Reading: Psalm 91-93
QUESTIONS
- In Psalm 91, the Lord himself is our protection. What are the ominous and otherwise threatening things that surround you in this world? Reaffirm your trust in the Lord that he ultimately shelters you from these things.
- Psalm 92 describes the flourishing of both the wicked and the righteous in plant-like terms (compare verses 6-9 and 12-15). What’s the difference between the images used? How might your observations be reasons for joy and gladness (see verses 1-4)? Express this gladness to God.
- List the ways Psalm 93 describes God’s greatness and majesty. In what ways is God’s greatness reflected in the world he has made? Be specific.
DEVOTION
The American Heart Association says that a regular gratitude practice can make you healthier and lead to:
- Better mood
- Better sleep
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved immune function
But long before such a news story was conveyed, the writers of Psalms 91-93 were teaching us those truths!
Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.” Having an attitude of gratitude to bookend the start and end of each day does indeed impact our mood.
Psalm 91:5-6 “Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.” Fears can loom large in the wee hours of the night, when worries take on giant-sized proportions. We can join the psalmist in declaring about the Lord that “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust in him.” (Psalm 91:2). Taking our fears to God lends itself to better sleep. While the irritations of living in a fallen world with fallen fellow human beings can at times raise our blood pressure (mentally, if not physically!), the truths in Psalm 93:1-2 can help to quiet our hearts: “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.”
God desires us to grow our roots deep in Him- so we can be strong and spiritually healthy! What a picture the psalmist paints in Psalm 92:12-15 “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age, they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Praising God as our refuge, fortress, deliverer, and remembering His works lead to very healthy hearts!
– Natalie Karr