911 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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 91:1-13
Commentary on Psalm 91:1-8
(Read Psalm 91:1-8)
He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and encourage others to trust in him also.
Commentary on Psalm 91:9-16
(Read Psalm 91:9-16)
Whatever happens, nothing shall hurt the believer; though trouble and affliction befal, it shall come, not for his hurt, but for good, though for the present it be not joyous but grievous. Those who rightly know God, will set their love upon him. They by prayer constantly call upon him. His promise is, that he will in due time deliver the believer out of trouble, and in the mean time be with him in trouble. The Lord will manage all his worldly concerns, and preserve his life on earth, so long as it shall be good for him. For encouragement in this he looks unto Jesus. He shall live long enough; till he has done the work he was sent into this world for, and is ready for heaven. Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him? A man may die young, yet be satisfied with living. But a wicked man is not satisfied even with long life. At length the believer's conflict ends; he has done for ever with trouble, sin, and temptation.