psalm 91

When You Feel Insecure and Need God’s Presence,

psalm 91:1–16

Psalm 91:1–16 (NRSV)

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, 6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. 16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

(91:1–16) Introduction: our sinful world is full of danger. Diseases, injuries, and disasters are risks of everyday life. We never know when we might contract a serious illness, be involved in an accident, or find ourselves in the midst of a disaster. Over and above these perils, the greatest threat in our world is the evil perpetrated by wicked people who pose a very real threat to all who truly follow Christ. Scripture warns us that as we grow nearer to the return of Christ, the wickedness of people will increase and we will find ourselves living in perilous times (2 Ti. 3:1–5).

The dangers of life and its ongoing threats can leave us feeling insecure. In spite of our best efforts to protect ourselves, we know that we cannot totally shield ourselves from harm. For generations, God’s people have turned to Psalm 91 for comfort and courage. Written by an unknown author, it reminds us that God is our security.

Psalm 91 appears to promise that those who live close to God will be exempt from harm, disaster, and disease. This impression presents a problem: many people who faithfully abide in Christ do experience harm. They do encounter and sometimes perish in disasters. They do contract serious diseases. What about the persecuted? What about the martyrs? The experience of God’s people does not agree with the supposed promises of this psalm.

The answer to this dilemma is found in correctly understanding to whom these promises were made. Psalm 91 celebrates the specific promises of God’s covenant with Israel. Two specific perils are prominent in this psalm: the peril of enemy attack and the peril of pestilence or plague (vv. 3–7). Notice how these specific perils stand out in God’s covenant conditions and promises in the book of Deuteronomy:

“Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee. If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them” (De. 7:12–24).

The connection between this Deuteronomy passage and Psalm 91 is clear. These promises were made to Israel as a part of the old covenant, and they were conditional on Israel’s faithfulness to God. They are about God’s disciplinary judgment on those who are unfaithful to Him. As long as Israel remained faithful to God—made Him their dwelling or refuge—He would protect them from their enemies and from deadly diseases. If they turned from God and broke His covenant, He would lift His hand of protection. Throughout Israel’s history, this has proven to be true.

These promises were not made to the church. In fact, Jesus promised His followers exactly the opposite: They would face harm. They would be persecuted. If the promises of Psalm 91 were to the church, then they were broken in the very first generation of Christ-followers. The apostles were beaten and imprisoned. History records that all but one died as martyrs. Paul spoke openly of the many perils he encountered:

“Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Co. 11:25–27).

How, then, does Psalm 91 apply to us? First, we should study it in light of John 15 and Jesus’ teaching on abiding in Him. John 15 is to New Testament believers what Psalm 91 was to God’s people under the old covenant.

Second, we should study Psalm 91 in light of the promises God has made to us, the believers of the new covenant. God has not promised us total protection from peril, but He has promised His presence in and through all things. He will be with us, and He will help us.

“Let your conversation [conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (He. 13:5–6).

While the specific promises of Psalm 91 are not to the church, its principles are:

⮚ God is to us today everything He has always been to His people.

⮚ God is our refuge.

⮚ We need not live in fear of danger or threats, for God is always with us.

⮚ If we faithfully abide in Christ, we need not fear God’s discipline or judgment.

⮚ God’s angels continue to guard His children.

⮚ God is our security in these perilous times of the last days (2 Ti. 3:1).

Scripture says that the new covenant is established on better promises than the old (He. 8:6). Whereas Israel was promised God’s conditional protection, we are promised God’s unconditional presence. Under the old covenant, the people had to dwell in God. Under the new covenant, God dwells in us. There is no comparison. This is, When You Feel Insecure and Need God’s Presence, 91:1–16.

1 (91:1–2) Draw near—live in God’s presence.

The promises of this psalm apply exclusively to those who draw near to God and live in His holy presence (v. 1). There is a secret place (sether)—a hiding place, a place where we can be concealed and covered—where we can be secure (Ps. 17:8; 27:5; 31:20). The psalmist identifies this secret place as under God’s wings (v. 4). This image not only speaks of protection and shelter but also of closeness and intimacy. Before we can rest in the security of God, we must continually draw near to Him, live in close communion with Him.

a. Because of who He is (vv. 1–2).

One of the ways God has revealed Himself to us is through His names. A prominent feature of Hebrew poetry is the restating of a thought using synonyms—different words that mean the same thing. However, this is not the case here. The psalmist’s repeated reference to God using different names is for a distinct purpose: each name reveals who God is to His people. He is …

• The Most High (Elyon)—He is the Highest, the Supreme Being and owner of the universe. As such, He is all-powerful and cannot be overthrown. This name “cuts every threat down to size.”1

• The Almighty (Shaddai)—He is sufficient for everything we need. By His inherent power, He sustains us, protects us, and provides for us.

• The LORD (Yahweh, Jehovah)—He is the faithful God who makes a covenant with us and keeps His covenant without fail. He keeps all of His promises always.

• My God (Elohim)—Elohim emphasizes the fullness and exceeding greatness of God’s power. The possessive pronoun my declares that we can have a personal, intimate relationship with Him. He knows us, communes with us, and cares for us individually and personally.

b. Because He is your security in all things: Your refuge and fortress (v. 2).

Because the psalmist understood who God is to His people, he was able to say with confidence that the LORD was his personal security, his refuge and fortress. A refuge is a shelter from trouble or danger (Is. 4:6; Ps. 104:18). A fortress is a safe, secure place that is inaccessible to the enemy. Therefore, the psalmist declared that he would continually trust in the LORD. He would fully depend on Him for protection and security, and he would faithfully run to Him when threatened by danger or trouble.

Thought 1. Once again, God is to us what He has always been to His people. He is the same God now that He has always been. He is our …

• all-powerful One

• all-sufficient One

• faithful One

• God

• refuge and fortress

All that God is—His character and divine attributes—is even more available to us today, in the church age, than it was to God’s people when this psalm was written. Why? Because He dwells in us. His power does not merely work for us but also works in and through us by His indwelling Spirit (Ep. 3:20; Ro. 8:11).

In light of that, we need to draw near to God and to live in the fullness of His presence in every aspect of our lives. Simply stated, we need to abide in Christ (Jn. 15:1–17). We have open access into God’s presence—a great privilege secured for us by the blood of Christ. But before we can abide in His presence, we have to be clean. We need to allow God’s Word to purify our hearts and our lives, so we can live in His holy presence at all times (He. 10:19–22; Jn. 15:3; Js. 4:8).

2 (91:3–8) Believe God—trust Him to help you.

God protects those who draw near to Him. In every dangerous situation of life, we need to believe God and trust Him to help us rather than living in a state of fear.

a. He will save you from the foe’s trap and from the fatal plague (v. 3).

God will deliver us from or through the enemy’s trap and the fatal plague. The snare of the fowler and the noisome or deadly pestilence represent all of the dangers we face in life. A fowler was a hunter of birds and symbolizes those who seek to harm or destroy us. A pestilence was a dreaded, deadly disease or epidemic.

b. He will cover and protect you under His wings of care (v. 4).

God is omnipotent, all-powerful. He will cover and protect us under His wings of care when we stay close to Him. The psalmist compared God’s care for His people to a bird gathering her young under her wings in order to protect them. This is a common picture throughout the Old Testament (Ru. 2:12; Ps. 17:8; 57:1; 61:4). It is also the image used by Jesus to describe His great love for the Jews and His desire to save them (Mt. 23:37). The LORD will be our refuge, covering and protecting us in the dangers of life.

The truth or faithfulness of God will be our shield and buckler. The shield (tsinnah) was a large rectangular piece of armor that a soldier would hide behind and be completely covered (1 Sa. 17:7, 41). The Hebrew word for buckler (socherah) appears only here in the Old Testament. Most likely, it refers to the smaller, handheld shield used in close combat. In the New Testament, God has given us His faithful promises to use as our armor for life’s battles (Ep. 6:11–17). We are protected by His faithfulness to His Word. Knowing that, we can have complete confidence that He will fulfill His promises to us.

c. He will reassure you through all fearful situations (vv. 5–7).

God’s powerful and protective presence reassures us in the fearful situations of life. And although the world is swarming with violent, wicked people, we need not fear terror or attacks (v. 5). Likewise, perils abound in our sin-cursed world, but we have no reason to be frightened or panicked in times of disease or destruction due to life-threatening disasters (v. 6). God will either protect or deliver us through times of inescapable danger, even when thousands of others are doomed (v. 7).

The mention of night, day, darkness, and noonday reinforces the great truth that God never sleeps or slumbers (Ps. 121:4). He protects us at all times, around the clock. We can work and sleep in peace, for God is on guard.

d. He will make sure you escape and witness the punishment of the wicked (v. 8).

The psalmist declared confidently that those who live in God’s presence will escape and witness the reward or punishment of the wicked. God’s judgment is in view here. At the time of His choosing, He will punish the wicked, but the righteous will escape. The righteous will only observe God’s judgment, not be included in it (Ro. 1:18; 8:1).

Thought 1. In perilous times, we need to trust God to help us. When we abide in Him and live in the fullness of His Spirit, we can face every situation of life without fear. Satan’s fury against God, His Word, and His people is becoming more savage every day. More and more believers are paying a price for their faith in Jesus Christ. Radical religious fanatics as well as governments are brutally attacking and, in some cases, slaughtering followers of Christ. People who love sin and hate God’s Holy Word are viciously lashing out at those who stand for God’s truth.

Through it all, however, God is our helper and He is always with us (He. 13:5–6). We are not alone as we bear the banner of the cross. Our Savior has promised to be with us to the end (Mt. 28:20). Like the faithful young Hebrew men of old, we may find ourselves in the fire, but the fourth man in their furnace—the Son of God Himself—will be in ours as well (Da. 3:25). Think of faithful Stephen, the first to lay down his life for Christ. As he was being viciously attacked, Scripture says he looked up and saw Jesus (Ac. 7:55–56). In that moment, he rejoiced in the experience of suffering for Christ. No experience with Christ can compare to the fellowship of His sufferings (Ph. 3:10).

Whatever difficulties or dangers we may face, our Lord will be with us. The shadow of the Almighty will cover us through them all (v. 1). He will preserve us until His purpose for our lives is complete. Then, He will take us to His heavenly kingdom (2 Ti. 4:18). In most of us, Christ will magnify Himself through our lives. In others, however, He will choose to magnify Himself through our deaths (Ph. 1:20). Yet we can take great comfort in knowing that if we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not walk alone. Instead, we will walk under the comforting shelter of God’s shadow. We can face death without any fear whatsoever, for He will be with us (Ps. 23:4).

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Ph. 1:20).

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4).

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Is. 41:10).

3 (91:9–13) Be aware—God’s protection is conditional.

The psalmist emphasized that God’s protection is afforded only to those who live in His presence and take refuge in Him. In other words, it is conditional. The faithful are guarded by God’s angels, who protect them from both physical and spiritual danger.

a. Then His presence will be with you when facing evil threats or plagues (v. 10).

The psalmist continued to emphasize God’s protective care over those who abide in His shelter, under the shadow of the Almighty. His presence is with them when they face evil threats or plagues. They are secure in the LORD. Their lives and homes (dwellings) are under His constant watch.

b. Then He will charge His angels to guard you day by day (vv. 11–12).

Those who live in God’s presence are protected by His holy angels. God gives His angels a special charge to guard us day by day. “In all thy ways” means that they watch over us as we go about our daily lives. They lift us up, protecting us and guiding us away from danger.

From time to time, we may narrowly miss incidents where physical injury or death was a certainty. Somehow, though, we escaped. At other times, our plans do not work out, or we are delayed, or we are strangely led to travel a different route than planned. We should always remember that these occurrences may be the result of angels’ working on God’s behalf to protect and preserve our lives (He. 1:14).

These verses should also remind us that Satan knows the Scripture, and he twists it in his efforts to accomplish his evil purpose in our lives. He used this very passage when he tempted the Lord, challenging Him to prove its truth by jumping off the temple (Mt. 4:6). Jesus then disarmed the devil by referring to a Scripture that commands us not to foolishly test God (De. 6:16). The lesson is clear: we should not abuse the promises of God by making foolish decisions or committing foolish deeds with the expectation that He will protect us.

“And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Mt. 4:6).

“Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah” (De. 6:16).

c. Then He will make you victorious over the lion and the serpent: Images of Satan; 1 Pe. 5:8; Re. 12:9; 20:2; Ge. 3:1–24; 2 Co. 11:3 (v. 13).

This verse is an example of two related statements where the second restates the first. The word dragon is better translated here as serpent, as it corresponds with adder (Ex. 7:9–12). Travelers in Old Testament times faced deadly creatures, lions and serpents, along their way. In Scripture, Satan is depicted as both a lion and a serpent. Here, they represent Satan and his demonic forces who seek our destruction on a daily basis.

Thought 1. As explained in the Introduction to this psalm, its promises of complete protection were to the Israelites under the old covenant. Today, when we encounter evil threats, plagues, physical harm, or disaster, God promises that His presence will be us throughout the trial.

The New Testament warns that we are in an ongoing war with Satan and his demonic forces. We need to be aware at all times of the spiritual battles that take place over and around us (Ep. 6:12). God’s angels are always at war with demonic forces, protecting us and preventing Satan’s destructive forces from accomplishing their purposes in our lives. God has clothed us with His armor and power so that we can be victorious over our fierce enemy (Ep. 6:10–17; 1 Jn. 4:4; 2 Co. 2:14). This means that Satan and his demons are defeated foes, having been conquered by Christ through His death and resurrection (Ge. 3:15; Co. 2:15).

If we are genuine believers, God’s presence, His indwelling Spirit, is always with us. However, His power and protection in our lives are conditional, just as they were for Old Testament believers. Scripture warns, if we refuse to repent of grievous sins, God may discipline us. He may move us from the realm of His protection to Satan’s sphere where we might be physically destroyed (see outline and notes—1 Co. 5:3–5 for more discussion). The branches (a picture of believers) who do not abide in Christ and are unfruitful are taken away (see outline and notes—Jn. 15:2 for more discussion). Those who fail to control the sinful desires of their flesh are disqualified from running the Christian race (see outline and notes—1 Co. 9:24–27 for more discussion).

Abiding in Christ is the secret to gaining victory over our spiritual enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is also the secret to receiving the fullness of God’s blessings in our lives.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (Jn. 15:7).

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 Jn. 3:22).

4 (91:14–16) Cling to the LORD.

Psalm 91 closes with a message from the LORD Himself. He affirms the promises of His covenant. He personally assures that He will honor and reward the faithful person who sets his love on Him. Set his love upon (chashaq) is not the usual Hebrew word for love. It is seldom used in the Old Testament, and it means to cling to, be attached to, or be devoted to.

a. Love and acknowledge Him: He will deliver, protect, and exalt you (v. 14).

The LORD promised to faithfully care for the person who is devoted to Him and knows (yada) His name, that is, who has a genuine, personal relationship with Him. He pledged to deliver him from danger and set him on high. Set on high (sagab) can mean either to put in a protected, inaccessible place or to exalt.

b. Call upon Him and He will answer you (vv. 15–16).

Special blessings are promised to those who cling to the LORD. When we call on God, He promises to answer us (v. 15). He will be with us in times of trouble and will deliver and honor us. Long life was one of the most coveted blessings in Old Testament times. God promised to reward those who cling to Him not only with this gift but also with a satisfying and fulfilling life (v. 16; De. 30:20). Then, when the believer’s time on earth comes to an end, the LORD promises to show him His salvation. Thus, the believer will see and enjoy the most precious promise of all: eternal life in God’s presence.

Thought 1. God is good to all people, even those who do not know Him (Mt. 5:45). For instance, the good and the evil alike enjoy the blessings and the benefits of the sun and the rain. But for all who truly follow Him, He is a loving Father and He delights in giving them good things (Lu. 11:9–13). Yet His richest blessings are reserved for those who love Him most, those who know Him best and cling to Him. With that in mind, we should love the Lord with our entire being—all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk. 12:30). How can we grow in our love for God? First, by simply asking Him to help us understand His love, just how much He loves us:

“We love him, because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).

Second, we should ask God to help us understand His gift of forgiveness. Once we grasp the greatness of our sin, we can fully appreciate Christ’s sacrifice and the forgiveness we have received through Him. Jesus said that the woman who poured the precious oil on His feet loved Him much because she had been forgiven much. We will grow in our devotion to the Lord when we realize the full measure of our sinfulness as depraved human beings and the full measure of God’s love in forgiving us.

Third, we should study God’s Word diligently and meditate on it that we might know Him better (Jn. 17:3; Ph. 3:10; 2 Pe. 3:18). The better we know the Lord, the more we will love Him.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mk. 12:30).

“The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy” (Ps. 145:20).