Psalm 91
What Does This Poem Mean?
Psalm 91 is a well-known text among Christian’s as the Psalmist assures God’s protection. While such an assurance is necessary in a fallen world, I wonder if readers really comprehend this text. Do they understand the poem’s metaphors and their implications for how we experience God’s safety?
Below, I’ll analyze the message of Psalm 91 and how we can apply its teaching as we seek God’s protection. In honor of Black History Month, I’ll also acknowledge how Marie Van Brittan Brown’s Invention makes God’s promised safety tangible.
Contextual Information for Psalm 91
Controversy Behind Psalm 91
Before explaining the meaning of Psalm 91, let’s highlight the contextual background behind this poem. Surprisingly, there isn’t much information available regarding the inspiration for this passage of scripture.
The reason is that scholars cannot determine whether Moses or David is the author. Some argue for the former, since he is the author of Psalm 90. Others believe the latter deserves credit due to the poem’s content.
Controversy surrounding the authorship of Psalm 91 also leaves historians uncertain about the circumstances that influenced the poem. Was the writer entering into battle? Did God allow the fears the poet highlights in verses four through seven to result from his sins?
Although these questions remain unanswerable, scholars recognize that the poem serves as a reminder of the protection afforded by God’s presence.
Explaining Key Terms & Concepts
Psalm 91:1-2
Understanding the protection believers have in God’s presence requires analysing Psalm 91 by breaking down its lines and stanzas. So let’s begin our analysis by looking at the first verse.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” After reading this verse, readers may wonder what it means to dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
According to John MacArthur, dwelling in the secret place refers to resting in an intimate place of divine protection. Giving God ownership of this space by calling him the Most High is significant, as no threat can overpower him.
Along with exalting the greatness of God’s power over potential threats, the Psalmist also refers to him as the Almighty. The Almighty in Hebrew means El Shaddai, the overpowerer.
Since nothing can overpower El Shaddai, he will accomplish his sovereign purposes for humanity.
Additionally, the allusion to El Shaddai’s shadow in verse one is a metaphor ancient Israelites understood as protection from the sun. The Psalmist uses the metaphor to show how El Shaddai cares and protects those who take rest in him.
Adoration for El Shaddai continues in verse two as the Psalmist declares his confidence and trust in God. He does this by calling the Lord, my
- Refuge (a place of shelter people run to during hardships).
- Fortress (a place built for protection during war).
- God (the only one worthy of his worship and devotion).
Verses 3-4
After declaring his trust in God, the poet uses Psalm 91:3-4 to mention three ways God will protect those who trust in him. Through this stanza, we see God act as a
- Deliver from the snare of the Fowler and perilous pestilence (verse 3).
- Covering, allowing us to take refuge under his feathers and wings (verse 3).
- Shield and buckler for those who trust in his truth (verse 4).
While researching the truth of this text, the term Fowler caught my attention. A fowler is an individual who designs traps to catch birds.
Once a bird gets trapped, it’ll cry out for help, and other birds will flock to the ensnared prey out of curiosity. Obviously, they’ve never heard the phrase “curiosity kills the cat,” because their inquiry puts them in danger of being trapped.
Trapped birds are usually eaten as food or kept as pets. Luckily, some birds can slip out of snares and experience freedom. Similarly, the Psalmist assures readers that God will help them escape the evil traps the enemy sets for them.
Along with helping believers escape snares like a trapped bird, God will protect his children like a Mother hen protects her chicks. The Psalmist expresses this truth through zoomorphism, noting that God’s wings are a covering and a refuge for believers.
Psalm 91:5-8
After relating God’s protection to how birds protect their chicks, the Psalmist addresses human fears. Verses five and six reveal this when they declare that, because God is our source of safety, we don’t have to fear,
- Terrors by night (verse 5).
- Arrows that fly by day (verse 5).
- Pestilence that walks in darkness (verse 6).
- Destruction at noonday (verse 6).
Scholars believe the Psalmist mentions fears such as destruction at noonday to emphasize God’s ability to defend us against the sun’s scorching heat. Verses seven and eight continue this thought by assuring believers that the evil around them will not come near their dwelling.
Additionally, those secure in God will only see the reward of the wicked. Scholars caution Christians not to think that Psalm 91:7-8 means they won’t face any danger.
Paul offers a similar warning in Philippians, testifying how he’s learned to suffer well and be content for the gospel’s sake.
While we’ll endure suffering, we remain under God’s protection. We trust this, believing he’ll use our trials and pain for good. Unfortunately, for the wicked, their reward is the destruction that acts as a consequence for their wickedness.
Further Explanation of Psalm 91
A Quick Break with Marie Van Brittan Brown
An individual who helps make God’s protection in Psalm 91 tangible amid wickedness is Marie Van Brittian Brown. Marie was born on October 22, 1922, in Queens, New York, and lived there until her death on February 2, 1999. While I’m unsure of Marie’s religious beliefs, I know she needed to feel safe and secure in her home.
The reason is that she lived in a crime-ridden community where police response to incidents came at a snail’s pace. To make matters worse, her occupation as a nurse meant working odd hours and often being home alone.
Therefore, in 1961, with the help of her husband, Albert (an electronics technician), Marie created the first home security system. The security system contained features like
- A camera.
- A two-way microphone.
- Peepholes to determine whether a child, a guest, or an intruder was at the door.
- Video monitors.
If an intruder were trying to break in, the system featured a button Marie could press to contact the authorities. Conversely, if a guest were present, she could use a remote to unlock the door, allowing them to enter the home.
Marie filed for a patent on her invention in 1966, and patent 3,482,035 received approval on December 2, 1969. Unfortunately, Marie was never properly credited for her invention, even though several modern-day security inventions cited her patent.
Consequently, through Marie’s efforts, believers can feel God’s tangible protection, knowing our homes and businesses are kept secure.
Thankfully, she received public notoriety through a New York Times interview and a newspaper article. She also received an award from the National Scientist Committee during her lifetime.
Psalm 91:9-13
As Marie receives recognition for her invention, believers will obtain a reward for trusting in the Most High. Psalm 91:9-10 proves this when mentioning how no evil will befall believers, nor plague will come near their dwelling.
Again, this does not mean Christians won’t face danger; it simply means the Lord will sustain us through hardships. But even if hardships lead to our death, the Lord will orchestrate the tragedy in a way that aligns with his will.
While God aligns every situation with his will, no believer should take his protection for granted by testing him. Commentators issue this warning because the poet uses verses eleven and twelve to highlight the angels’ obligation to protect us.
However, they are aware of Satan’s ability to use individuals who twist scripture to deceive and tempt believers to sin. He attempts this tactic with Jesus, but doesn’t succeed because Christ stands on the truth of the scriptures.
Like Christ, scholars believe the Psalmist alludes to believers’ victory over Satan. This belief comes from the fact that verse thirteen contains imagery of them trampling over lions and serpents. The allusion comes from Genesis 3:15 and Romans 16:20, which highlight Christ’s ultimate victory over Satan. This victory comes because of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
Additionally, trending upon lions and cobras in Psalm 91:13 emphasizes another aspect of God’s protection. As agricultural people, the Israelites understood this reference to mean being safe from the animals they encountered in the wilderness.
Psalm 91:14-16
Along with being safe from dangerous animals, Psalm 91:14-15 contains promises of deliverance from trouble. Verse fourteen shows that one condition to obtain this promise is setting one’s love upon the Lord. Such a love requires us to be wholly devoted to the Lord,d ensuring we don’t give our affection to any rival.
These rivals are false gods made by humanity, with human features, yet they are worthless. Likewise, those who worship them are useless.
Abstaining from useless idols isn’t the only clause for experiencing God’s deliverance. The Psalmist, through verse fourteen, makes it clear that we must know God by name.
Knowing God by name means developing an intimate relationship with him and experiencing his goodness. This intimate relationship grants believers the privilege of having their prayers heard, encountering his presence, and receiving rescue from trouble.
Verse sixteen ends Psalm 91 with God’s promise of long life and salvation to those who trust in him. While these are good promises, scholars want believers to understand their true meaning.
For the Israelites, having a long life in the promised land was a benefit of staying obedient to their parents. For modern Christians, this promise doesn’t prevent us from dying at a young age.
Instead, it means we will depart from earth satisfied, having completed the work God calls us to complete. We’ll also take delight in finding salvation through Jesus Christ. Salvation brings us peace, knowing Christ forgives our sins and allows us to abide with our triune God eternally.
Thank you for taking the time to read stories of faith through the Electi A Deo Experience. Feel free to leave a comment below and share this content with everyone you know. Have a blessed Black History Month!
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