5 You will have no fear of the evil things of the night, or of the arrow in flight by day,
When you go through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not go over you: when you go through the fire, you will not be burned; and the flame will have no power over you.
He will keep you safe from six troubles, and in seven no evil will come near you. When there is need of food he will keep you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. He will keep you safe from the evil tongue; and you will have no fear of wasting when it comes. You will make sport of destruction and need, and will have no fear of the beasts of the earth. For you will be in agreement with the stones of the earth, and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you. And you will be certain that your tent is at peace, and after looking over your property you will see that nothing is gone. You will be certain that your seed will be great, and your offspring like the plants of the earth. You will come to your last resting-place in full strength, as the grain is taken up to the crushing-floor in its time. See, we have made search with care, and it is so; it has come to our ears; see that you take note of it for yourself.
The evil man goes running away when no man is after him, but the upright are without fear, like the lion.
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping. When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you. Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
I took my rest in sleep, and then again I was awake; for the Lord was my support. I will have no fear, though ten thousand have come round me, putting themselves against me.
He will have no fear of evil news; his heart is fixed, for his hope is in the Lord.
<Of David.> The Lord is my light and my salvation; who is then a cause of fear to me? the Lord is the strength of my life; who is a danger to me? When evil-doers, even my haters, came on me to put an end to me, they were broken and put to shame. Even if an army came against me with its tents, my heart would have no fear: if war was made on me, my faith would not be moved.
But God said to him, You foolish one, tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner of all the things which you have got together?
My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
And he said to them, Why are you full of fear, O you of little faith? Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
With his bow bent, he has made me the mark for his arrows. He has let loose his arrows into the inmost parts of my body.
He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need. And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about; In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light.
In troubled thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble; And a breath was moving over my face; the hair of my flesh became stiff:
For the Lord had made the sound of carriages and horses, and the noise of a great army, come to the ears of the Aramaeans, so that they said to one another, Truly, the king of Israel has got the kings of the Hittites and of the Egyptians for a price to make an attack on us.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 91
Commentary on Psalms 91 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 91
Ps 91:1-16. David is the most probable author; and the pestilence, mentioned in 2Sa 24:13-15, the most probable of any special occasion to which the Psalm may refer. The changes of person allowable in poetry are here frequently made.
1. dwelleth in the secret place—(Ps 27:5; 31:20) denotes nearness to God. Such as do so abide or lodge secure from assaults, and can well use the terms of trust in Ps 91:2.
3. snares … [and] … noisome pestilence—literally, "plagues of mischiefs" (Ps 5:9; 52:7), are expressive figures for various evils.
4. For the first figure compare De 32:11; Mt 23:37.
buckler—literally, "surrounding"—that is, a kind of shield covering all over.
5. terror—or, what causes it (Pr 20:2).
by night—then aggravated.
arrow—that is, of enemies.
7, 8. The security is more valuable, as being special, and, therefore, evidently of God; and while ten thousands of the wicked fall, the righteous are in such safety that they only see the calamity.
9-12. This exemption from evil is the result of trust in God, who employs angels as ministering spirits (Heb 1:14).
13. Even the fiercest, strongest, and most insidious animals may be trampled on with impunity.
14-16. God Himself speaks (compare Ps 46:10; 75:2, 3). All the terms to express safety and peace indicate the most undoubting confidence (compare Ps 18:2; 20:1; 22:5).
set his love—that of the most ardent kind.
16. show him—literally, "make him see" (Ps 50:23; Lu 2:30).