Psalm 91 – Dwelling In the Shelter of the Most High

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Would you like to live without fear? Psalm 91 tells us that we can find a sure place of refuge in God.

Overall Structure

This psalm is a masterpiece of interlocking structures. First, we have the division into two equal parts of 56 words in the original Hebrew. Second, we have  a Menorah Pattern of 7 strophes. A menorah pattern is 7 items in a 3-1-3 pattern with a clear center. As is often true with the Menorah Psalms, the themes mirror themselves from the center outward.
God Is My Refuge
He Will Deliver You
Fear No Evil
You Will Be Victorious
Experience No Evil
He Will Protect You
I Am Your Refuge

Other Structural Devices

Importance of Seven

The number seven plays an important role in structuring Psalm 91. Notice all of the uses of the number 7.

  • two sections of 56 (8 x 7) words
  • 8 verses are 7 words long (2, 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15) in Hebrew
  • 7 strophes in a Menorah pattern
  • Middle strophe is 14 (2 x 7) words
  • 35 (5 x 7) lines long
  • 7 verbs used by God in His promises to the king (vs. 15-17)

(For more details see this post by Labuschagne.)

The number seven is the number of perfection or competion, possibly pointing to the theme of dwelling in God's presence.

Dwelling Place

The theme of dwelling in God's presence connects the first three psalms of book 4. Psalm 90 begins by declaring that God is our dwelling place, Psalm 91 begins by stating that we find refuge by dwelling in the shelter of God, and Psalm 92 ends by talking about the courts of God.

Words Spoken to God and by God

Most of this psalm is spoken about God, but 2 phrases are spoken directly to God: Psalm 91:2 and Psalm 91:9. Both of these phrases highlight the theme of God as our refuge. Although the first line of Psalm 91:9 is often translated as spoken about God, the original Hebrew appears to make this a personal statement to God.

The final 3 verses are given special emphasis by being spoken by God.

Meaningful Center

The meaningful center is found in verse 8b: "and see the recompense of the wicked." This reinforces the theme of refuge as God defeats our enemies.

Messianic Psalm

Psalm 91 is considered a Messianic Psalm - a psalm that is specifically talking about the Messiah. Although it probably also could be applied to any King of Israel that sought God's protection, it is clear that Satan understood it as Messianic because he quoted it as part of his temptation of Jesus.

God Is My Refuge

Psalm 91:1-2

Psalms 90 and 91 both start by talking about dwelling in God. Psalm 90 begins by reminding us that we always dwell under the watchful eye of God. It contrasts God's wrath with God's favor. Psalm 91 describes what it is like to dwell in the shelter of God.

The main theme of refuge is highlighted in verse 2 by switching from talking about God to talking to God.

“My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2

He Will Deliver You

Psalm 91:3-4

If we seek shelter in God then He promises to deliver and protect. God is pictured as a bird covering us with his feathers and also as a shield. Nothing can reach us when we take refuge in God.

Fear No Evil

Psalm 91:5-6

Finding shelter in the presence of God removes fear. If we truly trust God, we should have no reason to fear.

When I find myself living in fear I need to ask myself, "Do I really trust God?"

You Will Be Victorious

Psalm 91:7-8

With these verses we reach the middle of the menorah pattern and the center of the psalm. The psalmist promises that God will defeat our enemies and we will not even have to fight. The meaningful center reminds us that evil will be defeated: "and see the recompense of the wicked" Psalm 91:8b.

Experience No Evil

Psalm 91:9-10

Beginning with these verses we mirror the topics of each of the previous parts. Verses 9-10 mirror verses 5-6. Not only should we have no fear of evil, but evil cannot touch us.

This is also the beginning of the second half of the psalm. Just as the first half begins by talking directly to God and declaring that God is his refuge, the second half also begins with a sudden switch from talking about God to talking to God. Once again the author declares that God is his refuge.

This switch to a one-line prayer to God is so unexpected that many versions of the Bible smooth it out by changing the text to talking about God. I agree with Labuschagne that this "smoothing" of the text hides a powerful structural technique that emphasizes the main theme of refuge in God.

Can I Claim This Promise?

But how should we apply such a seemingly hyperbolic statement such as "no evil shall be allowed to befall you"? Can I claim this as a promise for my own life? or was it only for the kings of Israel? or maybe only the Messiah?

For that matter, if it is for the Messiah, then why did Jesus die? That certainly seems like evil befalling Him! In fact, this passage is used by some unbelievers as evidence that Jesus was not the Messiah.

The answer is that Jesus' death was the ultimate victory over evil. That is why we call the day of Jesus' death "Good Friday" and not "Evil Friday". Jesus chose this path so that He could give the finishing blow to evil and show the world His salvation.

Did He suffer evil? Yes, in one sense. And yet, in the end God used it for a much greater good. God took the intended evil and used it for the greatest good.

If we dwell in the shelter of God, then no evil will befall us unless God has predetermined to make something good from it. In other words, with God on our side, everything that happens to us can be used by God for good.

He Will Protect You

Psalm 91:11-13

Verses 11-13 are a mirror of verses 3-4. In verses 3-4, we are promised that God will protect us. In verses 11-13, we are told that God will protect us by commanding His angels to guard our every step.

These verses are unique in that they are quoted by Satan in the New Testament. In Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:10 and 11, Satan uses these verses to tempt Jesus. This is a powerful reminder that Satan knows the Bible well and can even use the Bible to tempt us to sin.

Notice also that Satan did not quote verse 13. Maybe Satan was nervous about the meaning of those verses. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of verse 13 when He defeated Satan at the cross. He tread on the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) and He crushed the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15).

I Am Your Refuge

Psalm 91:14-15

The final three verses mirror the beginning verses as God declares that He is our refuge. God gives two requirements for those who wish to take refuge in Him:

  1. They hold fast to God in love
  2. They know His name

To those who meet these requirement He makes 8 promises using 7 verbs. (The use of only 7 verbs for the 8 promises is probably tied to the structural use of the number 7.)

  1. Deliver him
  2. Protect him
  3. Answer him
  4. Be with him
  5. Rescue him
  6. Honor him
  7. Satisfy him
  8. Show him salvation

Do I want these promises to apply to my life? Then I need to hold fast to God in love and know His name.

Application

This psalm has 3 applications. First, it appears to be written as a proclamation of God's protection over the King of Israel if he seeks to dwell in God's presence. Second, it is a messianic psalm pointing to Jesus as the King of Kings. Finally, it talks about the refuge we can all find in God through Jesus.

Do you want to live without fear? Then seek to dwell in the shelter of God.

How do you dwell in the shelter of God? Hold fast to God in love and know His name (verse 14).

God has revealed Himself fully in the name of Jesus. Do you know Him?

Jerry Wyrick

This post is part of a series on the Psalms.

by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory

Posted in General Worship.