Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Psalm 91:5

Psalm 91:5

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

a. NLT: Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

b. NIV: You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

c. Amplified Bible: You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

d. Septuagint [Listed under Psalm 90:5]:  Thou shalt not be afraid of terror by night; nor of the arrow flying by day; 

1. “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night…”

a. thou [859 * ‘attah][Strong: a primitive pronoun of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you:--thee, thou, ye, you.]

b. not [3808 * lo’] [Strong: or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

c. afraid [3372 * yare’][Gesenius: to fear, revere, be afraid, to fear, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, to fear, reverence, honour, respect, to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared, to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe, to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe, to make afraid, terrify, to shoot, pour.]

d. terror [6343 * pachad][Strong: a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling):--dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great (fear, -ly feared), terror.]

1). Terror is a much used word these days and appropriately describes the natural and normal response to horrific events that across the world are becoming common. We should be not afraid because of our God, not because of our nationality. It will be God who stops the ball bearings and the nails or whatever shrapnel evil finds to place into bombs to kill and maim. Not your flag or your laws and constitution.

e. night [3915 * layil][Strong: properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:(mid-night (season).]

f. There are numerous passages of Scripture that sustain us and command us not to be afraid in the face of terror. It is only because of our God that we should not be afraid. Not because we are Americans.

1). Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2). Psalm 112:7, 8 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

3). Jesus likened being fearful to being of little faith.

a). Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

g. The reaction of some American citizens to terror in our country angers me. Their nationalism is idolatry. They hoist up their flag in smug arrogance and they shout “We are Americans this is our country and you aren’t going to change us.” They then go their way and celebrate killing children in the womb, all forms of sexual immorality and forcing God out of schools and government as American virtues protected by their constitution and their flag (which by the way they are), and then recite “One nation under God”. These are the facts Christian. You’re flag or you’re constitution will not stop one ball bearing or one nail from ripping your limbs off if you are in the close proximity to a terrorist bomb, but your Covenant relationship with Almighty God will! We as believers should be bold to proclaim we our safe because God is our protection not because we are Americans. 

1). Proverbs 3:19-26 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
3:20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
3:21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
3:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
3:26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

2. “…nor for the arrow that flieth by day:”

a. arrow [2671 * chets][Strong:  properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt;]

b. flieth [5774 * ‘uwph][Strong: a primitive root; to cover (with wings or obscurity); hence (as denominative from '`owph' (5775)) to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning):--brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away), X set, shine forth, weary.

      c. This verse establishes that as believers in the Most High God, we do not have to be afraid at             night or in the day, again, not because of our nationality but because we are in Covenant with             God.

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