LentDay 5
A shelter, not a charm
Week 1 · Monday · Psalm 91: Under the Shadow of the Almighty
For today
This psalm is a place to hide: shelter, shadow, refuge, fortress. It is a promise to trust, not a charm to test, and Jesus shows the difference.
Begin with these verses
verse 1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. verse 2I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
verse 11For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. verse 12They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
In Christ
How this psalm points to Jesus
The New Testament quotes this psalm · verse 11
In the wilderness the devil quoted this psalm to tempt Jesus to throw himself down. Jesus answered from Scripture that we are not to put God to the test, trusting his Father without demanding proof.
verse 5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. verse 6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” verse 7Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
verse 9Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. verse 10For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully, verse 11and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” verse 12But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Optional. Kept only on this device, and never counted.