Psalms 91

A psalm about God’s devine protection and what that truly means. No one is certain about who wrote this Psalm or the time in which it was written.

Psalm 91 (ESV)

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

The New Bible Commentary (Psalm 91. Divine Wings and Guardian Angels)

A1 (v 1) Theme stated: sure protection

B1 (v 2) Personal testimony

C1 (vs 3–8) Affirmation

B2 (v 9a) Personal testimony

C2 (vs 9b–13) Affirmation

A2 (vs 14–16) Theme confirmed: divine protection

Most important V1: Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

This verse sets the tone for the whole Psalm.

Shelter provides safety and a sence of “home” (where we are rooted) Shade provides peace and comfort

What this verse is saying those who put God in the center of there life will be provided the peace, safety, and assurance that we are all truly after. Our fleshly needs will be met in one way or another.

We are not promised an easy life (John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

But we can trust in God to work everything out for Good. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

V.3 bird imagry. Fowler: a hunter of birds. (Go more into Satan’s attacks and temptations)

Satan the “fowler” in this situation will set traps and try to cause us to stumble and drift from God but The Lord will protect us and give us discernment and peace over the situation it is up to us to follow that leading.

We will be tempted to be lead astray out of God’s will and down a diffrent path.

We look around and it can be discouraged looking at the “prosperity” of those who do not follow God. Just as we saw last week in PS. 73. and again we are reassured in this in verse 8.

Again we are led back to the introductory verse of the psalm Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Where do we truly find comfort and safety? Is our inital reaction to look to ourselves for the solution? Or is it to turn to God seeking His provision & comfort, trusting in Him?

v.4-5 Whatever the situation God has it.

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 91

He will cover you with his feathers;

you will take refuge under his wings.

His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

It is important to note that just because harm befalls us doesn’t mean that we messed up or are out of God’s will. If we were promised a life of ease and comfort, there would be no need to take refuge in anything. There would be no need for a protective shield.

But what it could mean is that God is clearing the way for something far greater. for example we see all throughout scripture talks of pruning. Cutting off the bad to make room for the good. This process is hard and hurtful but it makes room for a far greater result.

V7-10 what does this truly mean? it is saying that we are “promised” protection that we will not be hurt yet we know this is not the case in real life.

When looking at this it is important to not soley focus on the physical aspects of life but on the spiritual. This Psalm is expressing provision for both our spiritual life and our physical life.

Seeking shelter

V11-12 What is striking the foot in refrence to? Gen when God tells the serpent “He will crush your head but you will only brusie His heal? (a mortal blow while leaving a minimal blow)

We ligetimatly have angles watching over us, guiding us, and protectiong us from the enemy. It is so easy for me at least to focus on the physical and let the spiritual side of our lives be an after thought but the bible explicitly says in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

God is far greater and more powerful than satan, but what God will not do is be manipulative or forceful, we have free will to do whatever we want but it comes from that abiding to know what God’s will is and the more time we seek the Lord as our refuge we learn that what God has for us is FAR greater than anything we could choose for ourselves.

Psalm 91:11“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” V.11 is what satan tried to temp Christ with (Matt 4:6; Luke 4:10–11)

Proverbs 3:23“Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.”

Psalm 91:13 “You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.”

The lion represent the loud and boastarous threats. The ones that we see and that are easy to identify. The serpent represents the cunning and sneaky threats that we do not even see. We hear here the declaration of protection from threats known and unknown.

14-16 The Lord is speaking to us.

Psalm 91:14–16 ““Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.””

God makes 8 promises: rescue (intervening action), security (protect, set on high out of reach of danger), answered prayer, companionship in need, deliverance (from threat), vindication (honour), personal fulfilment (satisfy) and the enjoyment of salvation

See how it goes from rescue or the initial saving action of receiving salvation all the way to finding true joy and fulfillment in that salvation.

- There are three conditions to be fulfilled: loves me (the yearning love which clings to the loved one), ‘knows my name’ (lives with the Lord in the light of what he has revealed about himself) and prayer (he will call).

Conclusion

- If we truly believe in this what are we afraid of? Even if we fail and we are abiding and seeking God with our decision it is for the glory of His kingdom and we will see the fruit from that hard time. We are not made for comfort but to have hardships, to grow, and we can not grow without growing pains. (scripture)