By Abhilash Pulichanickal
ONE of my earliest memories of Sunday School is being asked by our Matron aunty (the Sunday School Headmistress was a retired nursing matron) to memorize Psalm 91. What is Psalm 91?
Psalm 91 is a well-known passage from the Book of Psalms in the Bible. It is a psalm of trust and assurance in God’s protection and deliverance. Here is the text of Psalm 91 from the New International Version (NIV):
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91 is often read and recited as a source of comfort, hope, and trust in God’s providence and protection. It emphasizes the idea that those who seek refuge in God and trust in Him will find safety and deliverance from various dangers and challenges in life.
Who wrote Psalm 91 and why?
The authorship of Psalm 91 is not explicitly mentioned in the text. Like many other psalms, its authorship is traditionally attributed to King David, who is believed to have composed numerous psalms in the Book of Psalms. However, there is no way one can confirm that it was David who wrote this psalm.
Whoever it was who wrote Psalm 91 wrote it to encourage himself and others of God’s protection and providence in difficult times. It is a psalm of trust and confidence in God’s protection and deliverance. It expresses the belief that those who seek refuge in God will find safety and security amidst various dangers and challenges in life.
The psalm may have originated within a context where individuals faced threats, adversities, or uncertainties, and it served as an expression of hope and encouragement in such circumstances. Its timeless message of God’s sheltering care resonates with people across different generations and continues to offer comfort and assurance in times of trouble.
