God Will Lift You Up (Psalm 91:1-4)
by Rev. Tyger Penson
Psalm 91:1-4 (NRSV)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
A Christian hymn has been written based on these words of Psalm 91:1-4. We know it as “On Eagle’s Wings.” As you read these words in your Bible, your heart may be singing the song. It is a song of trust in God when everything seems off kilter. It is a Bible passage to remind you that no matter what is going on, God is with you.
We are currently in the cloudy waters of a pandemic—the coronavirus. This is a new experience for everyone. It is so easy to get caught up in the prevalent fear mode. Advertising, stock markets, and media images do little to calm the anxiety of people’s souls. What is this “thing” that is intruding our lives? Will I or my loved ones die? These kind of questions invade our minds and activities. When everyone is hoarding toilet paper (the coronavirus is a respiratory ailment) and sweeping food off the shelves of the local stores, what I do or say is so critical.
There does not seem to be a quick fix to the problem. It is difficult for leaders to put the issue into proper perspective. Christians, like all people, live in a world that is not perfect and includes evil as in pandemics. However, God calls us, and all who call upon God’s name, to work for good for those who are hurting and fearful.
What we can declare with total confidence is that in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, God is there to lift up those who fear, including you. God will surround you with God’s love and care. God, like an eagle, will “cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” And in verse 11 comes the assurance that God “will command his angels …to guard you in all your ways.”
What a wonderful God of Hope we have. What a privilege we have to share that hope with others. Whether it be a pandemic, an economic disaster, a horrific tornado, or an unbelievable hurricane, or…well, you name it, this word of hope remains. “You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. God is with you…always.
Prayer: God of Hope, protect and hold us close. Thank you for loving me, my neighbors, and your entire creation so much. Amen.
Song: “On Eagle’s Wings” (ELW 787)