Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 91

Francis D. Nichol (ed.) and contributors

Psalms 91:1

Dwelleth. The idea is that of quiet repose as in a dwelling. Secret place. When we are “admitted into closest intimacy and communion with God” (MB 188), we may be said to dwell “in the secret place of the most High.” Most High. Heb. ’Elyon. See Vol. I, pp. 170–173, on this name for God, and on the three other names employed in vs. 1, 2: “Almighty” (Shaddai), “Lord” (Yahweh), “God” (’Elohim). Under the shadow. See on Ps. 17:8. Verses 1, 4 will bring special comfort to those who heed God’s warning in “the day of the Lord” (see PP 167).

Ellen G. White

Loss Sustained by the Wicked—In the ninety-first psalm is a most wonderful description of the coming of the Lord to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end, and to give to those who have chosen Him as their Redeemer the assurance of His love and protecting care.

[Psalm 91:1-15 quoted.]

The righteous understand God’s government, and will triumph with holy gladness in the everlasting protection and salvation that Christ through His merits has secured for them. Let all remember this, and forget not that the wicked, who do not receive Christ as their personal Saviour, understand not His providence. The way of righteousness they have not chosen, and they know not God. Notwithstanding all the benefits He has so graciously bestowed upon them, they have abused His mercy by neglecting to acknowledge His goodness and mercy in showing them these favors. At any moment God can withdraw from the impenitent the tokens of His wonderful mercy and love.

Oh, that human agencies might consider what will be the sure result of their ingratitude to Him, and of their disregard of the infinite gift of Christ to our world! If they continue to love transgression more than obedience, the present blessings and the great mercy of God that they now enjoy, but do not appreciate, will finally become the occasion of their eternal ruin. They may for a time choose to engage in worldly amusements and sinful pleasures, rather than to check themselves in their course of sin, and live for God and for the honor of the Majesty of heaven; but when it is too late for them to see and to understand that which they have slighted as a thing of naught, they will know what it means to be without God, without hope. Then they will sense what they have lost by choosing to be disloyal to God and to stand in rebellion against His commandments. In the past they defied His power and rejected His overtures of mercy; finally His judgments will fall upon them. Then they will realize that they have lost happiness—life, eternal life, in the heavenly courts....

In the time when God’s judgments are falling without mercy, oh, how enviable to the wicked will be the position of those who abide “in the secret place of the Most High”—the pavilion in which the Lord hides all who have loved Him and have obeyed His commandments! The lot of the righteous is indeed an enviable one at such a time to those who are suffering because of their sins. But the door of mercy is closed to the wicked, no more prayers are offered in their behalf, after probation ends.

But this time has not yet come. Mercy’s sweet voice is still to be heard. The Lord is now calling sinners to come to Him (Manuscript 151, 1901).

Psalms 91:2

I. The psalmist makes this sentiment the special personal expression of the satisfaction of his need. Refuge. See Ps. 18:2; 144:2. Will I trust. See Ps. 31:6; 55:23. “In God we trust” is the motto minted on coins of the United States of America.

Psalms 91:3

Surely he. Emphatic in the Hebrew. Snare. See Ps. 124:7. Satan sets many snares for the children of God. Noisome pestilence. Literally, “plague of destructions.” In the time of trouble “the people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation, and suffer for want of food, they will not be left to perish” (GC 629).

Psalms 91:4

Shield. Heb. sinnah (see on Ps. 5:12).

Psalms 91:6

Pestilence. Heb. deber, “plague,” personified as walking abroad in the dark of the night, when its movements cannot be detected.

Destruction. Heb. qeteb, possibly the name of some disease. Protecting men from such evils is the work of the angels (DA 348; AA 153).

Psalms 91:7

A thousand … ten thousand. Poetic use of large round numbers for rhetorical effect. The Hebrew word translated “ten thousand” sometimes signifies merely an unspecified large number. In Ugaritic (see p. 618) this word is also often used in parallel constructions with “thousand,” and simply denotes large numbers. No calculation should be made from such figurative use of numbers. Nigh thee. Whatever danger there may be, it will not touch the one whose confidence is in God. Under the protection of God, he is safe. This is the conviction that gives a man the steady eye of faith in his hour of supreme danger.

Psalms 91:8

With thine eyes. You will see the punishment of the wicked, but experience no part in it (see Ps. 37:34). The Israelites had looked on as the Egyptians perished in the Red Sea (see Ex. 14:31); in the land of Goshen they had watched the calamities that fell upon the Egyptians.

Psalms 91:9

Most High. See on v. 1. Habitation. See on Ps. 90:1.

Psalms 91:11

Angels. See Ps. 34:7; Gen. 24:7, 40; cf. Heb. 1:14. God’s faithful children are under the constant care of the angels (see DA 240; GC 512, 513; MH 105; 6T 366, 367). In all thy ways. Compare Satan’s use of this scripture in the wilderness temptation of Christ (Matt. 4:6; Luke 4:10, 11).

Psalms 91:12

Bear thee. Compare Prov. 3:23, 24.

Psalms 91:13

Lion. Figurative for a violent foe. Adder. Heb. pethen, a species of poisonous snake (see Deut. 32:33; Job 20:14, 16; Isa. 11:8 for other occurrences of pethen). Dragon. See on Ps. 74:13. The word probably denotes a sea monster. He who trusts God is safe in the midst of the most fearful dangers, as if he were walking unharmed amid venomous serpents.

Psalms 91:14

Set his love. By an abrupt and dramatic change, God becomes the Speaker; as if it were not enough for His children to encourage one another (as in vs. 1–13), God now speaks in His own Person and stamps on the psalm the seal of His own promise (see Ps. 50:15, 23). Will I deliver him. God’s ratification of the profession of His servants as expressed in vs. 3, 7, 10–13. Name. See on Ps. 5:11; 7:17. Knowing God’s name implies faith and trust in Him.

Psalms 91:15

I will answer. Compare Isa. 65:24. In trouble. See Ps. 46:1; cf. Deut. 4:7; Isa. 43:2.

Psalms 91:16

Will I satisfy him. The ultimate satisfaction that God promises will be life in His presence (see Ps. 17:15). Nothing less than this can satisfy the human heart. My salvation. True religion blesses a man in this life and in the life to come (see 1 Tim. 4:8). In view of the eternal satisfaction that God promises, how can we spend our energies for merely transient, petty earthly gains and hardly move a finger to secure the fulfillment of the promises?