March 10, 2019 Text: Psalm 91:1-13
Dear Friends in Christ,
In 2012, Jamie Coots, a “snake-handling” Pastor in Kentucky, died of you – you guessed it – a snakebite! Coots was the star of a National Geographic TV reality show called Snake Salvation. He believed he had a special anointing from God that protected him from any harm from the snakes that he handled. Why not? Doesn’t God promise that in today’s psalm? In verse 13, “You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.” Isn’t God telling us in this psalm that He is our refuge and fortress? Yes, but that doesn’t mean we become reckless. In fact, I just saw this week a man who was mauled to death by a lion he kept as a pet.
Were the snake-handler and lion pet owner showing faith or were they testing the unpredictability of animals? Did this Pastor misunderstand the promise of God? Psalm 91 is not an invitation to “test” the Lord by seeking out danger at every opportunity. Satan uses the words of this Psalm to test Jesus in our Gospel. He is using them for evil as he foolishly tried to ensnare Jesus. That is his game plan for you and I too. We need the Word of God as he attacks us.
“THE LORD . . . IS MY REFUGE”
Yes, the Lord indeed promises protection in the midst of dangers. He promises us that nothing can separate us from his love in Christ Jesus. But nowhere in these verses do we find an invitation to put him to the test. Jesus outsmarted Satan with a right understanding of Scripture: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Luke 4:12)
Examine yourself. In what ways have you tested God with your reckless behavior, rather than trusting him with a confident faith? Let’s use our winter weather as an example. Did you get out on the roads when it was not safe to do so? Yes, you trusted the Lord for safe travel, but was it the smart thing to do? Experience has taught me to stay home, the exception being Sunday mornings. Where else do we test God? Our behaviors can be reckless figuring we have forgiveness. Why not spout off or not listen to our parents or twist God’s Word to fit our lifestyle. Faith doesn’t work that way. There would be no reason for Christ and Christianity if we all just lived the way we wanted. Satan would be the victor and we would have no hope.
Repent. Recognize the satanic ploys that so easily ensnare you. Confess your sins of weakness. Admit defeat. But don’t walk away defeated.
We don’t always walk away the victor. We suffer defeats in life but we are not defeated. In baptism we were baptized into the death and resurrection of our Lord. We share in his victory no matter how many times our sinful behavior has ensnared us. Living in daily repentance and faith, we can enjoy the refuge of his victory as we receive his gifts of Word and Sacrament.
Satan and the words of this psalm tempted the Son of God for real. But Jesus took refuge in the promise of His Heavenly Father. He held fast to God’s promise and did not fall prey to the roaring lion and slithering snake.
But that wasn’t the ultimate victory. The devil left Jesus “until an opportune time.” (Lk. 4:13b) Wasn’t the most opportune time when your Savior hung on the pinnacle of the cross? Remember the shouting, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (Lk. 23:37) Oh, that would have been so easy to do. Why die for these knuckleheads who are shouting at me? Why die for us who make Satan-inspired decisions in our life? Thankfully, the Savior knew He wasn’t there for himself. He was on that cross to save you. To save you from bad winter weather decisions. To save you from opening your mouth when you shouldn’t have. To save you from not listening to the God-ordained authorities who are there to guide and love you. To save you from forming an opinion not based on the words of Jesus you have learned your whole life but on a friend or a show or some knucklehead at an awards show. The Lord knows Satan’s tricks. He understands the deception. He trusted, even then on the cross, even giving up the shelter of his Heavenly Father, so that you would dwell in the shelter of the Most High forever.
Enter this season of Lent with confidence, dear Christian, the confidence of a God who grants you refuge in the victory of His Son. Isn’t it fitting to begin the Sundays in Lent with this glorious psalm? The psalms are prayers. Pray them as God’s people have always prayed them. Pray them with confidence that through the work of Jesus you have a refuge and a fortress and a shelter. You live in Christ’s victory. Call upon Him in temptation and daily defeats. His salvation is your salvation. The refuge we all need.
Amen.