{"id":67115,"date":"2022-03-22T05:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T09:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/blog\/?p=67115"},"modified":"2025-10-16T13:39:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T17:39:31","slug":"taking-comfort-from-psalm-91","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/taking-comfort-from-psalm-91\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Comfort from Psalm 91"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"This<\/a>By Christopher Reese<\/strong><\/p>\n

For thousands of years believers have turned to the Psalms<\/a> for encouragement and comfort. In light of King David\u2019s<\/a> authorship of many of the Psalms, the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, \u201cWhenever we look into David\u2019s psalms, we may somewhere or other see ourselves. I never get into a corner but I find David in that corner. I think I was never so low that I could not find that David was lower, and I never climbed so high that I could not find that David was up above me, ready to sing his song upon his stringed instrument.\u201d 1<\/strong><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Read Bible Gateway’s Latest Exclusive Articles on Psalm 91<\/strong><\/p>\n

How does the rising popularity of Psalm 91 explain the global mood?<\/a><\/p>\n

How Psalm 91 can be a doorway into better mental health during troubled times.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is Psalm 91?<\/h3>\n

People tend to search for particular Psalms on Bible Gateway based on current events or personal circumstances, including Psalm 23<\/a> and Psalm 31<\/a>. But the Psalm most searched for lately on Bible Gateway, and the chief Psalm that Christians have meditated on in times of trouble, is Psalm 91<\/a>. To cite Spurgeon once more, he said of Psalm 91, \u201cIn the whole collection there is not a more cheering psalm . . . faith is at its best and speaks nobly.\u201d 2<\/strong><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

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What Does Psalm 91 Mean?<\/h3>\n

The main theme of Psalm 91 is God\u2019s protection of his people in the midst of distressing circumstances\u2014among them pestilence, terror, darkness, enemies, and war. Below we\u2019ll explore the message of this Psalm in detail so we can gain greater insight into God\u2019s character, love, and preservation of his people.<\/p>\n

Who Wrote Psalm 91?<\/h3>\n

Before we proceed, though, we should briefly consider the question of authorship. Psalm 91 is anonymous (it has no title indicating who composed it, like we have in other Psalms that say, for example, \u201cA Psalm of David<\/a>\u201d). The NIV Study Bible<\/em> proposes<\/a> that it may have been written by one of the temple workers\u2014a priest or a Levite\u2014but we can\u2019t be sure. In any case, God sovereignly arranged for it to be included in the canon, so we need not be overly concerned with its original author.<\/p>\n

What Is the Message of Psalm 91?<\/h3>\n

In what follows we\u2019ll divide the Psalm into four sections and consider the meaning and message of each one.<\/p>\n

Psalm 91:1\u20132<\/a><\/h3>\n

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
\nwill rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
\nI will say of the LORD<\/small>, \u201cHe is my refuge and my fortress,
\nmy God, in whom I trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

These two verses communicate the believer\u2019s supreme safety under God\u2019s protection. He is their shelter and they rest in his shadow. Other Psalms refer to God hiding his people \u201cin the shadow of [his] wings\u201d (e.g., Psalm 17:8<\/a>), and this may be what is referred to here\u2014especially in light of verse 4<\/a>, which refers to \u201chis feathers . . . his wings.\u201d God shields his people like a mother bird tenderly shielding her young in the nest.<\/p>\n

Two Hebrew names for God reinforce his superior might: Elyon<\/em> (\u201cthe Most High\u201d) communicates God\u2019s supreme authority, while Shaddai<\/em> (\u201cthe Almighty\u201d) indicates God\u2019s absolute power.<\/p>\n

In light of God\u2019s authoritative power and loving protection of his people, the psalmist places all of his trust in him, looking to God to be his refuge from trouble, as we should today.<\/p>\n

Psalm 91:3\u20138<\/a><\/h3>\n

Surely he will save you
\nfrom the fowler\u2019s snare
\nand from the deadly pestilence.
\nHe will cover you with his feathers,
\nand under his wings you will find refuge;
\nhis faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
\nYou will not fear the terror of night,
\nnor the arrow that flies by day,
\nnor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
\nnor the plague that destroys at midday.
\nA thousand may fall at your side,
\nten thousand at your right hand,
\nbut it will not come near you.
\nYou will only observe with your eyes
\nand see the punishment of the wicked.<\/p>\n

Verses 3-8 list a number of specific dangers from which God protects his people. Rather than understand these as promises that apply in any situation, we should view them in the context of verse 8<\/a>, which suggests that God will preserve his people in the midst of his \u201cpunishment of the wicked.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are numerous instances in Scripture where God protects and delivers his people from harm (e.g., delivering the nation of Israel from Egypt and bringing them to the Promised Land, or protecting David from King Saul<\/a>), but there are other instances in which God\u2019s people suffer and sometimes die (e.g., Job\u2019s<\/a> tribulations and those endured by Elijah<\/a>, Jeremiah<\/a>, and the apostle Paul<\/a>). In our own life circumstances we can\u2019t presume God will deliver us from all harm, but we know he’s always with us, providing grace and strength (2 Corinthians 12:7\u201310<\/a>), and whatever he allows us to encounter, he’ll bring good out of it (Romans 8:28<\/a>). Like the psalmist in these verses, we can also experience God\u2019s peace even when calamity strikes (Philippians 4:6\u20137<\/a>). Regardless of what happens, we’ll find refuge under his wings, and he’ll be our shield (Psalm 91:4<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Psalm 91:9\u201313<\/a><\/h3>\n

If you say, \u201cThe LORD<\/small> is my refuge,\u201d
\nand you make the Most High your dwelling,
\nno harm will overtake you,
\nno disaster will come near your tent.
\nFor he will command his angels concerning you
\nto guard you in all your ways;
\nthey will lift you up in their hands,
\nso that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
\nYou will tread on the lion and the cobra;
\nyou will trample the great lion and the serpent.<\/p>\n

The beginning verses of this section are a reminder that the protection described in this Psalm applies to those who \u201cmake the Most High your dwelling\u201d (v. 9<\/a>). God sent his Son, Jesus Christ<\/a>, so that anyone who desires to today can dwell with God, and God will dwell with them (John 15:3\u20135<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The author of Hebrews<\/a> tells us angels are \u201cministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation\u201d (Hebrews 1:14<\/a>). Part of this ministry, as described here, involves physically protecting God\u2019s people. The verses referring to angels are notable because Satan quoted them to Jesus when he tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the top of the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 4:9\u201312<\/a>). Jesus replied by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16<\/a>: \u201c\u2018Do not put the Lord your God to the test.\u2019\u201d This exchange is instructive because although angels sometimes protect us from harm, we should never test God by deliberately putting ourselves in danger.<\/p>\n

Lions and serpents are symbolic for either people or demonic spirits who oppose God\u2019s servants. Even when facing opposition we’re \u201cmore than conquerors through him who loved us\u201d (Romans 8:37<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Psalm 91:14\u201316<\/a><\/h3>\n

\u201cBecause he loves me,\u201d says the LORD<\/small>, \u201cI will rescue him;
\nI will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
\nHe will call on me, and I will answer him;
\nI will be with him in trouble,
\nI will deliver him and honor him.
\nWith long life I will satisfy him
\nand show him my salvation.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time in the Psalm the Lord speaks directly and addresses the man or woman who \u201cloves me\u201d and \u201cacknowledges my name\u201d (v. 14<\/a>). This is the person described throughout the Psalm who trusts God and seeks refuge in him. For this person, the Lord promises four blessings:<\/p>\n