NOTES for Psa 91
1 He that dwelleth 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 will I trust. |
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. |
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. |
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; |
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. |
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. |
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. |
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; |
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. |
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. |
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. |
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. |
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. |
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. |
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. |
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It is not at all surprising that for centuries people repeated this very psalm in times of danger, drawing from it confidence in God's power and help. The Lord's call “do not be afraid,” which runs throughout Scripture, is unfolded here in images, and we are assured once again that He is near, that He is the chief Defender.
But we also remember how Satan tried to tempt Christ with the words of this very psalm. This means that mechanically repeating even the most wonderful words of prayer is not enough; by themselves they may not frighten God's enemy.
But if the words are inseparable from faith, if the Lord comes first for us and we love Him without hypocrisy and remain faithful to Him, then the words that came by inspiration from the depths of the ancient psalmist's heart can become our armor too, protecting us from every temptation.
Other notes
For Psa 91:1-15
1 He that dwelleth 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 will I trust. |
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. |
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. |
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; |
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. |
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. |
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. |
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; |
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. |
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. |
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. |
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. |
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. |
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. |
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