Psalms91

Psalm 91 extols the divine protection afforded to those who dwell in the Most High. It assures believers of deliverance from various dangers, including pestilence and terror, affirming that no evil shall befall them. The psalm highlights God's promise to send angels for their safekeeping and to grant them long life and salvation.

The Security of Dwelling in the Most High

1
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ​
2
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” ​

Deliverance from Calamity and Fear

3
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. ​
4
He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. ​
5
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6
nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. ​
7
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.
8
You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.

The Habitation of the Faithful

9
Because you have made LORD your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, ​
10
no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11
For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. ​
12
They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.
13
You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. ​

The Lord's Personal Promise

14
“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. ​
15
He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
16
I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation [yeshuah-ti].” ​

Study Notes for Psalms 91

Verse 1

This verse establishes the prerequisite for divine protection: intimate, continuous fellowship (dwelling in the secret place). The use of four different divine titles (Most High, Almighty, LORD, God) emphasizes the supreme power and comprehensive authority of the protector.

Verse 2

The psalmist shifts to the first person, making a personal declaration of faith. By calling God his 'refuge and fortress,' the speaker adopts military imagery common in the Ancient Near East to express absolute security against attack.

Verse 3

The 'snare of the fowler' represents hidden human plots or traps, while the 'noisome pestilence' symbolizes sudden, widespread disease. God promises deliverance from both intentional malice and unavoidable natural disaster.

Verse 4

God’s protection is described using the powerful metaphor of a mother bird shielding her young (cf. Deut 32:11), signifying tenderness and fierce defense. His 'truth' (faithfulness) is personified as the defensive weaponry (shield and buckler) that guarantees safety.

Verse 6

This verse emphasizes God’s protection against all types of fear: dangers that strike secretly in the dark (pestilence) and those that strike openly and overwhelmingly during the full light of day (destruction/war).

Verse 9

This verse acts as a hinge, reiterating the covenant condition: protection is assured *because* the believer has chosen the LORD as their ultimate dwelling place. The promise of security is contingent upon faithfulness.

Verse 11

The promise of angelic protection highlights the comprehensive nature of God's care, extending to every path ('all thy ways'). This passage was famously used by the Devil during the temptation of Christ (Matt 4:6).

Verse 13

Trampling upon dangerous beasts (lion, adder, dragon) symbolizes victory over powerful, destructive forces, both physical and spiritual. This imagery suggests the believer will conquer threats that others fear.

Verse 14

The speaker shifts dramatically to God's own voice ('I will deliver him...'), confirming the previous promises. The requirement for this divine intervention is expressed in terms of mutual affection and intimate relationship ('set his love upon me,' 'known my name').

Verse 16

The rewards promised include 'long life' (a full, blessed existence, Hebrew *orekh yamim*) and ultimately, salvation. God promises to demonstrate His saving power to the faithful believer.

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