Bible Commentaries
Psalms 91

Verses 1-16

The author of this psalm is not mentioned in the Bible, but the contents and the spirit of the hymn suggest the name of David, the pestilence referred to probably being that described 2 Samuel 24.

v. 1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, sheltered in the fellowship of God by faith, abiding secure from all assaults, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, safe under the protection of His almighty wings.

v. 2. I will say of the Lord, that is the boast of the believer, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, Jehovah, the God of grace, shielding him against the counsels and attacks of all enemies; my God, with the emphasis on the pronoun; in Him will I trust, every believer confidently and cheerfully yielding his life to the guiding hand of God.

v. 3. Surely He shall deliver thee, so the psalmist assures every believer, from the snare of the fowler, from Satan, who, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he might devour, and from the noisome pestilence, from the plague of destruction, the afflictions and temptations of Satan and his host.

v. 4. He, Jehovah, the God of salvation, shall cover thee with His feathers, His wings forming a protecting wall about the believers, and under His wings shalt thou trust, knowing that the enemy cannot penetrate to the asylum of God's protection; His truth, the faithfulness of His promises of salvation, shall be thy shield and buckler, an unfailing protection against each and every danger.

v. 5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, of affliction and tribulation which is intensified by darkness, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, those with which the Evil One tries to wound the hearts and consciences of the believers,

v. 6. nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, the destruction threatened by the various temptations assailing the believers, nor for the destruction, the severe plague, that wasteth at noonday, chiefly by the threats of the enemies of the Lord in the world. Against all such dangers the faithful are secure in the protection of their God and heavenly Father.

v. 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, overcome by the attacks of the enemies, submitting to the various secret and open attacks of the devil and the children of this world; but it shall not come nigh thee, not be able to harm those who cling to the protection of the Lord in firm faith.

v. 8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked, for the unbelievers will be taken by the enemy and will have to suffer for their wickedness.

v. 9. Because thou, every believer, hast made the Lord, which is my Refuge, rather the psalmist speaks for himself, "For Thou, Jehovah, art my Refuge," even the Most High, thy Habitation, literally, "the Most High hast thou made thy Habitation. "

v. 10. there shall no evil befall thee, coming upon the believer with sudden destruction, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, no stroke of misfortune and enmity which can bring us real harm, diminish our salvation, and the blessings of God's grace.

v. 11. For He, Jehovah, the God of salvation, shall give His angels charge over thee, placing the believers in their special care, as a guard against all evil, to keep thee in all thy ways, as long as the believers walk on the ways of God's will and good pleasure.

v. 12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone, carefully carrying the believers over all obstructions of their faith and spiritual life, so that their salvation will never be really endangered. Every Christian lives the life and performs the work which God has intended for him. If death takes him away, it means that the goal set by God has been reached, so far as he is concerned, that all the difficulties and obstructions and afflictions of life are behind him. In the mean time, it is true,

v. 13. thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet, overcome all the attacks of the powers of hell, no matter how fierce and insidious they are. The Lord now Himself takes up the strain of the psalm, substantiating what His servant has said.

v. 14. Because he hath set his love upon Me, clinging to the Lord with the assurance of complete trust, therefore will I deliver him, from all afflictions and from the attacks of Satan and his host; I will set him on high, exalt him out of the enemy's reach, because he hath known My name, set his faith upon God, accepted His grace, mercy, and salvation.

v. 15. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him, coming to the believer's assistance no matter what difficulty he may find himself in; I will be with him in trouble, standing at his side even in the hour of death; I will deliver him and honor him, bringing him up to the glories of heaven.

v. 16. With long life, that of eternity in and with God, will I satisfy him, in an everlasting enjoyment, and show him My salvation; for in heaven we shall see God face to face and know Him and all His wonderful blessings upon us, even as we are known.