Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)

Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)

PSALMS 91

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.”

Application Notes

91:1-16 This psalm wonderfully reassures anyone facing the sick­ness or death of a loved one, time in prison, or some other great loss. When you have the opportunity, read this psalm aloud as a prayer for yourself or someone who needs help. It will bring great comfort, encouragement, and peace. 

91:1-6 God shelters and protects us when we are afraid, sick, or in deep trouble. The writer's faith in the almighty God as his protector would carry him through all of life's dangers and fears. This is a picture of how we should trust God-trading all our fears for faith in him, no matter how intense they may be. To do this, we must “dwell” and “rest” with him (91:1). By entrusting ourselves to his protection and pledging our daily devotion to him, we acknowledge that he will keep us safe. 

91:11 One of the functions of angels is to watch over believers (He­brews 1:14). There are examples of guardian angels in Scripture (1 Kings 19:5; Daniel 6:22; Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:22; Acts 12:7), although there is no indication that God assigns one angel to each believer. Angels can also be God's messengers (Matthew 2:13; Acts 27:23-24). Angels are not visible, except on special occasions (Numbers 22:31; Luke 2:9). We are not to worship angels or become preoccupied with them. They are God's servants (Hebrews 1:13-14; 2:5), actively present and at work in our world. The words of Psalm 91:11-12 were quoted by Satan when he tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10-11). It is comforting to know that God and his servants watch over us even in times of great stress and fear. 

Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)