Psalm 91

You can go to God most high to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. I say to the Lord “you are my place of safety, my fortress, my God, I trust in you.  Psalm 91:1-2 ERV.

Psalm 91 is one of the most renowned and often recited psalms, with many invoking God’s protection and deliverance from danger and calamity through its words. The devil is even known to quote parts of it when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. The book of Psalms is written by various authors, some of whom attribute their work while others prefer to remain anonymous. The authorship of Psalm 91, like many others in the Bible, is unknown theologians, however, attribute it to Moses due to linguistic similarities with Psalm 90, the preceding chapter.

There are many different names given to Psalm 91. Each name given highlights a different aspect of that powerful prayer for protection. Some call it the solders psalm, others by its Latin name ‘Qui Habitat’ which means “He who inhabits.” No matter the name you choose to call Psalm 91, it is one of the most loved and popular psalms in the Bible.

The Lord says, "if someone trusts me, I will save them. 
I will protect my followers who call for me for help." Psalm 91:14 ERV

The imagery and language used in the psalm point to a hostile environment. The mention of deadly pestilences, stones, lions, and serpent immediately transports us to a wilderness setting. This Psalm is set against the harsh realities of wilderness, war, and disease where neither night nor day brings peace and also depicts God’s protection by His angels having charge over us. As God’s people, we also face difficulties that make us feel like we are living in the wilderness. We can identify with being constantly treated by war, disease pestilence, and other threats that seem more life-threatening than ever before.  With all these difficulties facing us there may be times when even the night doesn’t bring peace or day does not assure safety from danger. The psalmist directs our minds from the present difficulties, death, and destruction to a place where abundant life thrives.

The message of psalm 91 is that God will protect us, his faithful, against anything that might harm us. No matter what comes our way, we can rest in Him knowing that we are safe under his wing. The Psalm does not guarantee immunity from trouble but gives us an assurance that God is with us and will keep us safe. God will sustain and protect us because His grace is sufficient for us. God is our dwelling place, we can abide under His shadow forever.