We’ve been doing what’s needed to learn to meditate on ancient texts dealing with life/ death, growth/ destruction, development/ cancer, corona/ crowner etc, .. not with the idea of closing ourselves to the search for meaning, but as a doorway through its poetry into ancient meanings, and then to allow for new understandings. We started with two ancient Poem/ Song/ Prayer s: Psalm One, and then that got us into the “meditating day & night” idea, which we have been trying with Psalm Ninety One, this is the result of my cogitations during my rest days.
Oh you whose shelter is the Most High God
(the God of gods, who makes female and male
to both together be an image of
dominion that is not just tough or pale),
whose home/ abode is right next to Shadai,
who doesn’t see themselves sep’rate, & who’s
the shadow of the Almighty. Each cry:
“My refuge, and my fortress; God, I choose
to trust you ev’ry day that I am here!”
For he it is who will deliver you
from ev’ry trap of all who’d snare, to spear;
from ev’ry deadly pestilence or flue;
he’ll cover you with his wings, well out-stretched,
and underneath his feathers you will find
a refuge; for your shield's his faithfulness.
So you won’t fear the terror of the night,
or darts of fatefulness that fly by day,
or pestilence or plague that stalk in dark,
or the collapses wasting worlds away
you will just walk around as in a park.
A thousand round about you may fall down,
ten thousand you depended on may rot,
but these things won't get near you. You won't drown.
When your eyes look, they will see a lot.
You’ll see the wicked punished, and yet you
made YaHWeH your own refuge, the Most High
your dwelling place (like babe within the womb)
no evil shall befall you, no scourge fly
quite near your tent, to break apart its skins.
For he commands his angels regards you
to guard you all the time, & ways you’re in,
so they will bear you up on their hands to
see that you don’t dash foot against a stone.
But, you will tread on the lion, adder too;
the young lion and serpent will be shown
as trampled under foot. While all those who
do love me, I’ll deliver; I’ll protect
all those who know my name, because they’re known
themselves. And in their trouble, when they’re flecked
with foam, & call to me, I’ll lift the phone
& answer them; & I will be with them
in trouble; I will rescue them and more
I’ll honor them each time they touched my hem.
With long life I will satisfy them, for
they benefit and bless all those around,
and they can use their eyes to look, & see.
I know the things I show them will be found.
I’ll show them what I’m saving all to be!
Mike Heiser on Psalm 91, podcast, transcript, small video
[1-13] You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path. [14-16] “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!”
[1] You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, [2] will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” [3] For he will deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence; [4] he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and defense. [5] You will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day [6] or the pestilence that stalks in darkness or the destruction that wastes at noonday. [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 punishment of the wicked. [9] Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, [10] no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. [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, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. [13] You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. [14] Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. [15] When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them. [16] With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation. (Psalm 91 NRSVUE)
As for you, the one who lives[b] in the shelter of the Most High,[c]
and resides in the protective shadow[d] of the Sovereign One[e]—
2 I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold,
my God in whom I trust—
3 he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter[f]
and from the destructive plague.
4 He will shelter you[g] with his wings;[h]
you will find safety under his wings.
His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.[i]
5 You need not fear the terrors of the night,[j]
the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in the darkness,
or the disease that ravages at noon.[k]
7 Though a thousand may fall beside you,
and a multitude on your right side,
it[l] will not reach you.
8 Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes—
you will see the wicked paid back.[m]
9 For you have taken refuge in the Lord,
my shelter, the Most High.
10 No harm will overtake[n] you;
no illness[o] will come near your home.[p]
11 For he will order his angels[q]
to protect you in all you do.[r]
12 They will lift you up in their hands,
so you will not slip and fall on a stone.[s]
13 You will subdue[t] a lion and a snake;[u]
you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.
14 The Lord says,[v]
“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;
I will protect him[w] because he is loyal to me.[x]
15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with long life,[y]
and will let him see my salvation.” (Psalm 91 NET)
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