Psalm 91 - The Soldier's Prayer

Psalm 91 is a Psalm of Protection that offers comfort and assurance of God's protection to those who trust in Him. It is also known as the Soldier's Prayer because it has been a source of strength and encouragement for soldiers in times of war. Here is a breakdown of Psalm 91 (AMPC) verse by verse:

Verse 1: “HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].”

This verse establishes the theme of the entire Psalm, which is the protection of God. The "secret place of the Most High" refers to a place of intimacy with God, where one can find refuge and shelter from the storms of life. It is a place of safety and security, where the presence of God is felt and His protection is assured.

Verse 2: ?“I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean andrely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!”

In this verse, the Psalmist declares his trust in the Lord as his refuge and fortress. He acknowledges that only God can provide the protection he needs and that he has complete confidence in Him.

Verse 3: "For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.”

This verse speaks of God's ability to rescue us from the traps and snares of the enemy. The "snare of the fowler" refers to the traps that hunters set to catch birds, and in this case the traps and devices that Satan uses against the believers to cause us to sin. And the "perilous pestilence" refers to any deadly diseases or illnesses that may come our way. This verse assures us that God is able to deliver us from ALL? such dangers.?

Verse 4: “[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth andHis faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.”

This verse uses the imagery of a mother bird protecting her young under her wings to describe God's protection. It assures us that God will shield us from harm and that His truth will be our protection. Like a protective and loving parent, one who will give Himself for His children, which is exactly what Christ did on the Cross of Calvary

Verse 5: "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day."

This verse assures us that we do not need to fear any danger that may come our way, whether in the day or at night. God is our protector, and we can trust in Him to keep us safe. The imagery is particularly effective when mentioning “night,” that’s when we believe most evil happens, “in the darkness” and God is God of all so His protections extend to all circumstances and situations.

Verse 6: “Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.”

This verse repeats the theme of God's protection, assuring us that we need not fear any kind of danger, whether it comes in the form of disease or destruction. God is able to protect us at all times. Again, “darkness” is mentioned, long associated with Satan and his evil plots against the believer in Christ

Verse 7: “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.”

This verse uses hyperbole to emphasize the power and protection of God. It assures us that even if thousands fall around us, we will be protected and unharmed. All I can say is read it again S-L-O-W-L-Y and let is sink in Selah! (Pause and think about that for a moment)

Verse 8: “Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.”

This verse assures us that we will witness the downfall of the wicked, but we will not suffer the same fate. God will protect us from their evil schemes. We are also witnessing the downfall of the wicked, because if any are receptive to the Gospel of Christ, it is our responsibility to be God’s physical arms, legs, ears, mouth and heart here on earth to all those that will listen and respond to the call of God.

Verse 9: “Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,” [Ps. 91:1, 14.]

This verse emphasizes the importance of making the Lord our dwelling place. It is only by dwelling in His presence and trusting in His protection that we can experience the fullness of His protection. God being our dwelling place also means He’s? our place of recharge, where we can can power up and retool ready to perform God’s work

Verse 10: “There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.”

This verse again assures us that we will be protected from all harm and danger. God's protection extends to our physical dwelling place, ensuring that even our homes are safe from harm. Not only our homes, also wherever we are at in the performance of God’s will

Verse 11: For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

This verse speaks of God's promise to send His angels to protect us and keep us safe. It assures us that we are not alone, and that God has assigned angels to watch over us and keep us safe in all our ways. Let me clear up, “all our ways.” All our ways, in performance of God’s will. Although, there is a measure of grace extended to believers as well.

Verse 12: “They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone”. [Luke 4:10, 11; Heb. 1:14.]

This verse uses imagery to describe the protection of the angels, who will lift us up and keep us from stumbling. It assures us that we are not alone, and that God has given His angels the power to protect us from all harm. The Bible does use imagery here, however it is literal! The angels have been assigned to us to keep us safe

Verse 13: “You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.” [Luke 10:19.]

This verse speaks of the power and authority that God has given us to overcome all our enemies. It assures us that we can walk boldly in the midst of danger, knowing that God has given us the power to overcome every obstacle. This is in reference to not only our natural enemies, but also our enemies in the Spirit

Verse 14: “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].”

This verse emphasizes the importance of having a close relationship with God. It assures us that those who love and trust in God will be delivered from all harm and set on high. It also reminds us that knowing God's name is key to experiencing His protection. This is a direct promise from the mouth of God What more does one need!!

Verse 15: “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

This verse emphasizes God's promise to be with us in times of trouble. It assures us that if we call upon Him, He will answer and deliver us. It also promises that God will honor those who trust in Him and seek His protection. God doesn't say you will not have trouble, however that He will certainly deliver you from it, all one need do is call upon Him

Verse 16: “With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

This verse assures us that those who trust in God will be satisfied with a long and fulfilling life, and will experience the fullness of His salvation. It is a reminder that God's protection is not just for this life, but also for eternity. And that His protection is complete!

In conclusion, Psalm 91 is a powerful reminder of God's protection and assurance to those who trust in Him. It assures us that God is our refuge and fortress, and that we need not fear any danger or harm that may come our way. Instead, we can trust in God's promise of protection and deliverance, knowing that He is always with us.

If You Have Ears to Hear, Then Hear it!