[1]NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.
Bible Passages: Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16
Discussion Questions:
- What is something you don’t like admitting you’re afraid of?
- Which of the depictions of God’s power in Psalm 91:1-6 is most comforting to you?
- Which of God’s promises in Psalm 91:14-16 most resonates with you?
Food for Thought:
Fear takes many forms. At times we may be required to face our fear of spiders or heights, while other times we fear a medical diagnosis or financial setback. Fear is real. 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.
[2]We don’t know who wrote Psalm 91 or what threats he faced; but he was not afraid, because he had a strong trust in God. The psalmist’s trust was grounded in the character of God. He used three different names for God that reflect God’s character: “the Most High” and “the Almighty” (v. 1), and “the LORD” (v. 2). 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. The writer said God “is my refuge and my fortress” (v. 2).
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 come to you; no plague will come near your tent.” 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. For example, when God rained down hail that destroyed everything in the fields of Egypt (Exodus 9:22-25), the Israelites were not harmed. “The only place it didn’t hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were” (v. 26).
The language of Psalm 91 shifts in verses 14-16 so that God speaks. The Lord gave two reasons why the psalmist could rest assured of His protection.
- “He has his heart set on me” (v. 14). God surrounds the one whose heart is undivided, the one who looks solely to God and no one else.
- “He knows my name” (v. 14). Knowing God in this way is more than being aware of God’s name; it involves knowing Him by experience. The one who knows God’s name has a relationship with Him.
Fear is real. But Psalm 91 reminds us of God’s mighty power and personal protection. He is our defender and our deliverer. When we have a relationship with Him, we have nothing to fear.
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life connects the Bible to life for adults, students and kids. Bible Studies for Life helps individuals and groups know God’s Word through trustworthy content, creates biblical community through engaging and conversational group studies, and helps people engage the culture missionally by unpacking what the Bible says about real-life issues. More information can be found on the internet at biblestudiesforlife.com. [3]
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool [4] or ordered at LifeWay Christian Resources [5].