise the Lord. It turns out that Psalm 91 is actually one of the greatest psalms of all in terms of comfort and encouragement. And the reason why is simple. In Psalm 91, God promises salvation from death.
We need to hear and believe God’s promises given to us here in Psalm 91. A big part of my job as your pastor is to prepare you for death. If Jesus does not return in your lifetime, then you will face death. But while non-believers face death with fear or anger or sadness or indifference, you can and you will face death with faith and confidence and peace and victory.
And the way this works is so simple but absolutely profound. You can face death because Jesus resurrected. Jesus’ resurrection, the fact that it happened, is the foundation for why you can and why you will face death with faith and confidence and peace and victory.
I tell you the truth. There were a good number of times in my life when I thought about dying and then I became extremely scared of death. I seriously panicked and had mental breakdowns. It felt like darkness had fallen upon me. The enemy tried to make me think that there was nothing after death and that none of the Bible was true. Those moments occured in my life.
But by God’s grace, I clung to this truth. That Jesus rose from the dead. That his resurrection really happened. That his resurrection secures without a shadow of doubt my resurrection. And that the ultimate reality of my resurrection means that death is swallowed up in victory.
I believed this truth. And so I was able to say with all of my heart, soul, and mind, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Dear Highland, the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation for why you can and why you will face death with faith and confidence and peace and victory. Do you believe that you will rise from the dead? Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
I hope so. But if not, then may Psalm 91 help you to believe. Because Psalm 91 is about both Jesus’ resurrection and your resurrection… in him.
How in the world is Psalm 91 about Jesus and about his resurrection? It works like this. Psalm 91 was written for the king of Israel. It was a psalm meant be recited by King David. It was a psalm meant to be declared by King Solomon. It was a psalm meant to be proclaimed by whoever was the king of God’s people.
And so in Psalm 91, God promised that he will protect the king of his people from death. God promised that he will deliver the king from the snare of the hunter and from deadly disease. God promised that he will prevent death from coming to the king - even thought thousands may die alongside the king. These were incredible promises.
Men such as David and Solomon were meant to speak the words of Psalm 91. But men such as David and Solomon were only symbolic kings that previewed or pointed forward to the the one true and ultimate king of God’s people: Jesus Christ. And when men such as David and Solomon spoke the words of Psalm 91, they were ultimately speaking the Father’s promise to the Son, that the Father would raise the Son from the dead after the Son died for our sins.
Consider all the Bible verses that state clearly that the Father raised the Son from the dead. Acts 2:24. God raised him up. Acts 2:32. This Jesus God raised up. Romans 6:4. Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. Romans 10:9. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 1 Corinthians 6:14. God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Ephesians 1:20. God the Father raised Christ Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.
So in Psalm 91, the Father promised the Son that he would protect the Son from death. And the Father’s promise was fulfilled through the Son’s resurrection.
But Psalm 91 is not just about Jesus and his resurrection. Psalm 91 is also about you and your resurrection - your resurrection in Christ.
If you dwell in the shelter of the Most High, if you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus, then God promises you resurrection life. God will deliver you from physical death and eternal death. You will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
If Jesus is your refuge and your fortress, if you trust in him for your salvation, then God promises you resurrection life. God will cover you with his righteousness. You will be shielded by his faithfulness. And the wicked will pay.
Since you have made the Lord your dwelling place, since Jesus is your true home, God promises you resurrection life. You will not need to be afraid of any kind of darkness or danger or disease or destruction that leads to death. God will rescue you. God will be with you. God will bring you to your glorious exaltation.
Because you hold fast to Jesus in love, because you know Jesus’ name, God promises you resurrection life. God will deliver you and protect you. God will satisfy you with eternal life. God will show you his salvation. And just as Jesus crushed the head of the serpent, therefore fulfilling Genesis 3:15, the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet, therefore fulfilling Romans 16:20.
Highland, boast in this. Let Psalm 91 help you to find your boast in Jesus. You can and you should face death with faith and confidence and peace and victory. You won. We won. Because Jesus won. Jesus defeated sin and death.
Therefore, you can say and you should say with all of your heart, soul, and mind, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Soli Deo Gloria