Sermons on Psalm 91:11-12
The various sermons below interpret Psalm 91:11-12 through the lens of divine protection, temptation, and spiritual warfare, each offering unique insights into the passage. A common thread among the sermons is the assurance of God's presence and protection, whether in the context of life's accidents or spiritual battles. One sermon uses a personal anecdote of a car accident to illustrate the belief in angelic intervention, humorously imagining Jesus with a MacBook to emphasize the personal nature of divine care. Another sermon highlights the misuse of the Psalm by Satan during Jesus' temptation, underscoring the importance of understanding scripture correctly to resist manipulation. Additionally, a sermon delves into the historical context of the Psalm as a messianic text, linking it to exorcism and spiritual warfare, and suggesting that Satan's challenge was aimed at Jesus' identity and mission.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their thematic focus and interpretative nuances. One sermon emphasizes the theme of divine presence and personal interaction with Jesus during life's challenges, encouraging believers to seek understanding of His constant care. Another sermon focuses on the authority of God's word as a weapon against temptation, using Jesus' response to Satan as a model for believers to follow. Meanwhile, a different sermon explores the theme of Jesus' identity and mission as the Messiah, highlighting His fulfillment of messianic prophecies and His victory over the powers of darkness.
Psalm 91:11-12 Interpretation:
Seeking Jesus: Embracing His Presence and Guidance (Tab Church) interprets Psalm 91:11-12 as a personal assurance of divine protection during life's accidents and mishaps. The sermon uses a personal anecdote of a car accident to illustrate how God's angels are believed to intervene in moments of danger, suggesting that Jesus is present even in seemingly mundane or perilous situations. The speaker humorously imagines Jesus holding a MacBook during the accident, emphasizing the personal and protective nature of divine intervention.
Victory in Temptation: Jesus' Wilderness Battle (Living Word Church Corpus Christi) interprets Psalm 91:11-12 as a misused scripture by Satan during Jesus' temptation. The sermon highlights that Satan's quoting of the Psalm was an attempt to manipulate Jesus into testing God, which Jesus refuted by emphasizing the proper understanding of scripture. The sermon uses the analogy of a cosmic battle between Jesus and Satan, comparing it to the battle between the first and second Adam, with Jesus succeeding where Adam failed.
Overcoming Temptation: Identity, Purpose, and Hope in Christ (Crossway Mission Church) offers a unique perspective by discussing the historical context of Psalm 91 as a messianic psalm associated with exorcism and spiritual warfare. The sermon suggests that Satan's use of Psalm 91 was an attempt to challenge Jesus' identity and mission, emphasizing the psalm's connection to the power to cast out demons and its messianic implications.
Psalm 91:11-12 Theological Themes:
Seeking Jesus: Embracing His Presence and Guidance (Tab Church) presents a theme of divine presence and protection, emphasizing that Jesus is always with believers, even in accidents or mistakes. The sermon suggests that asking Jesus "Where were you?" during difficult times can lead to a deeper understanding of His constant presence and care. This theme is distinct in its focus on personal interaction with Jesus during life's challenges.
Victory in Temptation: Jesus' Wilderness Battle (Living Word Church Corpus Christi) presents the theme of the authority and power of God's word as a weapon against temptation. The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing scripture to resist Satan's attacks, highlighting Jesus' use of "It is written" as a model for believers.
Overcoming Temptation: Identity, Purpose, and Hope in Christ (Crossway Mission Church) introduces the theme of Jesus' identity and mission as the Messiah, who fulfills the messianic prophecies and overcomes the powers of darkness. The sermon explores the idea that Jesus' victory over temptation is a demonstration of his divine authority and purpose.
Psalm 91:11-12 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Overcoming Temptation: Identity, Purpose, and Hope in Christ (Crossway Mission Church) provides historical context by explaining that Psalm 91 was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls and was associated with exorcism and spiritual warfare during Jesus' time. The sermon highlights the cultural significance of the psalm as a messianic prophecy and its connection to the power to cast out demons.
Psalm 91:11-12 Cross-References in the Bible:
Seeking Jesus: Embracing His Presence and Guidance (Tab Church) references Psalm 37:23-24, which speaks of the Lord making firm the steps of those who delight in Him and upholding them even if they stumble. This passage is used to reinforce the message of divine support and protection, aligning with the interpretation of Psalm 91:11-12 as a promise of God's safeguarding presence.
Victory in Temptation: Jesus' Wilderness Battle (Living Word Church Corpus Christi) references Deuteronomy 8:3, where Jesus quotes "Man shall not live by bread alone," to emphasize reliance on God's word. The sermon also mentions the testing of Abraham and Job as examples of biblical testing, drawing parallels to Jesus' temptation.
Overcoming Temptation: Identity, Purpose, and Hope in Christ (Crossway Mission Church) references Deuteronomy 6, where the Shema is found, to emphasize the importance of worshiping God alone. The sermon connects this to Jesus' response to Satan's temptation to worship him, highlighting the theme of exclusive devotion to God.
Psalm 91:11-12 Christian References outside the Bible:
Victory in Temptation: Jesus' Wilderness Battle (Living Word Church Corpus Christi) references R.C. Sproul, who provided insights into the nature of temptation and the importance of understanding scripture. The sermon also mentions Martin Luther's experience of spiritual attacks, using the term "anfectum" to describe the intensity of Satan's assaults.
Psalm 91:11-12 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Overcoming Temptation: Identity, Purpose, and Hope in Christ (Crossway Mission Church) uses a scientific experiment from Japan as an analogy for temptation. The experiment involved observing a person's stomach making room for dessert despite being full, illustrating the nature of temptation and the body's response to it.