[1] Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
[2] I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
[3] Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
[4] He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
[5] You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
[6] nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
[7] A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
[8] You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
[9] If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
[10] no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
[11] For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
[12] they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
[13] You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
[14] “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
[15] He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
[16] With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
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According to the NIV Study Bible, Psalm 91 was probably written by a priest or Levite. My assumption is that it was written either during the Babylonian captivity, or after Israel had been released from captivity and returned to rebuild Jerusalem and were facing opposition from their neighbors.
It is a psalm of comfort, likely written during a period of turbulence and chaos. It could also be seen as a plea for the unfaithful to repent by turning to the Almighty. The theme of the psalm is that only those who dwell in the Lord will not be overcome by tribulation or disaster, with the key element being trust in God. Though God chose Israel to be His kingdom of people, many of them did not trust in God, and therefore:
• They did not dwell in the shelter of the
Most High, nor rest in the shadow of the
Almighty;
• They did not say of the Lord, “He is my
refuge and my fortress, my God, in
whom I trust.”
Many of them lived in rebellion against God, so they were not under the protections listed verses 3-8 that God had promised to those who do trust in the Lord. In fact, those who lived in rebellion were included among the wicked who were being punished in verse 8.
God's promises are conditional because they are only promised to those who say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and who make the Most High their dwelling. They are only promised to those who love Him and acknowledge His name. Those who call on His name He will answer, and be with in times of trouble, and deliver, and honor. They are the ones who will receive and be satisfied with long life, and to whom He will show His salvation. These are people who view God as "Lord", and who are faithful to Him through trust, love, loyalty, devotion, and commitment.
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