1 He who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually,
2 He is saying of Jehovah, `My refuge, and my bulwark, my God, I trust in Him,'
3 For He delivereth thee from the snare of a fowler, From a calamitous pestilence.
4 With His pinion He covereth thee over, And under His wings thou dost trust, A shield and buckler `is' His truth.
5 Thou art not afraid of fear by night, Of arrow that flieth by day,
6 Of pestilence in thick darkness that walketh, Of destruction that destroyeth at noon,
7 There fall at thy side a thousand, And a myriad at thy right hand, Unto thee it cometh not nigh.
8 But with thine eyes thou lookest, And the reward of the wicked thou seest,
9 (For Thou, O Jehovah, `art' my refuge,) The Most High thou madest thy habitation.
10 Evil happeneth not unto thee, And a plague cometh not near thy tent,
11 For His messengers He chargeth for thee, To keep thee in all thy ways,
12 On the hands they bear thee up, Lest thou smite against a stone thy foot.
13 On lion and asp thou treadest, Thou trampest young lion and dragon.
14 Because in Me he hath delighted, I also deliver him -- I set him on high, Because he hath known My name.
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).