Psalm 91
Notes
Transcript
Welcome and Prayer
Scripture Reading
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
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 lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
📖 Psalm 91 Bible Study Roadmap (40 Minutes)
📖 Psalm 91 Bible Study Roadmap (40 Minutes)
0:00–3:00 | Opening & Read-Aloud
0:00–3:00 | Opening & Read-Aloud
Welcome and brief prayer.
Read Psalm 91:1–16 aloud (invite one or two others to read sections for participation).
Quick framing: “This is one of the most beloved psalms, often called the ‘Psalm of Protection.’ Tonight we’ll see what God is promising and how it applies to us today.”
3:00–8:00 | Background Context
3:00–8:00 | Background Context
Background
Psalm 91 is often called the “Psalm of Protection” or the “Soldier’s Psalm.” Throughout history, it has been a source of comfort in times of war, sickness, or personal crisis. In Jewish tradition, it was recited for protection, and many Christians turn to it in moments of fear or uncertainty. While the author is not identified, its style resembles Moses’ psalms (like Psalm 90) or David’s psalms of trust.
The central theme is God’s sheltering presence. The psalmist uses vivid imagery—fortress, shadow, wings, shield—to portray God as both a refuge and a warrior. Yet, it is not a blanket promise that believers will never face hardship. Instead, it highlights the security of God’s sovereign care in every circumstance. The New Testament even shows Satan misusing this psalm during Jesus’ temptation (Matthew 4:5–7), reminding us that promises must be read with discernment and faith.
Ultimately, Psalm 91 points us to Christ. While danger and suffering are real, God’s protection is eternal. We may face trouble, but His ultimate deliverance is sure—fulfilled in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
Engagement Question: “When have you heard Psalm 91 used in your life—perhaps during sickness, crisis, or prayer?”
Allow 1–2 short responses.
8:00–15:00 | Section 1 – The Place of Refuge (vv. 1–2)
8:00–15:00 | Section 1 – The Place of Refuge (vv. 1–2)
Teach: imagery of shelter, shadow, fortress.
“The Most High”
5945. עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyôwn, el-yone´; from 5927; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme:—(Most, on) high (-er, -est), upper (-most).
“The Almighty”
7706. שַׁדַּי Shadday, shad-dah´ee; from 7703; the Almighty:—Almighty.
“The Lord”
3068. יְהֹוָה Yehôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw´; from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord. comp. 3050, 3069.
“My God”
430. אֱלֹהִים ʾĕlôhîym, el-o-heem´; plur. of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but spec. used (in the plur. thus, esp. with the art.) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:—angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.
“Abiding”-He must be God above all other.
Emphasize abiding (ongoing trust vs. occasional prayer).
Open-ended Question: “What does it mean in daily life to ‘abide’ in God’s presence?”
Encourage practical answers (quiet time, prayer, trust in crisis).
Short application: “God doesn’t just want visitors—He invites us to dwell in His presence.”
15:00–25:00 | Section 2 – The Protection Promised (vv. 3–13)
15:00–25:00 | Section 2 – The Protection Promised (vv. 3–13)
Walk through imagery: snares, pestilence, night terrors, arrows, angelic protection.
Psalm 91:3 “3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.”
Everyday “Fowler’s Snares”
Everyday “Fowler’s Snares”
The Snare of Worry & Fear
Anxiety over health, finances, or the future can quietly trap us.
Instead of trusting God, we let fear control our decisions.
The Snare of Busyness & Distraction
Filling life with endless activity (work, media, entertainment) can pull us away from prayer, worship, and relationships.
A busy life doesn’t always mean a fruitful life.
The Snare of Temptation
Sin often starts as a hidden trap—what seems harmless at first can entangle us (lust, greed, dishonesty).
Proverbs 7 gives a vivid example of temptation as a snare leading to destruction.
The Snare of Addictions & Escapes
Things we turn to for comfort (alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, even overconsumption of social media) can enslave us.
They promise relief but end up controlling us.
The Snare of False Security
Trusting in money, success, relationships, or even religious ritual rather than God Himself.
Jeremiah 17:5–7 contrasts trusting in man vs. trusting in the Lord.
The Snare of Bitterness & Unforgiveness
Resentment can silently trap the heart, poisoning relationships and blocking spiritual growth.
Hebrews 12:15 warns about the “root of bitterness.”
The Snare of Pride
The belief that “I can handle life on my own” blinds us to our need for God’s grace.
Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
📖 Discussion Question Ideas
📖 Discussion Question Ideas
“Which of these snares feels most common in our culture today?”
“Have you ever recognized God delivering you from a snare that you didn’t even see coming?”
“What practical steps help us avoid being trapped?”
God’s care pictured as a mother bird sheltering under her wings (v. 4).
Assurance even in overwhelming numbers (“a thousand may fall…” v. 7).
Note Satan’s misuse in Matthew 4 and Jesus’ correction.
Matthew 4:5–7 “5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ””
Deuteronomy 6:16 “16 “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.”
The Wilderness Temptation (Matthew 4:5–7; Luke 4:9–12)
The Wilderness Temptation (Matthew 4:5–7; Luke 4:9–12)
Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple and says:
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written…” (then he quotes Psalm 91:11–12).
Psalm 91:11–12 “11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Satan quotes Scripture but twists its meaning:
Leaves out the phrase “to guard you in all your ways” (context: God protects the faithful as they walk in His will).
Tries to use the psalm to justify reckless testing of God.
Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6:16: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Discussion Questions:
“How have you experienced God’s protection—physically or spiritually?”
“How do we reconcile these promises with the reality of Christian suffering?”
Guide toward truth: God’s presence is certain even when protection doesn’t look like we expect.
Illustration Idea: Share a personal story, historical example (missionary protection, soldier carrying Psalm 91), or testimony from your church.
Application: God’s promises are not a denial of danger but an assurance of His presence in danger.
25:00–33:00 | Section 3 – The Promise of Deliverance (vv. 14–16)
25:00–33:00 | Section 3 – The Promise of Deliverance (vv. 14–16)
Highlight God’s direct speech: “Because he loves me…”
Teach the seven promises (deliverance, protection, answered prayer, presence, honor, long life, salvation).
The Seven Promises (Psalm 91:14–16)
The Seven Promises (Psalm 91:14–16)
“I will deliver him” – God pledges rescue, not necessarily from every trial, but from ultimate defeat. His deliverance is both physical in times of danger and spiritual in the sense that no evil can separate us from Him (Romans 8:38–39).
“I will protect him” – God’s shield is not fragile; it is the assurance of His sovereign hand over our lives. The word carries the idea of being “set securely on high,” as if out of the enemy’s reach.
“I will answer him” – God is not distant or silent. When His children cry out, He responds. It may not always be the answer we expect, but it is always the one that works for our ultimate good (Jeremiah 33:3).
“I will be with him in trouble” – Notice God does not say, “I will keep him from trouble,” but “I will be with him in it.” This is the Immanuel promise—God’s presence in the fire, the flood, the valley (Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 28:20).
“I will rescue him and honor him” – God not only brings us through trials, but He also gives dignity to the faithful. Honor speaks of God’s approval, lifting up those who may have been despised by the world.
“With long life I will satisfy him” – This is not merely about earthly years, though that is included, but about the fullness of life that comes from walking with God. Satisfaction comes not from length alone but from quality — a life anchored in His presence.
“I will show him my salvation” – This climaxes the promises. The word “salvation” (yeshua in Hebrew, related to Jesus’ name) points to ultimate deliverance. In Christ, this is fulfilled as eternal life, not just temporary safety.
Open-ended Question: “Which of these promises speaks most to you right now, and why?”
Draw out real-life needs (fear, family struggles, health, future).
Application: ultimate fulfillment is eternal life in Christ.
33:00–38:00 | Today’s Application & Group Reflection
33:00–38:00 | Today’s Application & Group Reflection
Summarize big themes: refuge, protection, deliverance.
Group Question: “If someone came to you in crisis and asked, ‘Where can I find peace?’—how could you use Psalm 91 to guide them?”
Invite 2–3 responses.
Tie to Jesus: He is our refuge, fortress, and salvation.
38:00–40:00 | Closing
38:00–40:00 | Closing
Closing challenge: “Psalm 91 calls us not just to know about God’s protection but to live in it daily. Where do you need to rest in His refuge this week?”
Short closing prayer, thanking God for His presence and promises.
