Our Magnificent 9
August 2024
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Scriptures to Pray for Teenage Grandchildren
Dear Father, I pray: (Insert your child’s name)
8 . Sexual Purity
______will flee from sexual immorality and maintain purity for his/her
future spouse. I Corinthians 6:18
By Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net
- Resist Temptations
You will give ________wisdom and strength to withstand temptation.
I Corinthians 10:13
- Protection
You will strengthen and protect ________from the evil one.
II Thessalonians 3:3
- Self-control
______ will be self controlled and alert. Resist the enemy, standing strong in
his/her faith. I Peter 5:8,9
- Compassionate
________will become helpful, kind, tenderhearted and forgiving to others.
Ephesians 4:32
- Conversation/Words
________will let his/her conversation be gracious, as well as sensible.
Colossians 4:5
- Wise Choices
You will show ________how to distinguish right from wrong and how to make
wise choices. Proverbs 2:9
- Not Misled
________will not be misled, remembering that he/she can’t ignore You and
get away with it. Galatians 6:7
______will flee from sexual immorality and maintain purity for his/her
future spouse. I Corinthians 6:18
- Know Right from Wrong
________will do what is right because knowing it and then not doing it
is sin. James 4:17
- Refuse Evil
________will hate the gatherings of those who do evil and refuse to join in
with the wicked. Psalm 26:5
- Satisfaction
________will do his/her very best, for then he/she will have the personal
satisfaction of work well done. Galatians 6:4
- Self-centeredness
________will not just think about his/her own self, but be interested in others,
and in what they are doing. Philippians 2:4
Monday, October 24, 2016
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Friday, October 21, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
PUNOGRAPHY...
In case you didn't know, your Great-Gramps Gadiel loves PUNS,
so I grew to appreciate them also. I had no choice...
I hope you'll enjoy these... They're pretty funny!
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Psalm 23
I hope that, by now, my 6 eldest grandkids have already memorized this psalm --
at least the first verse, if not all 6 verses...
Brooke's Point, Palawan
this is where A'po Dan and I will be living for 2 years, starting July 2017.
it is our prayer that you will all be able to visit Brooke's Point someday and see the ministry that God is setting up for TEMI and, by extension, our family over there...
it is also our prayer that all 9 of you will have a heart for the lost and be involved in the Lord's ministry in whatever capacity and location you find yourselves.
being in ministry is part of the Lacanilao and Isidro heritages. may all 9 of you also catch that same vision to work in the Lord's vineyard and make your life count for God!
Monday, October 17, 2016
Friday, October 14, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
a successful business man was growing old...
... and knew it was time to choose a successor to take
over the business.
Instead of
choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something
different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, “It
is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose
one of you.”
The young
executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each of
you a SEED today – one very special SEED… I want you to plant the seed, water
it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the
seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one
I choose will be the next CEO.
One man
named Jim was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went
home and excitedly told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and
compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see
if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to
talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept
checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks,
four weeks, five weeks went by… Still nothing.
By now,
others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt
like a failure.
Six months
went by – still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing.
Jim didn’t
say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing
the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year
finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their
plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his
wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But, she asked him to be honest
about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing
moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to
the board room.
When Jim
arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives.
They were beautiful – in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the
floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO
arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried
to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,”
said the CEO. “Today, one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”
All of the
sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He
ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He
thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”
When Jim got
to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the
story.
The CEO
asked everyone to sit down, except Jim. He looked at Jim and then announced to
the young executives, “Behold, your next Chief Executive Officer!” “His name is
Jim!”
Jim couldn’t
believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.
“How could
he be the new CEO?” the others said.
Then the CEO
said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to
take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But, I gave
you all boiled seeds. They were dead. It was not possible for them to grow.”
All of you,
except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that
the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you.
Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my
seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive
Officer!”
· If you plant honesty, you will reap
trust
· If you plant goodness, you will reap
friends
· In you plant humility, you will reap
greatness
· If you plant perseverance, you will
reap contentment
· If you plant consideration, you will
reap perspective
· If you plant hard work, you will reap
success
· If you plant forgiveness, you will
reap reconciliation
· If you plant faith in God, you will
reap a harvest.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Random info about me...
- I was born in Cebu's Community Hospital.
- At the age of 6, our family moved to Manila where my parents taught @ FEBIAS College of Bible.
- At the age of 10, our family went to the States so my parents could study at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.
- in 1974, I was back in Deerfield, IL to study @ Trinity College (now International University).
- Our family traveled between the Philippines and the US via the American President Lines: in 1965 (Manila to Oakland, CA on President Wilson) and in 1969 (Oakland, CA to Manila on President Cleveland)
- At 17, i was made to choose between my then-boyfriend (who became my husband anyway!) and studying in the States: i chose the States!
- Began playing the piano at the age of 6; was accompanying worship service @ age 10
- Directed my first adult choir at the age of 17 (Caloocan Bible Church) when our choir director, Mr Haglund, went back to the States on furlough
- Became a MADS "sappy sophomore soprano" in 1972, along with Yvonne Cadd, Angela Simpson, Leah Eaton & Debbie Marocco
- Favorite country during MADS' 1974 tour: GREECE
- County I would most love to visit with my husband, kids & grandkids: IRELAND
- Because of my rough freshman year at Trinity, my father resigned as President of FEBIAS College of Bible so that he and my mom could be with my siblings and me as we studied in the States. Many years later, dan and i did the same thing -- in reverse: we stayed in the states until all our children had graduated and were doing OK on their own
- Majored in Psychology @ Trinity
- During my senior year @ Trinity, a visiting professor of Telecommunications suggested that I pursue Communications and work for him @ NBC-Chicago. I was so tired from studying that I said "no." Definitely one of my "regrets"
- Married in Baguio City
- From 1982 to 1988, traveled every January to the US to stay for 1 month in order to retain green card status
- Was a newscaster for DZFE & DZAS (Manila) in the mid to late 1980's
- Was the late night news anchor @ GMA-Channel 7 in Manila, paired with Jimmy Gil; after only 3 weeks at GMA, i was assigned to take Tina Monzon-Palma's place for 1 week doing primetime news while she was on assignment in China
- Responsible for developing the FDA (Funds Disbursement Authorization) program at Kaiser Permanente, a project given to me by my boss, Ben Rojas, the Asst Regional Controller for Kaiser-Southern CA. Kaiser is still using the process!!
- Became a US citizen in 2007, 33 years after receiving my green card!
- Asked to write the foreword to my friend Victoria Darragh's 2nd book on Healing for the Broken-hearted
- Knows that I am what I am by the grace of God and that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
- Am thankful for lifelong friends (more than 30 years!), including Yvonne Cadd Everly, Angela Simpson Leuice, Leah Eaton Humphreys, Ali Aguarino, Em Perez, Lynette Tackett Wortham, Ruth Geisler Kostreva, Abe Navarette, among others
- Am eternally grateful to God for the precious gifts of my husband, Dan; my children, Ashley, Justin & Erin; my grandkids, Josiah, Keilah, Jonah (still in the womb) and our 4th (still in the womb & sex still unknown)!!
- Am extremely thankful that my parents are still around to see and enjoy their great grandkids!!
these are great reminders...
- Don't date because you are desperate.
- Don't marry because you are miserable.
- Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
- Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
- Don't associate with people you can't trust.
- Don't cheat.
- Don't lie.
- Don't pretend.
- Don't dictate because you are smarter.
- Don't demand because you are stronger.
- Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
- Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
- Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
- Don't stagnate!
- Don't regress.
- Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
- Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
- Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.
- Learn a new skill.
- Find a new friend.
- Start a new career.
- Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
- To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
- To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
- To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
- Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.
- To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you can be.
- Simplify your life.
- Take away the clutter.
- Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits and dangerous liaisons.
- Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
- Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
- Be true to yourself.
- Don't commit when you are not ready.
- Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
- Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
- Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
- Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.
- Write poetry.
- Love Deeply.
- Walk barefoot.
- Dance with wild abandon.
- Cry at the movies.
- Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
- You light up your life.
- You drive yourself to your destination.
- No one completes you -except YOU.
- It isn't true that life does not get easier with age. It only gets more challenging.
- Don't be afraid.
- Don't lose your capacity to love.
- Pursue your passions.
- Live your dreams.
- Don't lose faith in God.
- Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!
[from Rick Warren, author of Purpose Driven Life]
What's in a name?
this question, "Who gave you your name and why? Did you have a family nickname? How did you get it?" was first answered in my first blog, "plantobesurprisedbygod" in October of 2008...
i asked my parents about my name "sharon lei" and was told that my mom chose it. the reason? she loves flowers and "sharon" is the name of a plain in Israel where roses bloom. "lei" is hawaiian for garland, so more flowers. there was nothing earth-shattering about why i ended up being sharon lei and my dad was quick to point out that he didn't have any say in the name choice... :-)
as for my nickname, i have several but they're all variations of "peachy." i guess it must have been given to me because i was a little plump as a baby. some relatives call me "pepep" and my brother called me "pep" because when he was learning how to talk, he couldn't pronounce "peachy." that's the nickname that my close friends and family are privileged to call me...!!
when i had my own children, i spent a lot of time thinking about just the RIGHT name for each one. when i was pregnant with ashley, i was reading Ashley Montagu's "The Meaning of Love." Ashley Montagu was an anthropologist who wrote over 60 books during his lifetime. He also taught and lectured at Harvard, Rutgers University (for one year), the University of California, and New York University. i had no idea if my first child would be a boy or a girl. since dan's family had only boys, i thought for sure i would also have a son. if that were the case, he would have been named andrew. but, if the baby were a girl, i wanted to name her ashley after ashley montagu. in those days, ashley was not as common a name as it is now and "ashley," which for many years was a name for boys (remember Ashley Wilkes in "Gone With the Wind?!), was only starting to become one of those unisex names. Ashley is Old English and means "ash meadow." It also means "beautiful valley" and in simpler terms Ashley also means "beautiful." ashley's middle name is "rae" which is short for "rachel." i just thought they sounded great together!
i asked my parents about my name "sharon lei" and was told that my mom chose it. the reason? she loves flowers and "sharon" is the name of a plain in Israel where roses bloom. "lei" is hawaiian for garland, so more flowers. there was nothing earth-shattering about why i ended up being sharon lei and my dad was quick to point out that he didn't have any say in the name choice... :-)
as for my nickname, i have several but they're all variations of "peachy." i guess it must have been given to me because i was a little plump as a baby. some relatives call me "pepep" and my brother called me "pep" because when he was learning how to talk, he couldn't pronounce "peachy." that's the nickname that my close friends and family are privileged to call me...!!
when i had my own children, i spent a lot of time thinking about just the RIGHT name for each one. when i was pregnant with ashley, i was reading Ashley Montagu's "The Meaning of Love." Ashley Montagu was an anthropologist who wrote over 60 books during his lifetime. He also taught and lectured at Harvard, Rutgers University (for one year), the University of California, and New York University. i had no idea if my first child would be a boy or a girl. since dan's family had only boys, i thought for sure i would also have a son. if that were the case, he would have been named andrew. but, if the baby were a girl, i wanted to name her ashley after ashley montagu. in those days, ashley was not as common a name as it is now and "ashley," which for many years was a name for boys (remember Ashley Wilkes in "Gone With the Wind?!), was only starting to become one of those unisex names. Ashley is Old English and means "ash meadow." It also means "beautiful valley" and in simpler terms Ashley also means "beautiful." ashley's middle name is "rae" which is short for "rachel." i just thought they sounded great together!
I looked up "Ashley" on the 'net and someone wrote that the name originated from a myth. according to this myth, a beautiful young female was abducted by an ogre and imprisoned in an ash tree. over many years the tree took the form of that beautiful woman, but since nobody remembers the woman's name, she is only remembered as Ashley. It is said that the fabled treed is located in the town of Devonshire in the United Kingdom.
before i even got pregnant with justin, i remember riding home on a bus from baguio to manila and asking dan what he thought we should call our son, once we had one. his dad, who was one of the sweetest men ever!, was named justino and i wanted to name our son after him, but with an american twist to it. i didn't know if dan wanted his son to have "daniel" as his first name and was glad when he said it would be OK to call our son "justin daniel, jr." i'm happy that we have carried on dan's dad's name in our son who continues to live up to the meaning of his name.
justin is of Latin origin and means "just," "upright," "righteous." It's also a form of the New Testament name "Justus." justin was also a Greek theologian who founded a school of Christian philosophy in Rome. he was also the author of the Apology and the Dialogue.
even before our youngest child was born, i knew that i wanted to name her "erin" if we had a girl. erin was a surprise pregnancy, but one that was easy and peaceful. too peaceful, actually, because we had no way of knowing that she would be an emergency caesarian because the umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around her neck. so, the delivery was the opposite of peaceful as Dr Salvador Francisco had to scramble to get me into OR to perform the C-section and dan had to hurry back from FEBC to sign the consent papers for the C-section. all the while, i was getting injected with the biggest needle i had ever seen right on my spine to get me ready for the procedure!! i still remember dr francisco opening me up and bec he didn't want the incision to be too long, he had one of his interns push down on my chest for several minutes to help push the baby out...! i still remember how weird that was to have some dude pushing down on my chest and my not even feeling any of it...!! but, praise God, that did the trick and erin was delivered safely with the umbilical cord cut right at my belly button. that was really a close call for both of us!!
erin means "peace." it is also the romantic name for ireland. i've always been fascinated by ireland which is one reason why erin has an irish name. maybe someday, we will travel there together... erin's full name is actually erinleigh. i thought about making it erinlei, but thought people might think it sounds too much like my own name... so, i just changed the lei to leigh... pretty nifty, huh?
so, what's in a name? plenty!! i just hope my kids are happy with their names or at least have made peace with their names, like i have with mine... :-)
Friday, October 7, 2016
Celebrating a Late Loved One’s Birthday
by the time our grandchildren reach their 30s or maybe even earlier, chances
are that their A'po Dan and I (Oma Pep) as well as our contemporaries will
already be in heaven. sometimes, it's hard to know what to do or how to feel
when the birthdays of these loved ones come around. this article by Rebecca @
DaySpring gives a great perspective and idea.
The great King David was a man of war. He suffered many losses in his life, and yet he wrote this psalm of thanks to God. “You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth” (Psalm 30:11 CEV). If the Psalmist could say these words, surely we can as well!
My mother was the master of many things, but she had a notable brown thumb. A friend once called our house “death row for plants.” Whether they were doomed by too little attention or too much, the outcome was always the same - a pot full of dried dirt where some promising lifeform had once been. Then one day, a friend gave her an African violet for her birthday. Mom gushed over it, although she must have been already visualizing its demise. She sat it in the middle of the dining room table and gave her unsuspecting friend a tight hug.
We thought little about the African violet until one day, to everyone’s happy surprise, we realized it had survived - not just one month or six months but an entire year. Mom couldn’t believe it and neither could we. Soon there were African violets everywhere, on the window seat, over the sink, and unlike before, they all seemed to do well.
Mom left us less than a year ago. There was already plenty of “missing” going on among her nine children when we felt an additional punch to the gut when that certain day in August rolled around just a few weeks later. It hurt! But we wondered - could we find a way to put some hope back in that day? Deprive it of its power to unleash such sadness? We thought maybe we could.
It isn’t easy for nine people to agree on anything, but finally, we settled on what we would do. As the months pass and that next birthday comes into view, each of us will purchase, pot, and gift an African violet to someone we feel could use an encouraging lift. Each violet would include this prayer from Psalm 90:14 NIV, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Are you approaching what may be a difficult birthday for you? If so, why not search out a special way to honor your loved one? It doesn’t have to be a magnificent gesture or something that will break the bank. My family settled on sweet little plants with pink and violet flowers to remember and honor our mother. Here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing:
» Share your loved one’s story and pictures on Facebook, with a friend, or with a younger family member.
» Organize a workday for a senior in your neighborhood.
» Honor your loved one by giving a small scholarship in his or her name.
» Volunteer at a charity that would have significance to your loved one.
Whatever meaningful activity you chose, remember to do something for yourself as well. Include in your day some small indulgence and as much laughter as humanly possible. Above all, remember to lean into Jesus, whose comfort is like no other.
**********************************
Birthdays are a joyful time, a yearly opportunity to celebrate life. But when a loved one is no longer with us, that reminder can be painful. A day we once anticipated with great joy now triggers a sense of dread and the awakening of a broken heart. Is it possible to redeem that special day? Change it from a day of mourning to a day of joy?The great King David was a man of war. He suffered many losses in his life, and yet he wrote this psalm of thanks to God. “You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth” (Psalm 30:11 CEV). If the Psalmist could say these words, surely we can as well!
My mother was the master of many things, but she had a notable brown thumb. A friend once called our house “death row for plants.” Whether they were doomed by too little attention or too much, the outcome was always the same - a pot full of dried dirt where some promising lifeform had once been. Then one day, a friend gave her an African violet for her birthday. Mom gushed over it, although she must have been already visualizing its demise. She sat it in the middle of the dining room table and gave her unsuspecting friend a tight hug.
We thought little about the African violet until one day, to everyone’s happy surprise, we realized it had survived - not just one month or six months but an entire year. Mom couldn’t believe it and neither could we. Soon there were African violets everywhere, on the window seat, over the sink, and unlike before, they all seemed to do well.
Mom left us less than a year ago. There was already plenty of “missing” going on among her nine children when we felt an additional punch to the gut when that certain day in August rolled around just a few weeks later. It hurt! But we wondered - could we find a way to put some hope back in that day? Deprive it of its power to unleash such sadness? We thought maybe we could.
It isn’t easy for nine people to agree on anything, but finally, we settled on what we would do. As the months pass and that next birthday comes into view, each of us will purchase, pot, and gift an African violet to someone we feel could use an encouraging lift. Each violet would include this prayer from Psalm 90:14 NIV, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Are you approaching what may be a difficult birthday for you? If so, why not search out a special way to honor your loved one? It doesn’t have to be a magnificent gesture or something that will break the bank. My family settled on sweet little plants with pink and violet flowers to remember and honor our mother. Here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing:
» Share your loved one’s story and pictures on Facebook, with a friend, or with a younger family member.
» Organize a workday for a senior in your neighborhood.
» Honor your loved one by giving a small scholarship in his or her name.
» Volunteer at a charity that would have significance to your loved one.
Whatever meaningful activity you chose, remember to do something for yourself as well. Include in your day some small indulgence and as much laughter as humanly possible. Above all, remember to lean into Jesus, whose comfort is like no other.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
my favorite Psalm
here's a hint I learned a long time ago in Sunday School:
from verses 1 to 13, replace "thee," "thou," "thy," "thine" with your name;from verses 14 to 16, replace "he," "his," "him" with your name
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
The dimensions of safety
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;
6 [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
The basis of safety
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
ANNOTATION by Dr Gadiel T. Isidro (my grandkids' great-grandfather)
The thrust of this Psalm is a 100 percent assurance of the safety of the believer. However, in reality, this has not been the experience of many sincere believers. Hence, this Psalm is primarily Messianic. However, there could be, from time to time, a providential application of the assurances of safety here to believers.
Psa 91:1-2 This passage teaches the location of the place of safety of the Messiah and of the believers. First, the place of safety (v 1):
1. He dwells in the secret place of the Most High. “Secret” is from sether, meaning “a hiding place” (Psa 32:7). “Most High” is elyon referring to His supremacy. See Genesis 14:18, 22. The Messiah dwells in God (Jhn 17:21). The believer also dwells in Christ (2Co 5:17).
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
ANNOTATION by Dr Gadiel T. Isidro (my grandkids' great-grandfather)
The thrust of this Psalm is a 100 percent assurance of the safety of the believer. However, in reality, this has not been the experience of many sincere believers. Hence, this Psalm is primarily Messianic. However, there could be, from time to time, a providential application of the assurances of safety here to believers.
Psa 91:1-2 This passage teaches the location of the place of safety of the Messiah and of the believers. First, the place of safety (v 1):
1. He dwells in the secret place of the Most High. “Secret” is from sether, meaning “a hiding place” (Psa 32:7). “Most High” is elyon referring to His supremacy. See Genesis 14:18, 22. The Messiah dwells in God (Jhn 17:21). The believer also dwells in Christ (2Co 5:17).
2. He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. “Abide” is lun which, in the light of the context, means “to rest secure.” See Job 39:28. “Shadow” is tzel, meaning “protection” (Gen 19:8; Jdg 9:15).
Second, the Person of safety (v 2). The Person of God is the place of refuge and safety.
Psa 91:3-8 Some of the dimensions of protection are enumerated in this passage. First, deliverance from deceivers (vs 3-4):
1. Fowlers were literally bird catchers who use tricks. Figuratively, this refers to theological deceivers. “Noisome pestilence” is from dever hawwah. Dever means “plagues” (Hos 13:14). Hawwah means “wicked or mischievous” (Psa 38:12). Dever could also be Davar which could refer to words which are mischievous.
2. Feathers and wings are figures of protection. The protective armour of the Messiah is the truth (v 4). This is the same with the believer.
Second, deliverance from sudden attacks of the enemy (v 5). Third, deliverance from pestilence (vs 6-7):
1. “Pestilence” in v 6 refers to diseases but is the same word as found in v 3.
2. It will not come near the Messiah (v 4). The Lord was never sick while here on earth.
Fourth, deliverance from the wicked (v 8).
Psa 91:9-16 The basis for the safety of the Messiah and of the believer is trust in God. See v 2. “Trust” from v 2 is batach, meaning “confidence” (Mic 7:5). First, the act of trust (v 9). This act is making the Lord the Messiah’s refuge and habitation. “Make” here is from sim, but the verbal form is in the perfect tense, thus, complete and settled. Second, no evil shall befall the Messiah (vs 10-13):
1. Plagues will not touch him (vs 10-12).
a. “Plague” is nega, meaning “serious and extensive physical disease” (Gen 12:7).
b. Angels will minister to Him (vs 11-12). V 12 was quoted by the devil when tempting the Lord (Mat 4:6). The Lord rejected this, not because it was not prophesied of Him, but its application was still future. See Zechariah 14:4. Angels also are ministering spirits of believers (Heb 1:14).
2. Instead, he shall tread upon powerful and dangerous creatures (v 13)
Third, because of love (v 14):
1. The word “love” here comes from chasaq which means “intense longing or desire” (Gen 34:8). The verbal form is in the perfect tense, thus, complete. This can only be a description of Messianic love.
2. He will be “set on high,” sagav, meaning “to exalt” (Isa 33:5). The verbal form is in the piel stem, thus, intensive. This refers to the exaltation of the Lord (Phl 2:9). The verb “know” is in the perfect tense, thus, perfect and complete personal knowledge.
Fourth, because of prayer (vs 15-16):
1. He will be honored (v 15). The word “honor” is from kavad, meaning “glorify.” This is true with the Messiah and of the believer.
2. He will have a long life. Primarily, this refers to the resurrection of the Lord and also to the believer.
Second, the Person of safety (v 2). The Person of God is the place of refuge and safety.
Psa 91:3-8 Some of the dimensions of protection are enumerated in this passage. First, deliverance from deceivers (vs 3-4):
1. Fowlers were literally bird catchers who use tricks. Figuratively, this refers to theological deceivers. “Noisome pestilence” is from dever hawwah. Dever means “plagues” (Hos 13:14). Hawwah means “wicked or mischievous” (Psa 38:12). Dever could also be Davar which could refer to words which are mischievous.
2. Feathers and wings are figures of protection. The protective armour of the Messiah is the truth (v 4). This is the same with the believer.
Second, deliverance from sudden attacks of the enemy (v 5). Third, deliverance from pestilence (vs 6-7):
1. “Pestilence” in v 6 refers to diseases but is the same word as found in v 3.
2. It will not come near the Messiah (v 4). The Lord was never sick while here on earth.
Fourth, deliverance from the wicked (v 8).
Psa 91:9-16 The basis for the safety of the Messiah and of the believer is trust in God. See v 2. “Trust” from v 2 is batach, meaning “confidence” (Mic 7:5). First, the act of trust (v 9). This act is making the Lord the Messiah’s refuge and habitation. “Make” here is from sim, but the verbal form is in the perfect tense, thus, complete and settled. Second, no evil shall befall the Messiah (vs 10-13):
1. Plagues will not touch him (vs 10-12).
a. “Plague” is nega, meaning “serious and extensive physical disease” (Gen 12:7).
b. Angels will minister to Him (vs 11-12). V 12 was quoted by the devil when tempting the Lord (Mat 4:6). The Lord rejected this, not because it was not prophesied of Him, but its application was still future. See Zechariah 14:4. Angels also are ministering spirits of believers (Heb 1:14).
2. Instead, he shall tread upon powerful and dangerous creatures (v 13)
Third, because of love (v 14):
1. The word “love” here comes from chasaq which means “intense longing or desire” (Gen 34:8). The verbal form is in the perfect tense, thus, complete. This can only be a description of Messianic love.
2. He will be “set on high,” sagav, meaning “to exalt” (Isa 33:5). The verbal form is in the piel stem, thus, intensive. This refers to the exaltation of the Lord (Phl 2:9). The verb “know” is in the perfect tense, thus, perfect and complete personal knowledge.
Fourth, because of prayer (vs 15-16):
1. He will be honored (v 15). The word “honor” is from kavad, meaning “glorify.” This is true with the Messiah and of the believer.
2. He will have a long life. Primarily, this refers to the resurrection of the Lord and also to the believer.
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