Psalm
91:1–13—The key
verse is v. 1: He who dwells in the
shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Many
dangers, both physical and spiritual, face us every day. Nevertheless, the
composer of this psalm has no fear or anxiety, because he knows that the Lord
is His Refuge and his Fortress.
Psalm 91 –
The Assurance Given to those who Trust in God
This psalm has no title, and therefore the author
remains unknown. Because it shares some of the themes of Psalm 90, some think
Moses was the author. Because it shares some of the themes and phrases of
Psalms 27 and 31, some think the author was David. “Some of its language, of
strongholds and shields, reminds us of David, to whom the Septuagint ascribes
it; other phrases echo the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32, as did Psalm 90;
but it is in fact anonymous and timeless, perhaps all the more accessible for
that.”
Many have noted the wonderful character of this psalm:
“This psalm is one of the greatest possessions of the saints.”
“In the whole collection there is not a more cheering
Psalm, its tone is elevated and sustained throughout, faith is at its best, and
speaks nobly.”
“It is one of the most excellent works of this kind
which has ever appeared. It is impossible to imagine anything more solid, more
beautiful, more profound, or more ornamented.”
The
assurance of God’s protection.
1. (1-2) The protection, comfort, and care of the LORD.
“He who
dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in
Him I will trust.”
He who dwells
in the secret place of the Most High
God has a secret place for His own (Psalm 27:5, 31:20), and it is a place to
live in. Those who dwell there abide under the shadow of the Almighty, knowing
His protection, comfort, and care.
In Psalm 90:1, Moses spoke of God as the dwelling
place of His people. The opening lines of Psalm 91 seem to take that idea
further. “Moses spoke of God as the
dwelling-place, the habitation, the home of man. This singer seems to accept
that great idea, and then to speak of the most central chamber of the
dwelling-place, referring to it as the Secret Place, and describing its
complete security.”
There are many followers of Jesus Christ who seem to
know very little of the secret place of the Most High or what it is to abide
under His shadow. Many seem to regard this as only a thing for mystics or the
super-spiritual. Yet David, if he wrote this, was a warrior and man well
acquainted with the realities of life. It is true that the life of the spirit seems
to come more easily for some than for others, but there is an aspect of the
secret place of the Most High that is for everyone who puts his trust in Him.[2]
Collect for
Psalm 91: Lord Jesus Christ, when tempted by the devil, you remained true to your
Father, who commanded his angels to watch over you. Guard your Church from the
plague of sin, so that we may remain faithful to you until the day when we enjoy
the fullness of your salvation; for you live and reign with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen [3]
[1] The Temptation of the Christ Woodcut by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, a
nineteenth-century German artist known especially for
his book ‘The Book of Books in Pictures’ ©WELS. For personal and congregational use
[3] Collect for Psalm 91, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] Collect for aid against temptation, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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