Bible Commentaries
Psalms 91

Verses 1-16

Psalms 91:0

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:1 Word Study on “He that dwelleth” Strong says the Hebrew word “dwelleth” “ yāšaḇ ” ( ָיַשׁב ) (H3427) is a primitive root meaning, “to sit down, dwell, remain.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 1088 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “dwell 437, inhabitant 221, sit 172, abide 70, inhabit 39, down 26, remain 23, in 22, tarry 19, set 14, continue 5, place 7, still 5, taken 5, misc 23.”

Psalms 91:1 Word Study on “in the secret place” Strong says the Hebrew word “secret place” “ cether ” ( סֵתֶר ) (H5643) literally means, “a cover, hiding place, protection, secret.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 36 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “secret 12, secretly 9, covert 5, secret place 3, hiding place 2, backbiting 1, covering 1, disguiseth 1, privily 1, protection 1.”

Psalms 91:1 “of the most High” Comments - Joseph Prince suggests that the author gives God the title of “the most High” in Psalms 91:1 as a foreshadowing of Christ’s resurrection and exaltation, which then gives the Church its place of rest. [99]

[99] Joseph Prince, “Sermon,” on Destined to Reign (New Creations Chuch, Singapore), television program.

Psalms 91:1 “shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” - Comments - Note that in the tabernacle, the mercy seat of God’s abiding place in the Holy of Holies was overshadowed by the wings of two cherubim. Note:

Psalms 36:7, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”

Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalms 91:2 Word Study on “will I trust” Strong says the Hebrew word “trust” “batach” ( בָּטוּחַ ) (H982) is a primitive root that literally means, “to hide for refuge,” and figuratively, “to trust, be confident, be sure.” The Enhanced Strong says this word is used 120 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “trust 103, confidence 4, secure 4, confident 2, bold 1, careless 1, hope 1, hoped 1, ones 1, sure 1, women 1.”

Psalms 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Psalms 91:3 Word Study on “the fowler” Strong says the Hebrew word “fowler” “yaquwsh” ( יָקוּשׁ ) (H3353) literally means, “entangled,” and figuratively, “a snarer, fowler, snare.” It is the passive participle of ( יָקַשׁ ) (3369), which means, “to ensnare.” He says this participle form implies a snare (intransitive) or a snarer (transitive). The Enhanced Strong says this word is used 3 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “fowler 2, snare 1.” Although the KJV chose to use the more specific term “fowler,” which is someone who hunts wild birds, some scholars regard the Hebrew word to have more general meaning of “one who ensnares.” The LXX uses the more general term “hunters.”

Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalms 91:4 “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust” Comments - We have owned chickens and watched how each night the baby chicks hid under their mother’s wings and in the feathers on her chest.

Psalms 91:4 Comments On the curtains of the Tabernacle were embroideries of heavenly cheribum (Exodus 26:1). As the priest entered the Holy Place, he could look up at the draped ceiling and see the embroidery of the cheribum with their wings spreading across the Tabernacle.

Exodus 26:1, “Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.”

Psalms 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Psalms 91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Psalms 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Psalms 91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Psalms 91:8 Comments - We see people dying of sickness, full of financial difficulties and problems on jobs, with families and marriages, even terrible accidents. Psalms 91:8 says that we will only see them with our eyes. That is, we do not have to experience these types of calamities of all those around us. We do not have to fear these things coming into our lives as children of God. Calamities are not a matter of fate, nor of chance, but it is the product of not following after Godliness and abiding under His wing of protection.

Abraham did not fear these things (Genesis 15:1).

Genesis 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

Psalms 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Psalms 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalms 91:10-11 Comments - God will protect his children by placing a hedge about them (Job 1:10).

Job 1:10, “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.”

This hedge of protection will be a group of angels that are assigned to accompany us to protect us from the demonic forces of Satan.

Psalms 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psalms 91:11-12 Comments God’s Angels Watch Over Us - God does watch over us using His angels (Hebrews 1:14).

Hebrews 1:14, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Satan quoted these verses to Jesus Christ, using them out of context, in an attempt to cause Him to tempt God.

Matthew 4:6-7, “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. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

Psalms 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Psalms 91:13 Comments - The lion and adder and dragon are figurative of demonic forces that we have been given authority over through the name of Jesus.

Psalms 91:14-16 Comments - The Lord is speaking in the first person singular in Psalms 91:14-16.

Psalms 91:14 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.

Psalms 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Psalms 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Psalms 91:16 “and shew him My salvation” - Comments - God will not only give us a long life to live, seventy to eighty years (Psalms 90:10), but also will daily bring His children divine salvation or deliverance from calamities and problems and destruction of the devil in every area of our lives, Hallelujah!

Psalms 90:10, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”