Psalm 91

1650 psalter

More than Israel’s blessings resting on Messiah and His Seed

Coverdale’s Bible was called, ‘The Bugs Bible,’ because he translated “terror” in v. 5 as “bugs!”

This psalm is of great comfort to the believer. There are many gracious promises given when the child of God dwells, abides, and seeks shelter and refuge in God his fortress. God’s wings will cover and protect him, so providing safety and security from the world’s arrows.

But there is also a sense in which the Lord Jesus is viewed as the recipient of His Father’s care and protection. Indeed, vv. 11 & 12 are used by the Devil when he tempted Christ in Matthew 4:6. There is a hint also in v. 12 of the prophetic statement in Genesis 3:15, in which the serpent’s (adder) head would be stepped on by Christ.

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Recommended Tune: Caddo

Psalm 91

¹He that doth in the secret place
Of the most High reside,
Under the shade of him that is
Th’ Almighty shall abide.

²I of the LORD my God will say,
He is my refuge still,
He is my fortress, and my God,
And in him trust I will.

³Assuredly he shall thee save,
And give deliverance
From subtile fowler’s snare, and from
The noisome pestilence.

⁴His feathers shall thee hide; thy trust
Under his wings shall be:
His faithfulness shall be a shield
And buckler unto thee.

⁵Thou shalt not need to be afraid
For terrors of the night;
Nor for the arrow that doth fly
By day, while it is light;

⁶Nor for the pestilence, that walks
In darkness secretly;
Nor for destruction, that doth waste
At noon–day openly.

⁷A thousand at thy side shall fall,
On thy right hand shall lie
Ten thousand dead; yet unto thee
It shall not once come nigh.

⁸Only thou with thine eyes shalt look,
And a beholder be;
And thou therein the just reward
Of wicked men shalt see.

⁹Because the LORD, who constantly
My refuge is alone,
Ev’n the most High, is made by thee
Thy habitation;

¹⁰No plague shall near thy dwelling come;
No ill shall thee befall:
¹¹For thee to keep in all thy ways
His angels charge he shall.

¹²They in their hands shall bear thee up,
Still waiting thee upon;
Lest thou at any time should’st dash
Thy foot against a stone.

¹³Upon the adder thou shalt tread,
And on the lion strong;
Thy feet on dragons trample shall,
And on the lions young.

¹⁴Because on me he set his love,
I’ll save and set him free;
Because my great name he hath known,
I will him set on high.

¹⁵He’ll call on me, I’ll answer him;
I will be with him still
In trouble, to deliver him,
And honour him I will.

¹⁶With length of days unto his mind
I will him satisfy;
I also my salvation
Will cause his eyes to see.