Psalm 91:9-16聽
9聽Because you have made the聽Lord聽your refuge,
聽聽聽the Most High your dwelling-place,
10聽no evil shall befall you,
聽聽聽no scourge come near your tent.
11聽For he will command his angels concerning you
聽聽聽to guard you in all your ways.
12聽On their hands they will bear you聽up,
聽聽聽so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13聽You will tread on the lion and the adder,
聽聽聽the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14聽Those who love me, I will deliver;
聽聽聽I will protect those who know my name.
15聽When they call to me, I will answer them;
聽聽聽I will be with them in trouble,
聽聽聽I will rescue them and honour them.
16聽With long life I will satisfy them,
聽聽聽and show them my salvation.
If you camp a lot, then you know tent placement is incredibly important. A slope can cause the blood to rush to your head. A hill will send pools of water into your tent during a rainstorm. Dead branches above might come crashing down on you in a windstorm. Boulders uphill might let loose during the night. Your body is only as safe as your dwelling-place.聽
Many sleep in tents across our country tonight who are not in safe dwelling-places. They are temporarily homeless or have chosen this tent as their home. They are not safe. There is a scourge that comes near. This scourge is wealth inequity, the opportunity gap, racism, unjust housing policies, and our inability to address the mental health crisis. Yet, even to these, God promises to 鈥渂e with them in trouble鈥�, 鈥渢o rescue and honor them鈥�, and to 鈥渟atisfy them鈥�.聽
Oh, Lord. Send your angels to those with danger just outside their tents. Bear them up, and may we together tread on the lion and the adder of injustice that threatens them.