vs. 2 I need to make the decision of the psalmist in verse 2 because verse 3-7 is coming. Determine ( I will ) to brag on God’s goodness to me (say of the LORD.)
Remember, I’m abiding in that shadow, that pleasant, secret place; now it’s the shadow of a great, high fortress lined with battle armaments poised for my protection, so I can say…I trust Him.
vs 3 All kinds of dangers and attacks buffet me, but GOD, in His love and loyal care considers all worthy to protect me from. Be it the snare of a person who seems to hunt me, or a (vs 4) sickening pestilence that is clinging to all those around me. GOD Promises to be that very shield and buckler to fend off these attacks. His truth, it says, shall be, it says. That’s a promise. His truth is His Word, and that is JESUS – my Knight in Shining Armour!.
vs. 4 He becomes the Bird! When persued by the fowler, He covers me with His feathers! and hides me under His wings! He saves me-delivers me-by He Himself taking my place as the target of this fowler, just as He did for me at the cross.—WOW!
The noisome pestilence is a deadly disease, highly infectious. I know, LORD, You protect me continually from harms and pitfalls on my path, and hedge about my loved ones, church family, home and workplace. Later the psalmist speaks of thousands falling all around me, and I see and feel Your powerful protection on me, my family, and everything that concerns me-Thank You! So much you do for me I am totally oblivious to, but I do see You working for me in everything that happens and all the blessings and trials You bring to me. Thank You!
This noisome pestilence also hits my heart as a plague of sin; striking down all it touches, bringing death and misery. Highly infectious, we spread it ourselves. The deliverance from the pestilence is placed AFTER the snare of the FOWLER. We all could, at times. have a ‘fowler’ on our tail, but there is a Fowler (who is foul) who has already laid a trap for mankind, and we’ve all been caught in it; and he is in hot pursuit! If we don’t seek refuge under God’s soft, white wings, and say “in Him will I trust“, the noisome pestilence will destroy us.
And, Christian, if you are not abiding in His secret place and really living the words of vs2, the noisome pestilence can still get you, and cause you to fall into sin.-You did not claim His promises-meet His conditions, stay under His shadow or in His feathers and make God’s Word your truth-which is your shield. (That means you live by it) And you did not call God your refuge and your fortress (That means you run to God, not to some one or something else)
Lord, I am so glad that I have you to run to . I am sorry that I have murmured about loneliness and complained, “I’m all alone.” If I did have someone, I would not have turned to You or clung to You as I had in the past. That (as You knew) is what began our relationship, and it has grown and grown over time. It’s always been You-there listening, teaching (and I’m a hard case), giving, hugging my heart, and bapping me on the back of the head, too! Thank You, I Love You!