Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus

By Angela L Rodriguez

Do you long to dwell under the wings of Jesus? The words of Psalm 91 remind us of how to find this powerful hiding place when we need it the most. Psalm 91:4 declares an astounding truth– "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge." The promises of Psalm 91 will give peace and comfort to those who put their faith in Jesus. Read the inspiring stories of how Jesus gives his angels charge over us. Delve into the meaning behind each verse of Psalm 91 and understand how to use these powerful truths to invigorate your spiritual life. Learn to dwell in the shelter of the Most High so you can face the obstacles each new day brings. Psalm 91 is your 911.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angela L Rodriguez
• Release date: Jun 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9780997075779

Angela L Rodriguez

I am a biblical researcher and former teacher who loves uncovering symbolism in the Bible, as well as understanding the Hebraic and Greek roots. I have a passion for studying prophecy, as well as the deep connections of scripture. I've been writing books and articles, as well as blogging for the past seven years. I have also spoken at conferences, where I teach about the Feasts of the Lord–also known as the appointed times on God's calendar. I have a great love for the Jewish people and Israel. My goal as a writer is to inspire you to search the scriptures and learn how Jesus speaks through the Word, and the Holy Spirit. I also want to equip you for the prophetic times we are living in, and empower you to live under the wings of Jesus.

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to thank Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for taking me under his wings and providing a secure refuge. The promises of Psalm 91 give me strength to face each new day in this unpredictable world. These promises are only possible through the blood shed on the cross by a perfect Savior–Jesus Christ, whose name means salvation.

Thank you to my family, who has allowed me the time to research and write this book, and for being an inspiration for some of the content.

Thank you to my friends for encouraging me when I wanted to give up. Thank you for listening and offering advice, and for sharing your stories, dreams and faith. Most of all, thank you for believing the promises of Psalm 91.

I want to personally thank Karen Quiroz, who time and time again, went out of her way to remind me I needed to write and finish this book for such a time as this. Karen is someone who truly lives under the wings of Jesus and she inspires me to live out the promises of Psalm 91.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, Acts 2:17.

Surely, we are living in the Days of Elijah, where the Lord is speaking to his servants and reminding us of his blessed return! Until then, we must stay under his mighty wings to find refuge.

For more information, check out my websites:

Revelations About Israel and the United States at 67owls.com

The Trumpet Blast at 100trumpets.com

Other books by Angela Rodriguez

What are the Chances: The Uncanny Connections Between Titanic, 9-11, Israel and the United States: 2015

Blink: A Story About the Rapture: 2017

FOREWORD

The inspiration for writing this book began in July 2012 while vacationing in Utah. This was my first real experience with Psalm 91. I will describe what happened in chapters one and two.

This experience led to many others over the next eight years. During this time, I realized Psalm 91 was more than a psalm to me. It was a daily reminder of Jesus’ love and his promises for the present and future.

In this book, I will share stories about Psalm 91, as well as what I call the deeper mysteries. When I use the word mystery, I am not being mystical in any way. I’m saying that the more we cling to the promises in God’s Word, the more he unlocks the beauty and meaning. For those who don’t know Christ, the words of the Bible can seem confusing. The meaning behind scriptures can come across as hidden or elusive. Yet for those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, the Word of God springs to life the more we read it. It brings hope, faith and reassurance in our daily lives. Instead of being hidden, the mystery is revealed layer by layer through the Holy Spirit.

Make no mistake, the Word of God has power and it is often called the Sword of the Spirit.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone, Psalm 91:11-12.

Verses 11 and 12 of Psalm 91 are a favorite for many Christians because they highlight the idea that God can send angels to guard and protect his people.

Verse 11 says the Lord will command his angels to protect you and verse 12 explains specifically how they will do this. The word for lift in the verse is the Hebrew word nasa (Strong’s 5375). It means to sustain, support, aid and assist. My favorite definition however, is armor-bearer. The armor-bearer’s job is to help a warrior carry weapons into battle. This means they go into the battle with you. Their job is to provide assistance to ensure you are safe and successful. When you’re in the line of fire, they are a supernatural layer of protection.

When Psalm 91:12 says they will lift you up in their hands, this means Jesus will send his angels to go into battle with you. They are fighting the enemy right alongside you. Jesus is King and he has power over the spiritual realm, which includes the angels. When you pray the words of Psalm 91, immediately a sword cuts through this spiritual realm because you are calling upon the King himself to intercede in the war for you.

The next part of verse 12 says, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. In the second chapter of this book, I will share a story about how the horse I was riding on literally tripped on a stone, and the Psalm 91 miracle that followed! This promise in God’s Word came to life for me.

The stones and rocks in our path can cause great fear, trouble and pain in our lives. But the King of Kings is always watching and listening. When we call upon him, he can dispatch his angels to help with all of life’s little rocks or huge boulders. Just like David, who used a stone to defeat the giant Goliath, the King of Kings can keep you from being overtaken by the rocks in your path. He will keep your feet on level ground, instead of on sharp stones and sinking sand.

In the Treasury of David, pastor Charles Spurgeon describes his experience with Psalm 91 during a cholera outbreak in his London neighborhood in 1854. Many people from his church had passed away already. Below Spurgeon described the ordeal:

Family after family summoned me to the bedside of the smitten, and almost every day I was called to visit the grave. I gave myself up with youthful ardour to the visitation of the sick, and was sent for from all corners of the district by persons of all ranks and religions. I became weary in body and sick at heart. My friends seemed falling one by one, and I felt or fancied that I was sickening like those around me. A little more work and weeping would have laid me low among the rest; I felt that my burden was heavier than I could bear, and I was ready to sink under it.

Spurgeon was walking home from yet another funeral when he saw a sign in the window of a local shoemaker. He investigated and realized the sign had verses from Psalm 91 on it. Written with bold letters it said, Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, Psalm 91:9-10.

After reading these words, boldly displayed in the shoemaker’s window, Spurgeon felt a wind of faith sweep over him. Below is his response:

"The effect upon my heart was immediate. Faith appropriated the passage as her own. I felt secure, refreshed, girt with immortality. I went on with my visitation of the dying in a calm and peaceful spirit; I felt no fear of evil, and I suffered no harm. The providence which moved the tradesman to place those verses in his window I gratefully acknowledge, and in the remembrance of its marvelous power I adore the Lord my God."

Friends, this is the attitude we should take when it comes to the Word of God. It’s a sword in the greatest times of tragedy, and on days when who knows what’s around the corner; providentially, in this case it was a shoemaker’s shop! Also, did you notice the numbers in the verse? Psalm 91:9-10 displays the 91 twice.

Something amazing happened to me after I learned about Pastor Spurgeon’s story and the Psalm 91 sign in the shoemaker’s window. I felt led to print out Psalm 91 and put it in my son’s room on the wall near his bed. The next day he woke up feeling very sick. His head was pounding and his stomach was hurting as well. He also had a high fever. After taking ibuprofen, he immediately went to bed in his room. As he slept, I prayed Psalm 91 over him. After four hours of rest, he woke up, feeling perfectly fine. I was surprised at his quick recovery. Then I remembered the copy of Psalm 91 I had placed by his bed the day before. Was that a coincidence? I don’t think so. As it was with Pastor Spurgeon, the effect on my heart was immediate. I believe the Lord was building my faith in his word.

I was in the midst of writing this book when the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic hit. At that time, I wished I had the book completed because I realized how much people needed to cling to the promises listed in the psalm. Knowing this prompted a great urgency to finish, but it also brought a fresh wave of perspective to what I wrote. Because of this, there are things in this book I hadn’t anticipated writing.

Everywhere I go I keep hearing masks are essential for our health during the Covid-19 crisis. While there is much debate about the wearing of masks, I believe the Word of God is the most essential part of our wardrobe. Even if we wear a mask, the power of God’s spoken Word can penetrate the forces of darkness that seem to encircle our world at this time in history. Mask or no mask, we should let our voices be heard loud and clear. Now is the time to speak the Word and to proclaim the promises of Psalm 91.

I hadn’t intended on writing about the Rapture in this book. My plan was to focus on stories about Psalm 91 and the Hebraic meaning behind the words as well. But the more I researched, the more I realized there is a foreshadowing of the Rapture within this psalm.

It is my deepest hope that reading this book will ignite a fire within you to believe Jesus’ promises and to live in them. Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High is possible, even in these troubling times. We can choose to dwell in fear and live our lives with hopelessness and doubt. Or, we can abide in the 91 of Jesus. Take a journey with me under his wings and find out what this 91 is all about.

Chapter 1

Zion

It was a beautiful, sunny day in July 2012. Vacationing in Utah for the past few days had been glorious. I marveled at the awe-inspiring landscape of Zion National Park. It boasted of vast valleys and breath-taking waterfalls, all surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks. Sandstone cliffs dotted the skyline as if God chiseled the rock with his bare hands. It took four hours of hiking steep terrain to reach Observation Point, the highest spot in Zion National Park. The views I encountered on the way up inspired thoughts of heaven, and the undeniable sense of God as creator.

At the peak of Zion, I couldn’t help but wonder if angels passed through the area. Actually, there was a trail in Zion named Angel’s Landing. Its magnificence made visitors feel like they’d ascended to heaven. Observation Point stood at 6,521 feet in elevation atop Mount Baldy. Not every visitor to Zion made the journey to this spot, but those who did were never disappointed.

As I stood there taking the view in, a beautiful name crossed my mind. It was none other than the King of Kings, Lord of Lords–Jesus! It was instantaneous, yet it lasted for what felt like hours. I sensed his overwhelming presence around me. I felt the hope of generations in that moment. I had left for Observation Point four hours ago from Weeping Rock. I thought, Isn’t all of nature weeping for restoration? Aren’t all people weeping for the return of the King?

The hope of the entire world and Zion itself stemmed on one magnificent event–Jesus’ blessed return. I could picture it happening here–atop this mountain of splendor. In truth, it would actually happen at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. For the first time in my life, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose–a drive if you will. That purpose would propel me to write books, start a website–and more notably, to share the love of Jesus with others.

Zion is another name for heaven, but it is more often used as a name for Jerusalem. It was on this day, upon the mountain in Zion National Park, that I realized the King of Zion is returning–and he is returning soon! The plans of the last days have been set in motion. The King is readying the rod of iron. He’s summoning his people to himself. The shofar is in hand.

Jerusalem (Zion) still lays in the hands of many. Though Israel legally owns the city, it has been trampled for generations by many people groups. The Dome of the Rock currently sits on the Temple Mount, and there are frequent outbreaks of violence surrounding this controversial location. The Muslims lay claim to the area so there is a constant push and pull over how to share the city. Biblically we know Jerusalem belongs to Israel and God owns the deed to the land. The nations can argue all day about this, but God has the final say and he declares it’s the everlasting possession of his people.

Jerusalem longs for the return of its ruler. The nations of the world fight over this city, drenched in controversy. The Jewish people pray for their Messiah to come to Jerusalem and usher in the Messianic Kingdom. The Orthodox Jews await a Savior for the first time. The Messianic Jews anticipate a Savior they already know–Jesus. They await the return of the King of Kings, who came to earth once already and died on the cross for their salvation. Like the Messianic Jews, the (Gentile) Christians long for the return of Jesus, who will arrive first at the Rapture, and then at the Second Coming. He will be riding on a white horse, surrounded by his Saints when he returns to Jerusalem–the city where God places his throne.

As I delved into researching the last days before Jesus returns, something intriguing sparked my interest which I hadn’t anticipated. It all started after I left Zion National Park that sunny day in July 2012.

Chapter 2

The Accident

The day after leaving Zion National Park, my head was filled with thoughts of heaven and the hope of Jesus’ return. I was deep in thought, pondering how it would all unfold, when my husband reminded me that we were on our way to another spectacular site called Bryce Canyon, in Southern Utah. How could this place even compare to Zion National Park? I thought.

I was informed by my husband that we would be taking a ride on horseback into Bryce Canyon. My husband, myself, and two sons (ages 16 and 7 at the time) would get our own horse or mule to ride. The entire trip would take almost two hours to get to the bottom of the canyon and back up again. We would be traveling on the rim of the canyon, so that meant we’d be riding on the edge. Trying to sell me on the adventure, my husband assured me it would be a once in a lifetime experience. Little did I know how true his words would become.

I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of riding a horse or mule into a canyon. Having ridden a horse once, I wasn’t well-versed in how these large animals operate. I assumed the horses and mules must know the trail well enough, and therefore the ride would be like flying on autopilot. My plan was to sit neatly on the back of the horse or mule, while it skillfully navigated the rim of the canyon.

We arrived at the corral early that morning, ready to be assigned our horse or mule. I wore my cowgirl shirt so I would look the part. I must have really looked the part because the guide assigning the horses and mules sized me up in a few minutes and gave me the biggest horse in the corral. He said, You look like you know what you’re doing. You should be able to handle Whiskey. Then, he proceeded to hoist me up onto a gigantic, chocolate-brown horse. It all happened so fast I didn’t have time to argue.

Inside I was saying, No, don’t give the biggest horse to me. I can barely navigate my car. How will I navigate a horse named Whiskey? I don’t even drink whiskey!

My husband craned his neck to see the horse I was on and said, That’s what you get for wearing your cowgirl shirt. He was riding a cookies and cream-colored horse named Ringo. His horse exuded calm and collected. In contrast, my horse had already let me know I wasn’t his first pick. He kept snorting and pulling his head downward. I immediately called the cowboy in charge of the operation over so he could observe my current situation. By the way, from this point forward I am calling my guide the cowboy.

Excuse me, but this horse will not cooperate. He’s snorting and I think he’s trying to throw me off his back, I alerted the cowboy.

Oh, don’t mind Whiskey. He’s got a mind of his own, the cowboy laughed.

Is that supposed to make me feel better?

Don’t worry, Ma’am. Whiskey knows these trails like the back of his hoof. You ain’t got nothin’ to worry about.

Yeah, but… The cowboy left in the middle of my complaint.

The cowboy had not comforted me, and just the fact that he said ain’t and nothin’ made me feel all the more anxious. How was I supposed to be reassured while riding a horse that had a mind of its own? What if in Whiskey’s mind he wanted to throw me off once we headed into the canyon? How deep was the canyon anyway? These thoughts bounced back and forth through my head until I heard a voice yell, All right everyone. Let’s head on out.

The cowboy began leading the horses and mules out of the corral. He walked up to Whiskey and gave him a quick pat on the behind. Whiskey moved forward, falling in behind my two sons, who were both riding mules. My youngest son was riding on a mule named Crazy Alice. Maybe Whiskey wasn’t such a bad pick after all.

The horses and mules followed each other to a spot designated by the cowboy. He stopped and rattled off some rules–most of which I didn’t hear because Whiskey kept bending his head down over and over. Each time he did this I would lurch forward. I kept wondering, What if he does that when we go into the canyon? What if I fall off?

At this point, my husband, who was riding behind me, casually remarks, You need to control your horse. I wanted to pop him! He had a rational horse, while I had one with a mind of its own! No sooner had he said that when Whiskey started chewing little bits of grass off the rocks of the mountain. He had stepped away from the group and now I was facing the opposite direction of all the other horses and mules. The cowboy noticed this and he quickly gave Whiskey a pat and nudged him back into order. Then he laughed. Truly, I wasn’t amused.

The time came to start edging our way into the canyon. The horses were trained to walk along the rim, with their passengers holding on for dear life. I took a glance into the canyon. I’m not very good at estimating, but let’s just say if anyone were to fall off their horse it would be the last thing they ever saw. By the way, we weren’t even wearing helmets! Why didn’t anyone seem to care about this?

As these thoughts flashed through my mind, something strange happened. I HAD A VISION. Now, first of all, I have NEVER had a vision in my entire life until this day. So, when I tell you I had one, I am telling you the honest truth.

This is what I saw in the vision…

I was riding Whiskey when suddenly, he took off like lightning. I could see his hooves moving quickly along the ground. The next thing I knew, his front hoof hit a large rock. As he stumbled, his front legs buckled underneath. I saw myself flying over the top of Whiskey and hitting the ground with a hard thud. Looking up from the ground, I could see his two-thousand-pound muscular body falling down on me. In the vision, I was screaming as his body prepared to crush me.

When I first saw this vision, I shook my head vigorously and said to myself, No way! I told myself it was fear that produced it. I decided to concentrate on the horses and mules in front of me. I needed to take my mind off worrying. No sooner had I focused my gaze forward when I saw the vision AGAIN! The same vision again!

At this point I felt quite frightened so I did the only thing that came to mind–I prayed. The first words that entered my thoughts were from Psalm 91. Though I didn’t know the entire psalm, I was familiar with the part that says the Lord can send angels to help in times of trouble. I couldn’t remember the rest so I kept praying verse 11 which says, "for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Silently I was praying, Jesus, give your angels charge over me please. Keep in mind, I didn’t pray to angels directly. I prayed to Jesus, asking him to send his angels to help me. This is important to remember, because we do not have authority over angels–only God/Jesus holds that authority.

I continued praying and asking the Lord to send his angels to guard me. This continued the entire time we were going down into the canyon, which took about forty-five minutes. A few times my husband asked if I was ok. I just nodded my head. He had no idea about the vision, or the constant state of prayer I was in.

Thankfully, we reached the bottom of the canyon. I felt a weight lift from my chest and I immediately relaxed. Maybe the vision didn’t mean anything. Perhaps it was fear getting the best of me.

No sooner had those thoughts popped in my mind when I felt Whiskey suddenly speed up. I jerked forward as his quick movements jostled my body like a rag doll. Looking down at his front hoof, I noticed a big rock. A split second passed and then I saw his foot trip on that rock. I already knew what was next! Whiskey’s front legs buckled. I flew forward over him and did a mid-air flip. Expecting to hit the ground with a painful thud, I braced for the worst.

Amazingly, when I hit the dirt the impact felt softened. This made no sense to me because the ground was as hard as a rock. I only had a moment to ponder that small miracle because as I glanced upward, I could see Whiskey’s muscular body falling down. Unfortunately, I was in the target zone. I quickly rolled over on my side, believing the impact would be less severe. The next thing I felt was a deluge of pressure on my right leg. It was painful and intense. I assumed I was done for because in a matter of seconds my whole body would be crushed by this massive horse.

To my shock and relief, the pressure began to subside and I saw Whiskey rise to his feet. He staggered as he moved so I wasn’t sure he would stay up for long. In that fleeting moment, I jumped to my feet and dashed to the side of the dirt road at the bottom of the canyon. This was a life-saving move because Whiskey’s hoof had already made impact with the spot on the ground where I once laid. What a close call!

By the side of the road, I screamed my head off in an effort to release all the anxiety that had built up during the ride. I couldn’t believe what I saw in the vision had actually happened! Yet, here I was, alive and in one piece.

The rest of the tourists on the horse/mule tour looked as if they’d seen a ghost. A man in the group was speaking frantically in French. I don’t know what he said, but he looked upset. My husband ran over to me, asking how I was. I don’t remember what I said. I lingered in a daze, realizing I had been saved. Coming down the canyon, I had prayed to Jesus, and it must have been him who saved me.

The cowboy was stunned. His loss of words confirmed that I hadn’t imagined this whole accident. Finally, he tried to console me by saying, "Nothing like this has ever happened. We’ve never had a problem with Whiskey." That did not comfort me. An accident occurred today and it almost took my life.

The cowboy talked for a few more minutes, muttering about horses and how they can be unpredictable. In the same sentence, however, he said something