Psalm 91: Providential Protection

November 13, 2019 / By

Psalm 91 is a most beloved Biblical passage.  Millions of pilgrims have found strength and guidance through Moses’ inspired words.

Providential Protection

Psalm 91

Provident is defined as “making provision for the future.”

Providence is understood as “divine guidance or care.”

PROVIDENCE is a name for God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/providence

“A sovereign Protector I have,

            Unseen, yet forever at hand,

            Unchangeably faithful to save,

            Almighty to rule and command.” 

Hymn by Augustus M. Toplady, 1774

           

Who is talking?
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 		 I is a person speaking
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

 

 Someone is speaking to that person (perhaps a priest, Levite or prophet)
14“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.” 		 God is the I

 

 

 

Most Biblical students understand the person speaking in verses 1 and 2 to be a king.

  • The imagery suggests a king
    • Warrior images
    • “a thousand may fall at your side”
    • Being hunted or attacked
    • Castle imagery

This king is invincible.  Surely, this passage inspired and motivated many of Israel’s kings, having been written, most likely, by Moses.

  • An unidentified Psalm is generally considered written by the person identified as the author of the Psalm just before.
  • Moses is identified as the author or Psalm 90.
  • Verse 14, “Because he holds fast to me in love,” is most similar to Deuteronomy 7:7, “that the Lordset his love on you and chose you,” is also written by Moses.

Prophetically, the King is King Jesus.

  • Jesus is the only King who is invincible.
  • Interestingly, Satan identifies Psalm 91 as referring to Jesus. Matthew 4:5-6

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and 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 will command his angels concerning you,’

And

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

 

Poetic Images Description
4 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and

 

from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

 

 An epidemic, maybe that sweeps through an army

 

 

 
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked. 		 Battle imagery
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

 

 

The Holman Old Testament Commentary, Psalms 76-150 by Steven Lawson and edited by Max Anders provides a very simple and significant outline of this Psalm for our lives today.

 

Faith in the Powerful God                  91:1, 2

  • Most High El Elyon
  • Almighty El Shaddai
  • Lord Elohim

 

Favor from the Protecting God          91:3-13

  • God is the Protector of those who “dwell in the shelter of the Most High.”
  • God is the Protector of those who find refuge in Him.
  • God is the Protector of those who run into His fortress.
  • God is the Protector of those for who He is their God.

 

Fellowship with the Personal God      91:14-16

  • God is moved to protect those who love Him. 91:14
  • God is moved to protect those who know His name. 91:14
  • This fellowship with God includes prayer and answered prayer. 91:15
  • This fellowship with God includes God giving honor. 91:15
  • This fellowship with God includes all of life and the length of life. 91:16
    • This person will not die “early.”
    • The days of this person’s life are satisfying.