Psalm 91 is the psalm of protection: a declaration of trust from someone who dwells “in the secret place of the most High”. It does not promise a life without danger — it speaks of arrows, plague and lions — but God’s presence in the middle of them, and it ends with God himself answering the one who loves him.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
The opening sets the tone: whoever DWELLS in God’s presence — not whoever visits it — can call him refuge and fortress. The four names of God, Most High, Almighty, LORD and “my God”, move from the most majestic to the most personal.
Read the chapter →Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Two pictures of care: rescue from the fowler’s snare and from disease, and a bird covering its young with its wings. God’s faithfulness is the shield.
Read the chapter →Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
The dangers cover night and day — terror, arrow, plague, destruction. The psalm does not say they do not exist; it says they need not rule the one who trusts.
Read the chapter →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.
The promise returns to its condition: making the Lord your dwelling place.
Read the chapter →For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
The angels who guard your ways. This is the passage the devil quoted to Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6) to tempt him into taking a risk — and Jesus answered that you shall not tempt God.
Read the chapter →Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Lion and serpent: the strongest dangers and the most treacherous ones end up under the feet of those God keeps.
Read the chapter →Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
At the end God himself speaks, with promises to the one who loves him and knows his name: to deliver, to set on high, to answer, to be with him in trouble, to honour, to give long life and to show salvation.
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