Blessed to Know and Serve Christ – Psalm 91

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High” describes us when we live in continual fellowship with God. The emphasis is not on God’s blessings but on God Himself. We who make God our home find shelter “under the shadow of the Almighty.” The safest place on earth is not a location but in a relationship with God. [1]

“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress. My God, in Him I will trust.’” Psalm 91:2

Every believer must move from knowing truths about God to personally trusting in Him. It is one thing to state, “God is a refuge,” and another thing to say, “God is MY refuge.” [2]

Think of it! When our primary goal in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever, we do God’s will rather than the devil’s self-destructive deeds. Before I was born again, I went to bars. Once, while in such a place, a man went berserk and began hitting people including me. The devil enjoyed putting me in harm’s way. Jesus enjoys saving me from harm and eternal destruction.

“Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.” Psalm 91:3

The “snare of the fowler” is a trap. While bringing Bibles to Christians in China, the Lord rescued me numerous times from authorities who sought to confiscate the Bibles. Once, two soldiers stopped me on a public sidewalk and demanded to see what was in my shoulder bag. There were Chinese Bibles in it. In my mind, I asked the Lord what to do. He told me to trust Him by turning my back to them and walking away. I did and they stood paralyzed. They did not pursue me. Praise God! God is able to preserve us from physical and spiritual danger.

The “noisome pestilence” is a poetic term for a deadly and devastating epidemic or plague. At one point, both my wife and son had contracted a deadly parasite from food while in China. Our son, Andrew, was three years old. A doctor told us that he would die. Sherry was pregnant with our fourth child and very ill in a hospital as well. Then, one night when all seemed so bleak, the Lord spoke Psalm 91:3 to us. He assured Sherry and me that both she and Andrew would recover. The next morning, they were both healed and released to return home. Praise God!

God promised us in Romans 8:39 that nothing can separate us from His love.

“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.” Psalm 91:4

The image of God covering His people with His feathers is one of remarkable tenderness. Like a mother bird protecting her young, God gathers His children under His wings. His protection is affectionate and powerful. [3]

“His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” Psalm 91:5-6

In William Shakespeare’s play about Julius Caesar, there is a line that goes, “Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once.” A fourth grade teacher quoted this line to me and my fellow students. I never forgot it.

I struggled with being afraid of death until the Lord brought blessed assurance to my soul that whosoever believes in Him does not perish but has eternal life. Yes, my earthly body will die, but my soul lives forever. After I shed this temporary body, I receive a heavenly one.

In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, we read, “The body is sown in corruption. It is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body.” In 1 Corinthians 15:49, we read, “As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [Jesus].” Thus, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is your sting?”

In Hebrews 2:14-15, we read, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

We need not fear death when Christ is our Savior. Death is the portal to heaven for us. Heaven is a wonderful place without wars, pain, or sorrow. Heaven is a perfect place of peace, love and joy. In Psalm 16:11, God assures us that in His presence there is fullness of joy. Praise the Lord!

“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked.” Psalm 91:7-8

Psalm 91 is also called the Soldier’s Prayer. Jimmy Stewart’s father gave him a Psalm 91 prayer card before he entered the second World War to fly bombing missions against Hitler. Jimmy Stewart safely flew 20 bombing missions in a B-24 over Germany.

Major Frank Diorio shared on the Lou Dobbs show how he prayed Psalm 91 daily during his tour of duty in Iraq. He said, “No food, no sleep, no casualties during three days of fighting in what was considered the most dangerous city in Al Anbar Province. We did not lose one Marine during 275 engagements in seven months.”

“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” Psalm 91:9-10

God is our dwelling place. Thanks to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we can enjoy a life of continuous fellowship with God. Thus, in 2 Corinthians 13:14, Paul prays for us, “the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”

God’s presence is not merely reserved for emergencies, we can walk with Him continuously. In Isaiah 26:3, we read, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.”

“No evil shall befall you” does not mean believers will never experience suffering, sickness, persecution, or loss. Rather, no event can ultimately harm God’s eternal purpose for us. In Romans 8:28, we read, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12

Two angels physically pulled Lot and his family out of a city before it was destroyed by fire. An angel baked bread and provided water for the prophet Elijah when he was fleeing for his life. An angel struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight to lift a siege against King Hezekiah’s people. An angel shut the mouths of hungry lions when Daniel was thrown into their den. An angel warned Joseph in a dream to take Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod’s massacre. Angels cared for Jesus after His 40-day fast. An angel opened the public jail doors at night to free the apostles. God’s angels are helping His servants continuously.

The Lord delivered Daniel Matei from a beating in Romania. A large man was going to beat him up. He asked the Lord what to do. The Lord told him to stand up. He asked the Lord, “Now what?” The Lord told him to take a step forward. He did. “Now what?” The Lord told him to take another step forward. When he did, the man turned ghastly white and fled from him. He asked God, “What happened?” The Lord told him, “When you stood up, I placed My angel before you, and he was much bigger than that man.”

“You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion, and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.” Psalm 91:13

This passage speaks of victory over Satan. The lion and cobra symbolize the devil. Christ crushed Satan’s power against us by dying on the cross for our sins. Now, he can no longer use our sins to accuse and condemn us before God. The handwriting against us has been nailed to the cross.

In Luke 10:17, the disciples of Jesus had great joy. They said to Him, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” In Luke 10:19, Jesus said to them, “Behold, I give you power to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high because he has known My Name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:14-15

These promises are to those who know, love, and communicate with the Lord by praying.

In John 12:26, Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:16

In Revelation 1:1, we read, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” When we serve the Lord, He satisfies us with revelations of who He is and of the wonderful things that He has planned for us. These revelations help us to be strong and hopeful in a world full of uncertainty and darkness.

In Matthew 16:16-17, after Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” The revelation of Jesus Christ is a blessing from God above! “Thank You heavenly Father for revealing Yourself to us through Your Son.”


[1-3] Edited and modified material from Matthew Henry’s Commentary