ANGELS IN THE BACKGROUND

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 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 91:9-12

Recorded in the Old Testament, in the time of Joshua, the nation of Israel established six cities as places of refuge to seek when someone accidently killed another and the relative of the deceased sought revenge. The cities were Kedesh (Galilee), Shechem (Ephraim), Kirjath Arba (Hebron of Judah), Bezer (near Jericho), Ramoth (Gilead) and Golan (Bashan) (Joshua 20:7-8).

In the Psalm, David poses a question within an "If...Then" statement - "If you say, 'The Lord is my refuge', and you make the Most High your dwelling..." Let us all just stop right here and answer that question. Is Jesus our hiding place and counsel when the situation seems like we are being chased by life, the enemy or people? Christ Jesus needs to be that refuge. 

Look at the rest of the verse. Observe what God promises to those who do run to Him and trust in Him - "no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent." The original Hebrew for this second half translates as no physical, mental or spiritual hardship will take issue/quarrel with you, no physical blows will come near your house. This describes God's favor for dwelling with Him. How will God accomplish this? His instrument of choice and description of use is mentioned in the next verse.

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. 

In the King James Version, the word "command" is "charge". "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." The original Hebrew word is tsavah meaning appoint. This is a very personal word and task with a personal responsibility.

The duty is not only to protect - "to guard" - but the original Hebrew, shamar, tells us our personal angel(s) attend, observe, preserve and save.

The rest of the phrase, "in all your ways" with "ways" being the key word, derek, means custom, manner, journey or course of life. Even though God is everywhere, God shows us how much more He loves us by providing His angelic care, especially to those who say, "The Lord is my refuge!" throughout our life.

In summation, God has assigned us with personal, guardian angels who attend to our manner of living including lifting us up in their protective hands. Believers receive this benefit as part of an If...Then condition - If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, [THEN] no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. If you have not already, make The Lord your refuge. Even though He is everywhere, He loves to be the first one you run to. Plus, once He is your refuge and dwelling you will also have His Angels In The Background.