St John's United Holy Church

Bible Study
2026-01-21 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Facilitator: The Usher Board
You can join in Bible Study via Zoom.
Go to www.sjuhcrichmond.org and scroll down and select the yellow “Watch” button and then select the “Zoom link for services” button to join bible study or any service.

Psalm 91 – Bible Study
Theme: God’s protection, presence, and faithfulness
Common Title: The Psalm of Protection

Background & Authorship

Author: Not named (traditionally attributed to Moses or David)
Context: Written as a song of trust for those who rely fully on God
Purpose: To reassure believers that God is a refuge in times of danger, fear, and uncertainty

Structure of Psalm 91

Verses 1–2: Declaration of trust in God
Verses 3–8: God’s protection from danger and evil
Verses 9–13: Security for those who dwell in God
Verses 14–16: God’s personal promises to the faithful

Key Verses & Meaning

Psalm 91:1
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Dwells implies ongoing relationship, not temporary faith
God is portrayed as a safe refuge, not distant or passive

Psalm 91:3–4
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare… He will cover you with his feathers.”

Fowler’s snare = hidden dangers, traps, or attacks
God is shown as a protective parent, offering care and comfort

Psalm 91:5–6
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day…”

God’s protection is constant—day and night

Psalm 91:11
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

Angels are God’s messengers and protectors
This verse was quoted during Jesus’ temptation (Matthew 4:6)

Psalm 91:14–16
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him…”

God speaks directly, promising:

Rescue
Protection
Answered prayer
Long life and salvation

https://docs.google.com/document/d/124jmkt7yuVSo99JDA3i6nZT45Yd1BF43/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112157233609510495561&rtpof=true&sd=true
4.Major Themes

Trust over fear
God as refuge and fortress
Divine protection
Faithfulness in hardship
Intimacy with God (“dwelling”)

Discussion Questions
1 What images or metaphors stand out most to you in Psalm 91 (shelter, wings, fortress, etc.)?
2 What does it mean to “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” (v.1)? Is this a place, a lifestyle, or a relationship?
What do verses 14–16 reveal about God’s heart toward those who love Him?
3 Are there areas of your life where fear has replaced trust? How might this psalm speak into that?
4 What would it look like to live daily with the confidence expressed in this psalm?
5 How does Psalm 91 describe God’s role in the life of the believer?

9 am Daily Morning Prayer
2026-01-22 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-23 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-24 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-26 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-27 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-28 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-29 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-30 09:00 - 09:30 and 14 more dates
Dial into the prayer line for early morning prayer Dial 716-427-1562 Enter code: 786535 then press # When dialing in, please remember to mute yourself by pressing *6

6 am Early Morning Prayer
2026-01-28 06:00 - 06:30, 2026-02-04 06:00 - 06:30, 2026-02-11 06:00 - 06:30

Bible Study
2026-01-28 18:30 - 20:00
Facilitator: Sister Janice Jones
You can join in Bible Study via Zoom.
Go to www.sjuhcrichmond.org and scroll down and select the yellow “Watch” button and then select the “Zoom link for services” button to join bible study or any service.

Noon Day Prayer
2026-02-03 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-10 12:00 - 14:00
Noon Day Prayer will be held in person at St. John’s.

Bible Study
2026-02-04 18:30 - 20:00
You can join in Bible Study via Zoom.
Go to www.sjuhcrichmond.org and scroll down and select the yellow “Watch” button and then select the “Zoom link for services” button to join bible study or any service.

LESSONS FROM PROVERBS

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord – not with experience, not with intelligence, not with education.

Wisdom starts with recognizing who God is and who you are in relation to Him.

Wisdom reverences the Holy, Powerful, Sovereign God, and knowing that your life is safest when surrendered to Him.

Seek His voice first. Then everything will change.

With wisdom we walk in an unexplained clarity.

Without the fear of the Lord, wisdom is just clever thinking.

To thrive spiritually, build up the fear of the Lord.

Wisdom keeps us anchored to something that cannot change.

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

The heart is the command center of your life – everything flows from the heart.

The heart is where your motives are formed, desires are shaped, and decisions are born.

So be careful about what you let into your heart.

Be careful about the people you spend time with.
Be careful about the content you consume.
Be careful about the thoughts you entertain.
Be careful about the bitterness, the hatred, the unforgiveness you hold.

All these things shape your heart and your heart shapes your life.

Be vigilant. Don’t give access to anything that pulls you away from God.

When your heart is aligned with God, your life will follow.

Guard your heart fearfully. Be careful what occupies your mind.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride blinds, isolates, makes you think you don’t need God or accountability.

Pride whispers lies that say you don’t need advice, and that you are smarter than everyone, and that you are grown.

Humility says “I need help”, “Show me”, Teach me”.

Humility keeps you connected to God, keeps you hungry.

Humility keeps you from becoming untouchable.

Pride hurts you and the people around you.

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

How you respond to conflict determines its escalation or resolve. How you react matters.

A gentle answer does not mean you’re weak, it means you’re wise.

Don’t let some else’s chaos dictate your response.

Learn to remain calm and kind. This forces the other party to reconsider their approach, and it makes space for de-escalation.

Choose your battles. Choose your tone. Choose peace over making a point.

Gentleness disarms people and catches them off guard

Proverbs 13:20
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

You become like the people you surround yourself with

Show caution about who has access to you.

Guard what God has put in you. It’s precious!

Ask the Holy Spirit for direction.

The people you walk with will determine where you end up.

Take a moment to notice the five (5) people you spend the most time with. How are you like them?

The Phrase “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are” suggests that a person’s character and values can be reflected in the company they keep. This emphasizes that an individual’s social circle influences his behavior.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

This is the anchor and the heartbeat of Proverbs.

God makes our paths straight – not easy, not painless, but aligned and purposeful and straight.

We were never meant to figure life out on our own.

Trusting God will make you take steps when you can’t see the full staircase.

God is faithful. Trust Him. Submit. Surrender.

His plans are better. His way is straight.

The fear of the Lord changes everything.

Find peace in trusting God.
