Psalm 91:9-13

9Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
-Psalm 91:9-13

This is a section that has been taken out of context a multitude of times and even was taken out of context in Scripture! Satan, when tempting Jesus, quoted verse 12. Jesus' response was not to test the Lord your God. Evidently, certain evil befalls us all. Have we not made the Lord our refuge and our dwelling place? Or does the Lord suddenly not care for us anymore? Misuse of this section of Scripture has caused many to stumble in their faith wondering what they have done that the Lord would allow trials and tribulation to befall them. The issue is that most read this on the surface level. Let's take a look at an example of this verse being properly applied.

When you think of plagues, where does that take your mind in Scripture? For me, it makes me think of Exodus and plagues given to Egypt. Throughout those plagues, the people of God, who made God their refuge, were protected in the land of Goshen. When the "evil" of the death of the firstborn came to the Egyptians, those that were obedient to the Lord were passed over. This is an example of the proper application of this verse.

The promises within this passage are not entailing typical trials or tribulations. The protection that is being promised is protection from judgment. If the Lord is your abode and you dwell in the safety of His wings, walking in obedience to Him, His judgment will not befall you. There would be no cause to send plagues. Rather you would walk in blessing. This is in alignment with passages such as Deuteronomy 28 that discusses the blessings and curses of Israel should the obey or disobey the Lord.

Trials and tribulations are unavoidable in our lives. We still have the opportunity to walk in obedience, even in the difficulty, and remain blessed for judgment does not abide on us. The wrath of God abides upon the sons of disobedience as Ephesians says. Walk faithfully with the Lord and abide in Him.