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Psalm chapter 91

King James Version

New King James Version

1He 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.” 3Surely 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. 7A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. 9Because 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. 12In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13You 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. 15He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

What does Psalm chapter 91 mean?

We cannot be sure who wrote this psalm, but its author was well acquainted with the importance and benefits of trusting in the Lord. The writer testifies that God is his refuge and fortress, using words that imply places of safety and security (Psalm 91:1–2).

Various dangers are used to symbolize the ways in which God can protect His people. These vary from natural disasters, to animals, diseases, and enemies, whether those come at night or during the day. A key symbol here is that of entrapment, a common tool used by Satan (Psalm 91:3–8).

While absolute safety is not guaranteed in this life (Psalm 3:1–2), those who honor God by obeying His wisdom are not subject to unnecessary dangers. To "dwell" with the Lord implies consistency and faithfulness (Psalm 91:9–10).

Satan attempted to use part of this psalm against Jesus during a temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:5–7). Angels are part of God's way to influence the world. He has the power to protect His people, though we are not given the right to demand invincibility. God can, and will, keep a believer from all forms of harm if it's part of His plan (Luke 10:19; Acts 28:1–6). He will not allow a believer to "force" God to overcome their own arrogance or ignorance (Psalm 91:11–13).

The psalm ends with a shift from the psalmist's voice to the perspective of God. This again echoes the ideas of safety, in the context of someone who "holds fast" to the Lord (Psalm 91:14–16).
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