Psalms 91-93

Psalm 91 is our focus for the day. 

I began reading a book called “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, yesterday. This book is a very interesting read. The book is made up of letters written between 2 demons, and one demon is instructing the other on how to tempt people, and keep them from faith in the “enemy” who is Jesus. If I am honest, I don’t think much about the reality of demons and angels engaged in spiritual warfare, but just because I don’t think much about them does not mean that there is not a real battle going on between the angels and demons around us. 

This psalm actually deals with spiritual warfare more so than it does in physical warfare. The indication of being “hidden under the wings of God”, and be “protected by Gods faithfulness like a shield  from the tower of the terror of the night and the arrows that flies by day” is all alluded to in verses 3-6. 

The serpent and the lion are figures of spiritual adversaries and the text says in verse 11 that God will command His angels concerning us when it comes to being attacked by those predators in verses 11-12. 

The reality of spiritual warfare is not limited to just the Old Testament. In Ephesians 6:12, we know that Paul tells us that our fight is not with flesh and blood, but with the rules and authorities in the dark world.

It helps us to think about the reality of spiritual warfare because it reminds us in the midst of temptation, that there is something deeper going on. In our culture today we dismiss the spiritual and try to explain everything scientifically, or naturally. But the reality is that that we are spiritual beings, not just physical and natural, and our spirits must be protected. 

The good news is that God promises that those who “hold fast to me in love, I will deliver; I will protect Him, because He knows Gods name, when he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (verses 14-16)

If we love the Lord and if we know His name as our Lord and savior, God promises to deliver us, to protect us, to answer us because He is our salvation! 

I want you to look at verses 11-12 and I hope that you recognize these verses from the New Testament. In Matthew 4:6, Satan uses these very words to tempt Jesus. Satan tells Jesus to jump off a cliff because God will send His angels to guard Him, and Jesus will not hurt His foot against a stone. Jesus then uses God’s word to fight off Satan. This exchange goes back and forth between Jesus and Satan until Satan leaves Jesus because Jesus will not give in. 

So what? Who cares? What I want us to see is that followers of Jesus can stand in confidence knowing that Satan has been defeated by Jesus. He may be roaming today, seeking to devour who he can, but He is on a very short leash, and we know that at the perfect time, Jesus will come and finish Satan off. Our confidence against Satan and his minions who tempt us is not in our strength, but in Jesus and His victory over sin and the grave. 

The way we resist the devil is by using God’s word, just as Jesus did in Matthew 4. Yes, there is a spiritual battle going on, but we know the outcome, and we are equipped with God’s word and other pieces of armor that God has given us to walk in victory. Look at Ephesians 6 for further study on how to fight this spiritual battle that we are in. 

Jesus said that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the church. Listen, Annistown, our church will not be defeated. In fact we are on the offense against the spiritual forces in this world. Gates are meant to keep people out. We are on the attack against Satan and hell and we will reign victorious with Christ forever! Get in the fight! Don’t let your guard down! Pray, read God’s word, share the gospel, and may we walk in victory!