“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
An interesting point of note, did you know that Psalm 91 is known as the ‘The Soldier’s Prayer’?
Metaphorically, it makes sense. In battle, we seek refuge from whatever is thrown at us (whether that be bombs or barbs) – and in times of peace, we trust in and fortify our defences.
Ultimately, the theme of Psalm 91 is about God’s protection. God doesn’t promise us a world free from danger, but He does promise His help when we face it. Another key aspect is trust – trusting in Him and the protection He provides. We see this interplay in the first verse: ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty’.
Verses 5 and 6 indicate what He will protect us: ‘You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday’. According to some early Jewish interpretations, these were demons, which is intriguing when you consider the devil used Psalm 91 to tempt Jesus in the desert.
The psalm culminates in the final verse (v16) with the very thing that is central to our faith: salvation (‘With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation’). The final word foretells our Saviour, as the Hebrew word for Jesus (Yeshua) means ‘salvation’. And just like a soldier, sometimes we need to retreat – to our fortress in Christ Jesus.
And finally, something to ponder: when you are afraid, stressed, or overwhelmed, where do you turn for refuge? What ‘terrors’ are there in your own life or in the world today from which you need to be protected? And what does it mean for you personally to ‘dwell in the shelter of the Most High’?
