An Interesting Twist
Satan uses a Psalm
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:5-7 (ESV)
Satan quoted Psalm 91.
This is the fifth installment on this important and impressive psalm.
We began by noting that understanding the first two verses sets up understanding the rest of the psalm. The first verse describes critical attributes of God if we ever want to overcome fear. We must see him as Most High and Almighty. And secondly, that we can dwell with him apart from all perceived danger.
The second verse is the psalmist (we believe to be King David) declaring out loud that he chooses God to be his refuge and fortress.
Then we looked at how God treats those who choose to rely completely on him over all other options.
Finally, in the fourth post we considered whether or not God has favorites and found it was just the opposite. We choose our allegiances and most do not choose to take God up on his offers of protection.
Which brings us to today looking specifically at verses 11 and 12.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
Psalms 91:11-12 (ESV)
Verse 11 speaks about the appointment of guardian angels. I note here that we have more than one. In fact we have as many as we need. Now it may be that we only need one but I believe it will depend on the dark forces arrayed against us and not necessarily how important the world sees us. Also we see here that we are to worship God, not the angels he appoints. Another passage that teaches this is found in the last chapter of the Bible.
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
Revelation 22:8-9 (ESV)
But what God intends for good satan is ready and willing to distort. Which brings us to Jesus’s second temptation in the wilderness as cited at the top of this post.
It is good to feel secure in God but wrong to want to test this. To test God is the opposite of trusting him. We want control and power and therein lies the temptation. This is a great reason for God not giving us what we want in the way we want it. Instead we are to trust and allow God to be God, doing things in a way that will draw people not to us, but to him.
And our greatest weapon to counter this particular temptation is to keep reading and meditating on Scripture as we have just been doing.
Now go take on the day.