Class Lesson December 13, 2020

 

Question 1:

What’s something you don’t like admitting

you’re afraid of?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Fear takes many forms. We all have things we’d just as soon avoid. I have no desire to visit the reptile section of the zoo because . . . well, reptiles are in there. Some fears are good for us, in that they make us cautious. For example, I love woodworking, but my “healthy fear” of a running table saw is the reason I still have ten fingers. 

Some people actually enjoy being afraid. That’s one reason  horror movies are so popular. For many, experiencing fear during a movie releases  the chemical dopamine, giving them the same exhilaration they’d get from  skydiving  or bungee jumping.1 While many of these horror fans would never jump  out of a plane, they experience the same rush through movie-induced fear. They  rationalize that a scary movie is a “safe” place to experience fear.

What looms before us may or may not be a legitimate concern, but the fear we  feel is real. If unchecked, it can paralyze us or lead us to act irrationally. Thankfully,  we do not face our fears alone. Psalm 91 gives us strong assurance that, whenever fear strikes, we can rest in God’s power and protection. 

THE POINT

God is our defender no matter what we face.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Psalm 91:1-6

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

We don’t know who wrote this psalm or what threats he faced, but he was not afraid because he had a strong trust in God. His trust was grounded in the character of God. He used three different names for God that reflect His character.

• “The Most High” (El Elyon) – The Hebrew word captures the absolute supremacy of God. As the One who is over and above all, He is all-powerful and omnipotent (Ps. 18:13) and never changing (Ps. 21:7).                                                                                           
• “The Almighty” (Shaddai) – The Hebrew word focuses on the power of God. He is omnipotent and nothing is too big or beyond His ability.                                                                                               
• “The Lord” (Yahweh) – This is the name of God by which He revealed Himself to Moses and the children of Israel. Usually translated “I Am,” this is the name by which God established a covenant and relation with His people (Ex. 3:13-15).

The psalmist not only acknowledged the greatness and power of God but he  also called Him by His covenant name. That means the psalmist didn’t just attest to  the power of God; he wrote as one who had a relationship with the Lord. In this  relationship, the writer proclaimed, God “is my refuge and my fortress” (v. 2). The  imagery shows just how secure the psalmist felt with God.

Question 2:

What are some of the traps

that people often fear?

Under such powerful protection, it’s easy to see why the psalmist declared: “my God, in whom I trust.” His trust was a secure confidence in God.

A consistent walk of trust is vital because fearful situations often come at us with no warning. When we trust God, “he will cover you with his feathers” (v. 4). This  imagery captures the loving heart of God. The psalmist then pulled in another image. God is a caring God, but He is also a mighty warrior who defends and fights for us: “his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” God provides both tender care and victorious defense. Nothing that comes at us surprises God.

Whether it’s “the terror of night”—shadowy assailants we can’t see—or “the arrow that flies by day”—fearful attacks we can see, God is aware and powerful enough to defeat them. We simply need to trust Him. Regardless of what we face, He is with us.

Psalm 91:9-13

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Just as we trust God’s power when fear rises up, we also can trust His protection.  As we dwell in Him, He protects. One example of God’s ability to protect those who trust in Him is the exodus event. God told His people, “No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” (v. 10). When the Israelites were slaves in  Egypt, God stepped in to set them free. As plague after plague devastated the  Egyptians, the Israelites rested securely in their homes.

God still protects today. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (v. 11). Many people hold on to this verse as the grounds for believing God has assigned a guardian angel to each and every person (or at least to every believer), but it’s a stretch to make that conclusion based on just one verse. We do see other biblical references to angels, though:

• “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10).                                                                
• “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14).

These passages don’t refer to guardian angels as such, nor do they explain exactly  how these angels serve. Nevertheless, many people take comfort from the idea that God has assigned them a specific angel who is always there and always looking out for them.

What is troubling in this theology is its emphasis on angels and not on Christ. People find comfort in believing they have their own personal guardian angel, rather than being encouraged by the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Hebrews 1 was written to remind us that Jesus is “superior to the angels” (Heb. 1:4). He is the One we are to trust for protection. We are to trust and worship the One the angels worship. God is the One who protects us.

Satan used this psalm when he tempted Jesus. In his challenge to Jesus’ divinity, Satan wanted Jesus to force God to show He would intervene. Jesus’ response about not testing God is a good word for us. We should never presume upon God. God’s promise of protection doesn’t mean we can act foolishly. God’s protection is grounded in our faithfulness and obedience to Him.

Question 3:

What are some of the ways God has rescued you

from your fears?

Psalm 91:14-16

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” 

Question 4:

When have you seen God’s

protection cause fear to fall away?

Psalm 91 now shifts so that God speaks. The Lord gave two reasons why the psalmist could rest assured of His protection.

1. He loves me. God surrounds the one whose heart is undivided, the one who looks solely to God and no one else. What does an undivided heart look like? Jesus described it in what He called the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).                                                                                                                                                              
2. He acknowledges my name. Knowing God in this way is more than being aware of God’s name; it’s also knowing Him by experience. The one who knows God’s name has a relationship with Him. Some try to use His name like some incantation: utter the right words, like “in Jesus’ name,” and you’re guaranteed protection. God, however, is not someone we can manipulate.

Allow me to address the elephant in the room. Sometimes we don’t get rescued. Even though we trust God, sometimes our greatest fear comes to pass. Our loved one dies, we lose our job, or we slip up with that running table saw. Where was God with His protection then? The Book of Job touches on this thought. Job was a righteous man who loved God, yet he lost his children, servants, livestock, and health. Job was a man who knew God’s name and had his heart set on Him, so why was he not protected?

As God responded to Job with questions of His own, Job realized he knew little about how our sovereign God works. Job learned what we should: we can trust God even when we don’t understand. God doesn’t tell us how or when He will rescue us; He only assures us that He will deliver. We should keep the big picture in mind. God’s protection includes salvation, and that takes us eternally beyond what we know on this temporary earth.

Question 5:

What difference does setting our

hearts on God make when we are afraid?

GOD OUR CASTLE

Psalm 91 identifies God as our “refuge” and “fortress.”

Use the space below to sketch a castle. Then record some of God’s attributes that make Him our ideal source of protection within that drawing.

“Faith, which is trust, and fear are opposite poles. If a man has the one, he can scarcely have the other in vigorous operation. He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust.”

ALEXANDER MACLAREN

LIVE IT OUT

What will you do to “shake off fear” and trust the power and protection of God? Choose one of the following applications: 

• Make a list. Make a list of those things that tend to cause you fear. Beside each of those fears, make a note of why trusting God will help you to overcome that fear.                                                                                                                                   
• Get counsel. If you deal with a long-term, deep-seated fear or phobia, talk to your pastor or a trusted counselor. Talking to a counselor can help get to the root of such fears and help you get to a place where you can trust God.                                                                    
• Support. Walk alongside someone who might be prone to fear. Be an example and model of 2 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 

There are plenty of things to fear in this fallen world—including reptiles. Some of them will paralyze us in our walk with God if don’t learn to rest in Him. When fear strikes, remember, we can rest in God’s power and protection.

Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday.

God Bless,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

The Point

Shake it off - God is our defender no matter what we face.

 

Psalm 91 gives us strong assurance that, whenever fear strikes, we can rest in God’s power and protection.

 

 

Psalm 91:1-6

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

 

Like David in Psalm 23, the unidentified poet of Psalm 91 expressed trust in the Lord.

In Psalm 91, the psalmist offers us an alternative way of dealing with fear. Rather than letting our fears overwhelm us, we can continue to trust in God. We have to be intentional about doing this, so that approaching problems in faith, rather than in fear, becomes our default response. We can train ourselves to focus on God and His protection.

 

 

When fear strikes, trust God’s power.

·    The Lord protects the righteous even in the most dangerous of circumstances.

·    Those who trust in the Lord are absolutely secure in Him.

 

 

Highlight the main points the psalmist used three different names for God that reflect God’s character.

· “The Most High” (El Elyon) – The Hebrew word captures the absolute supremacy of God. As the One who is over and above all, He is all-powerful and omnipotent (Ps. 18:13) and never changing (Ps. 21:7).

·   “The Almighty” (Shaddai) – The Hebrew word focuses on the power of God. He is omnipotent and nothing is too big or beyond His ability.

·    “The Lord” (Yahweh) – This is the name of God by which He revealed Himself to Moses and the children of Israel. Usually translated “I Am,” this is the name by which God established a covenant and relation with His people (Ex. 3:13-15).

 

What are some of the traps that people often fear?

 

·       Nothing that comes at us surprises God. Whether it’s “the terror of night”—shadowy assailants we can’t see—or “the arrow that flies by day”—fearful attacks we can see, God is aware and powerful enough to defeat them. We simply need to trust Him. Regardless of what we face, He is with us.

 

 

Psalm 91:9-13

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 

When fear strikes, trust God’s protection.

·       God protects those who make the decision to seek refuge in Him.

·       God intervenes on our behalf to protect us in all situations.

 

 

The psalmist reaffirms the key to experiencing protection. Consciously living one's life in God's presence provides safety. The problems of life will not overtake us. However, this is not an excuse to tempt God by acting in careless ways (Matthew 4:6-7). Instead we are to entrust ourselves to God according to His will. When we do this, God surrounds us with His angels. They guard us and lift us up. Alluding to the war imagery mentioned earlier, the psalmist declares that God will give the angels orders to protect His people. God does not remain passive and distant in the midst of our problems, but instead is active and near to us. Therefore, we do not have to fear the obstacles that could trip us up or harm us along the journey. We can rely on support from God as we serve Him.

 

Highlight the main point. God still protects today. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (v. 11).

 

Many people hold on to this verse as the grounds for believing God has assigned a guardian angel to each and every person (or at least to every believer), but it’s a stretch to make that conclusion based on just one verse. We do see other biblical references to angels, though:

·   “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10).

· “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14).

 

 

What are some of the ways God has rescued you from your fears?

 

 

Psalm 91:14-16

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

 

When fear strikes, walk with God.

·    God promises deliverance and protection to those who love Him and are in right relationship to Him.

·       The relationship of the faithful to God is marked by open communion whereby we call out to God and He promises to answer.

·       The protection of the Lord has both temporal and eternal implications.

 

Now God speaks. He affirms the assertions the psalmist has made and promises to save those who cling to Him. We must cling to God in our hearts. God loves us and desires our love in return. We must have a personal, intimate connection with God. The Lord makes several promises regarding His children's calls to Him. God promises to answer, which in and of itself is a blessing, as it signifies that God is aware of us and is concerned. God promises to be with us in trouble. Problems will come, but we will not face them alone. God will deliver us and bless us. The Lord promises longevity and an opportunity to witness His salvation. During our lives, we repeatedly experience God rescuing us from dangers seen and unseen. The psalm ends as it begins, with believers safe in God's protection.

 

Psalm 91 now shifts so that God speaks. Two reasons why the psalmist could rest assured of His protection.

·     He loves me. God surrounds the one whose heart is undivided, the one who looks solely to God and no one else. What does an undivided heart look like? Jesus described it in what He called the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).

·    He acknowledges my name. Knowing God in this way is more than being aware of God’s name; it’s also knowing Him by experience. The one who knows God’s name has a relationship with Him. Some try to use His name like some incantation: utter the right words, like “in Jesus’ name,” and you’re guaranteed protection. God, however, is not someone we can manipulate.

 

 

 

Jesus was tempted by Satan to take the promise of protection under His own control by creating a situation in which He would test God. We are not to test God but trust Him. In fact, if we attempt to test God, we are proving we do not really trust Him. If He is sovereign – and He is – then to be in right relationship with God is to trust that He exercises His sovereign power and will for our good and His glory.

 

When Fear Strikes 

Shake it off with Psalm 91:1-16

 

Our lives are subject to a full range of afflictions, it is part of living in a fallen world. But as people of faith, we are confident that God will take care of us in all things. The Bible is full of examples of God intervening on His people's behalf in times of trouble. From the Red Sea, to the fiery furnace, to the lion's den, God steps into the chaos of life.

 

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways… Psalm 91:9-12

 

God is faithful to His own character; that is, as righteous and holy. He graciously intervenes in our lives, often in ways we are not aware of, to keep us safe from danger. He promises to be our deliverer, to answer our prayers, to be present with us, and to make our lives rich and full. What better protection could there be than that?

 

In Him, we can shake off our fears.