Psalm 91: Lions & Snakes, Oh My, Oh My

SCRIPTURE:  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. Psalm 91:13 NIV

THOUGHT: If you’ve been following along, you know this was my Mom’s favorite Psalm, but I don’t remember hearing her quote this verse. She liked best the promise about being hidden by God’s feathers and wings (vv. 3-4), but let me tell you, she could do business with snakes in our dusty West Texas town. Usually rattlers. More than once I saw her with her hoe in hand, and “trampling” might be too light a word. Knowing Mom, she was praying out loud the whole time. Once, she found a racer snake in our garage and literally chased it out and up two blocks away from our home. It never came back.

In Luke 10:19, we find these words of Jesus to a wider circle of 72 disciples whom he sends out as advance ministry teams: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

I’m not trying to over spiritualize my Mom’s battles, although she did pass along her hatred of snakes to me (as well as her faith and penchant for praying out loud, fortunately), but I do know that if Jesus sends you out on the advance team, he will give you the tools you need to get his message out, overcoming lions or snakes or any enemy that stands in your way. Ironically, his message to the 72 when they came back, full of joy at the power, was, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Jn. 10:20).”

Something to think about as you are out treading and trampling today.

SONG: Psalm 91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc8thQQl6Bs

PRAYER: Oh God, the greatest miracle of all is not any authority you give me here in pursuit of your kingdom come (and I’m grateful for every little bit), it’s that I belong in your kingdom at all. Thank you for writing me into the great story you are telling and putting my name in the book!