Psalm 91 ~ You will

The Holy Spirit leads in all things ~ Dr Darrell Johnson speaking at the BC Christian Ashram Retreat at TWU about 'Living & Serving from the Upper Room' (John 13 to 17)

Thank you Rev Ed Hird!

Psalm 91

Battles of the Old Testament are not in vogue. Really?

The Battles of the chosen people of God. We all face battles. Battles to keep work. Battles to find work. Battles within families. Battles with substance. Battles of eating and exercise. Battles of having and keeping Good Attitudes. The stories are not blood and gore without cause. The Bible is real.

We might eat meat from cellophane wrappers but all Empires come from government and environmental changes. People with changing needs and desires due to environment and circumstance factors. With God, we see the people are lifted up. Jesus knew borders when He went to Tyre and met the Phonetician woman. Humility seeks to see what God sees.

The Bible is listening to the conversation Abba is is having with an individual. The Holy Spirit records the conversation with Abba and ministers to us by recording this in the Bible. The Bible is written for you, God's Beloved Child.





 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”


1 Samuel 17
4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.








3 For he will deliver you 
from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.

2 Chronicles 25
Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel. Joash replied," Why should you Provoke Trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

. 21 So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 23 And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, in the care of Obed-edom. He seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.








4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

2 Chronicles 26

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem.

6 He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.

9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them. 10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

Uzziah began to think of himself as all powerful in his last years. He died of pride. Fair warning about blessings and pride to us all. God is God alone. His Glory. His Plan. His Way. He began to think of himself as his own shield and buckler. Reminder to self to let God be God. God's Faithfulness.












5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.



Numbers 31

Balaam the prophet, had been an insidious arrow; he worked against the Children of Israel for money. Balaam had tried to get around God telling him no. He had tried to demoralize and corrupt Israel with sin. God sent war to the nation trying to end Israel. All Israel had asked for was permission to have a road through Midian. Only a road and Balaam had tried for death.

They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. 9 And the people of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones, and they took as plunder all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods.








7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

1 Samuel 15
4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.


The Battles of the chosen people of God. These people are saved for their actions of kindness. Humility to see where God is leading. Treating each other with mercy.











9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

2 Chronicles 20

2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.




27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.






11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.


God has ALWAYS protected His Children. He has Never been God of Murder. Never is killing people a ceremony of worship for God. God is about saving His World and His Children. The Old Testament does not jump up and down about infanticide, and yet this is why God would not let His Holy Children marry into a culture of blood death for innocents for crop fertility and prosperity. God is all about the balance of life and justice.

Leviticus 18:21

21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 20:2-3

2 “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones."








13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.

Lions were the twelve steps of Solomon. David had fought conquering lions during his shepherding days. When Solomon's throne fell, human attacks from Lions began. Paul was attacked by a serpent on the Island of Malta and lived. When a man loves the Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him.


2 Kings 3

9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” 12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.

15 But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 

16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry stream bed full of pools.’ 17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that stream bed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ 18 This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand

Blessed be the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. God who goes before us and behind us. His Love is as High as the clouds and sky. His mercies shine upon us and renew each day. He daily loads us with His Benefits.










15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”


Salvation is of God. This is only a work of God. Mankind does not Save. Salvation is a Gift of God bestowed at His Good Will and Pleasure. God will have mercy on those He chooses to have His Mercy. Blessed are those in His Favor. God's Mercy is so vast, He wants to save the World in Jesus Christ. No one can earn this Gift of God.

The Amazing Grace of God has been open to Alexander the Great through the Words of God in Ezekiel. Nebuchadnezzar saw the Salvation of God in Isaiah 13. Even Ahab recognizes the tenderness of God towards Ahab and is brought to his depth and core. Jesus never stopped healing as He was pressed to stop. Jesus does not quit on us. All who seek Jesus will find Jesus. God is not perpetually sought. The God Jesus explains runs to His Children and sees them arriving Home from far away. Genesis explains God as being both the tenderness of Mother and the authority of Father. God is wholly Holy.

We would ask this of God, to see the Joy Jesus tells us is His daily.

Genesis 12
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High"


Blessed by Jesus our God!













Abba Father!

You are Good and we look to You for Your Will and say You bless us all who Love Jesus.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

With great comfort, we place all of our cares in Your Hand for Your guidance and mercy.
With God's Love we will have the Joy Jesus has He tells us of with His earnest Word.

And all of God's people say Amen for the Goodness of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Alleluia.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †