Psalm 91 revisited

Last evening I was sharing some promises with my sister from Psalm 91. She responded with some questions concerning the meaning of some of that Psalm. Having just recently 'unpacked' it for myself we went over it together and I shared with her some meanings of words that - to me anyway - had greatly changed my perception of the message.

I have posted it on the paraphrase link but I am also going to share it here for I received such blessings from it and I hope some of that you will also receive.

I don't use 'parallel' poetic form (almost the same thing two different ways or the second time for a particular idea) of the King James Version of the Bible.

Please note also that when the King James Bible was translated there was a rather strong then current belief that anything passionate, intimate or sexual (Greek 'erotic') most likely was 'sinful' and therefore must be wrong or 'taboo'. I believe this strongly influenced the translators but at the same time obscured or even buried God and the author's original intent. That seems very evident in Psalm 91. Following is my present understanding.

1-2 The person who is in love with God will stay very close to their awesome Lover. [He is my Lover too.]

3-4 He will rescue you from covert seductions as well as obvious attempts to destroy your love for Him by surrounding you with His own passionate love. Passionate intimacy with Your lover is what will really protect you 5-6 so You won't panic when you can't see what is happening or even when you can; whether lies are secretly
spoken to destroy you or you know you are being attacked.

7-8 Others all around you will lose their love for God and become unfaithful, but it won't break your intimacy with Him. You will see, however, what happens to those who become unfaithful.

9-10 But because you have chosen (as I have) God as your lover, no infidelity will contaminate your thoughts or life.

11-13 Your Lover will also use others who love Him to safeguard you from adultery by teaching you how to passionately repel any obvious temptations and even quickly dismiss all evil insinuations.

14-16 (Your Lover's message to you:) "Because you love Me intimately - having learned who I really am and what I am really like - and fully respect My authority, I will marry you and give you My special name to call Me. When You use My special name I will lovingly respond to you. Even when you get in tight, narrow situations or are crowded by opponents, I will strengthen you with My joyful, satisfying peace filled Presence and will save you in spectacular ways."

What an awesome privilege to be married, (the closest illustration God can come up with to show how intimately passionate He wants to be in and with us) to the Creator God of the Universe.

What love!

As you go on your way, remember God really does love YOU - personally!

Bringer of Peace