Part Four, Come, and See! Psalm 91:7–8

 “A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked” (vv.7–8).

At your side is referencing the left side, as compared to the right (hand) side. It is a Hebraic poetic nuance. The right hand emphasizes strength. It is referring to the “arrow” in verse 5, the pestilence, the envoys of evil and destruction.

 Shall not approach you comforts us in knowing that we who believe and trust in God will be secure. Multitudes who do not have God’s protection, because of their unbelief, will fall around us. However, believers need not worry.

Your eyes and see: Because no harm comes to the believer, they will see the wicked defeated with their very own eyes. With their own eyes, they will see God’s power. Jesus said, “Come, and…see”  ³⁸ And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour (10am Roman time, or 4pm Jewish time). ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ) – [John 1:38 – 41].

Andrew said to Simon, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). To “come” is an act of faith. Faith opens one’s eyes to see the Messiah.

The enemy attacks us all. “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). Satan tempted Jesus for forty days in the wilderness, but Jesus defeated Satan by quoting Scripture. Satan left Him for a season “until an opportune time,” which was during the agony of Gethsemane.  “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.’ And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’…He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.’…And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.” (Matt. 26:38–39, 42, and 44). Satan’s final onslaught against Jesus as the “Son of Man” was at Gethsemane. “Son of Man” is a messianic term which implies His humanity, in contrast to the term “Son of God” which implies His divinity. Jesus was both fully “human” and fully “God.”

The cup refers to His approaching death (Matt. 20:22). His humanity struggled and was tested in the garden. He was about to taste the pungent filth in the cup of death for the sin of the world.  If this cup may not pass away…thy will be done is a Greek nuance that something is determined as fulfilled, that, it is true. The Son of Man acquiesced to the Father’s will fulfilling His destiny as the Son of God who became the Passover lamb, the Savior of the world. He made it possible for sinners to become sons (Greek: tekna — children) of God. His agony, His test, His moment of surrender was the beginning of our salvation. The crucifixion was the victory of the Son of Man over Satan’s test. His submission at Gethsemane surrendering to the fact that He was to die and become the “Sin Offering,” the sacrifice, to save humanity from sin, changed humanity’s compass forever. Gethsemane means “oil press” indicating the Son of Man was pressed into submission (“His sweat became like drops of blood” (Luke 22:44)) to the will of the Father. As a result, every person can now enter the presence of God because of what the Son of Man did. Through Jesus, anyone can “Come, and…see.”

 Points to Ponder:

1. Satan attacks us all. Jesus was attacked.

The Lord prayed three times before complete surrender to the Father’s will. Paul prayed three times to the Lord about a “thorn in the flesh.” God said no, that His grace was sufficient (2 Cor. 12:7–10). There were two attempts to heal the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22–25). When the trials come, believers pray. Sometimes the answer comes swiftly, and at times slowly, but an answer will come—either yes or no.

2. Jesus has made it possible for our redemption and peace.
3. We are not victims; we are conquerors.
4. People who haven’t learned how to love often have a victim’s mentality.
5. People who love do not feel limited. “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him” (Ps. 91:14).

 “O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore thee,
a heart to delight in thee,
to follow and to enjoy thee,
for Christ’s sake.”  – Ambrose of Milan (ca. AD 339–397)