Moses reports in Exodus 34: 29-35 that when he came down from the holy mountain, his face shone with such radiance that the people were afraid and Moses found it expedient to wear a veil. Many people were afraid of the Almighty. Moses' own experience was not wanted by the majority of God's own people there in the desert community. In Psalm ninety-one we may catch a glimpse of that close relationship between Moses and his Lord. There is a tradition of the Jewish commentators that when a Psalm is not assigned by title they assume that the author is the most previous mentioned one. If that tradition is true it is possible that since Psalm Ninety was assigned to Moses this ninety-first psalm may be as well.

The great London preacher Spurgeon notes that the blessings described here in the first two verses are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. He argues that while every child of God looks toward the inner sanctuary of worship not all dwell in the most holy place. He describes the common experience as like that of the people of Israel in Moses' own time who are afraid of the radiance of his relationship. And yet there are records in the Scripture of those who so closely abided with God that the presence of the Holy Spirit in them is recognized in greater measure by all who come near to them. In the Old Testament there was Enoch who walked so closely with God that God took him to be with Himself. Then there was Moses, who was buried by the Almighty. In the New Testament we have the record of of Simeon and Anna who did not depart from the temple and who lived long enough to see the promised Messiah in baby Jesus.

We may describe this holy relationship in this limited way. We are all visitors in the Lord's House, and yet there are some who become in this sense permanent house guests even in this life before being translated to glory. The author here describes for us the nature of this close relationship so that we may desire a closer relationship for ourselves. Now we may not all attain the closeness of Moses or Paul or others of the great servants in the faith chosen by God, but at the very least we all could profit spiritually from a closer walk with our God.

In verse two the author reports that "He is my refuge and my fortress." I am certain that when we sing the words of Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God we would all be in agreement that God is indeed a safe refuge. But, how many would regularly describe the sense of this refuge with the word "my"? What I am getting at is how closely do we identify ourselves with our very own God. The author here goes further and adds "My God, in Him I will trust." In Him is our faith, in Him as well should be our regular confidence. If we can more confidently say "My Lord and My God", Moses assures us that there will be three benefits from a closer walk.

The first is described in verse three to eight. Here is described the security of those who believe in Him. Certainly we are as foolish and as weak as the little birds of the image here. But we are promised that if we abide in Him, He will protect us from the snares of the evil one. And in verse four the bird image is carried to the point of our being gathered under His wings, and there close up, nestled near to Him, we like the little birds would be near to the heart of God. Whenever a mother hen tucks her babies up for warmth and protection, there they are nestled snugly, so close that they can probably hear the heartbeat of mother bird. This is the security promised to us in a closer walk with God.

The second benefit is one of safety which is described in verses nine and ten. Our psalmist assures those who dwell in God that he shall be safe. Though faith claims no merit of its own, yet the Lord may reward it wherever he grants it. Those who make God their refuge shall indeed find him a refuge. It is impossible that any permanent ill should happen to those beloved of the Lord. While it is possible that our very lives could be lost to calamities, that possibility would only shorten our journey to an eternity with our very own God. At Presbytery many years ago, a church planter: Don Ward shared with me the South Dayton pamphlet. The cover read: "Why settle for slowing the clock when you can live forever?"

How very much that pamphlet speaks to aging baby boomers if they would just listen and inquire after the Lord. There is at loose in the land an obsession with remaining forever young, forever free, forever "innocent." Even the prime political personalities with this attitude can speak truthfully about being the most ethical administration in the history of the country - because they have no ethical principles - they never ever break even one! This is not the eternal safety we are talking about. No indeed, eternal security is only for those whom the Lord has drawn close to His heart and who live in constant obedience to Him. This week I read about a recent convert to Christianity - Jane Fonda. It seems she has yet to give up her worldly interests and habits. The Christmas Gorinch has received gifts in six figures to continue his attempt to steal the White House. I wonder when she will get to spend her night in the Lincoln Bedroom? How easily are the worldly satisfied, more to be preferred is the feather bedding of the image before us in this precious psalm.

This brings us to our third benefit which involves the certain protection of the believer. There in verses eleven to thirteen we are promised more than just one guardian angel. Remember the revelation to Elisha's servant in 2 Kings 6: 8-23 where Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the servant's eyes and the servant immediately saw the hillsides filled with angelic hosts. The whole hosts of heaven are at the beck and call of our very own Lord. Even the Devil referred to these verses when he tempted Jesus. There, Jesus, just as we ought, affirmed that we should not test our Father in heaven, but instead should "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." If we do, something wonderful will happen in the life of our faith. We find that wonder in the last verses of our psalm where God's friendship is proclaimed. Here we have the Lord Himself speaking of His own chosen ones. Here, it is not because we deserve to be kept secure and safe in His protection, but because even with all our imperfections we do love our God. Therefore our psalmist proclaims, that it is not only the angelic hosts that go on before us but even God Himself who effectually protects us. The psalmist assures us that if we would but trust Him more clearly, and love Him more dearly we would indeed be nearer to the heart of our own God.

Now, we must close as we started with the thought that we do not all gather so near as we ought. However, we acknowledge that we should desire a closer walk and we ought to pray for a closer relationship with our God and Savior. If we would call fervently upon Him we see His promise there in verses fifteen and sixteen. As our friend, who loves us more than we ever had hope, God will do several things for us by His grace. "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." Certainly, all of the Lord's kinsmen and women are eternally safe in their relationship with the Almighty God of heaven through Jesus Christ. What must we make of Moses' report here of a closer relationship than many if not most of us do not know this side of glory? May we at the very least sense here a glimpse of heaven and be thankful that the Lord's prophets, priests, kings and apostles were given an extra measure of closeness in this life so that they could better communicate to us what we should aspire to and finally know when we go to Him or He comes to us. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.