Introduction to Psalm 91
Psalm 91 is not for everyone. It is not a catch-all promise. It is a covenant promise—for the one who “dwelleth in the secret place of the most High.”
In a world gripped by fear, anxiety, and spiritual warfare, this chapter promises divine protection, power, and peace to those who make God their habitation. And that’s what I want you to do.
The key word here is abide. This word means to live, continue, or dwell in a constant, ongoing relationship with someone. Are you visiting God occasionally, or do you dwell in His presence? We need to be living in His presence all throughout the days of our life. Don’t go away from Him.
Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Let’s walk through this mighty fortress of Scripture, one verse at a time. And I want you to understand the Scriptures are a might fortress for you. If you come here, listen, and learn the Bible, your faith will grow. And you will have God’s protection in your life.
I want to go over this chapter in four sections: 1) The Position, 2) The Protection, 3) The Power, and 4) The Promise.
I. THE POSITION: Where You Live Matters (vv. 1–2)
Psalm 91:1-2
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
- “Dwell” = to live there, not visit occasionally. YOU LIVE WITH THE MOST HIGH.
- The “secret place” is spiritual intimacy—found in prayer, purity, and devotion to God.
- “Shadow of the Almighty” shows proximity. You have to be close to cast a shadow.
- The speaker declares trust in the Lord as his God, not just a God, HIS GOD.
Application: You can’t claim these promises if you’re not living in the presence of the One who made them. Are you dwelling in God, or in the world, in fear, and in sin? Hey, stick around here more. Get to church more. You’ll have more peace, joy, and love within your life.
This is Point 1: the Position. Where you live matters. Live with God each day, all day long.
II. THE PROTECTION: What God Delivers Us From (vv. 3–8)
This is Point 2: the Protection. This is the protection you get from God when you abide with him each day. Please hear this today. Focus in on the word of God. Every word of God is true.
Psalm 91:3-5
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psalm 91:6-8
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
- “Snare of the fowler” = traps of the enemy (Satan, false doctrine, temptation).
- “Noisome pestilence” = deadly disease—God can preserve His saints even in plagues.
- Imagery of wings = both protection and comfort (like a mother bird).
- “His truth” (God’s Word) = your real shield, not emotion or positive thinking.
- Destruction comes. Tens of thousands fall but it doesn’t touch you.
- The wicked will fall, and you will see this with your own eyes. You are still standing.
Don’t you want this protection from the Lord God Almighty? I sure do. We need to abide with him. We need to love him. Love his words. Love coming to church to hear the preaching of God’s words. If you come, and you don’t hear, and you don’t listen, and you don’t abide with God, the protection won’t be there.
Application: God doesn’t promise that we won’t have any troubles—He promises you’ll stand while others fall. This is spiritual and physical preservation that only God can give. If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, you’re safe forever. But, this also applies to physical salvation too. God can and will save you from many things in this life.
We’ve seen the first point: Position. Abide with God. The second point: Protection. God saves you from destruction. And now let’s see the third point within Psalm 91.
III. THE POWER: Authority Given to the Believer (vv. 9–13)
Point 3 is the Power. This is the power of God given to the believer who is following him. We don’t follow Jesus to be saved. We simply believe in him to be saved. After we’re saved, we follow Jesus by walking in the Spirit of God. And that’s how we abide with God.
Psalm 91:9-10
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
- Conditional power: “Because thou hast made the Lord thy habitation.” We actually live with the Lord always. That’s what we want to do.
- Don’t let Satan twist this chapter like he did in Matthew 4. The power is real but rooted in obedience. Again, the power of God you receive is rooted in obedience to God.
Psalm 91:11-13
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
- Supernatural strength and victory over Satanic power (lion, serpent, dragon). Those are very fearful things.
- We don’t receive this protection and power because of who we are, but because of who we’re abiding in. All of this comes from God when we honor and obey God.
Application: Walk in boldness. Not arrogance, but the confidence that comes from dwelling in God’s authority.
Character Insight or Contrast
- Daniel lived Psalm 91. He prayed daily (secret place), was delivered from lions (literal and spiritual), and stood while others bowed.
- Saul, on the other hand, ignored God’s presence and fell to fear, envy, and death. One abided, the other abandoned.
Point 1 is the Position. We are to abide or live with God in all things. Stick to his words. Point 2 is the Protection. When we abide with God, he protects us through his power. Point 3 is the Power. God has supernatural strength beyond anything we know. He can protect us from anything.
IV. THE PROMISE: God’s Personal Pledge (vv. 14–16)
The position, the protection, the power, and now the promise. Let’s go to the promises that God makes us if we abide with him. Point 4 is the Promise.
Psalm 91:14-16
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
- God Himself speaks in the first person: “I will.” He says, “I will set him on high. I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him. I will honor him. I will satisfy him with long life. I will show him my salvation.”
- All these promises are for those who:
- Set their love upon God.
- Know His name
- Call on Him
Application: If you want these blessings, your heart must be fixed on Him. He doesn’t bless the double-minded. You must be saved and walking in the Spirit of God. Set your love UPON God. Come to church with that great desire to learn the Scriptures. You get to know God by learning his words.
Gospel Connection
Look closely at verse 15 there: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him.” At the end of verse 16, you see: “And shew him my salvation.”
We know that calling upon the Lord equals salvation. When you believe, trust, or put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, you are calling upon Jesus Christ to be saved.
Romans 10:13-14
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
So remember, God doesn’t answer everyone in their calls for spiritual salvation or physical salvation. Proverbs 1, the second half of the chapter, proves this. But notice that God is saving here in Psalm 91 because the person has set their love upon God.
The ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 91 is in the Gospel. The “secret place” is in Jesus. The blood is the covering. The shield is truth. God didn’t just promise to protect you—He sent His Son to save you. When someone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are setting their love upon Jesus. They are believing in what he did for them.
Prophecy / Doctrinal Link – Psalm 91 Is About Jesus
Now, you need to know the entire Bible is about Jesus and Psalm 91 is no different.
Psalm 91 is not just a comfort psalm—it’s Messianic prophecy. This chapter was directly applied to Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:6, when Satan quoted it during the temptation in the wilderness:
Matthew 4:6
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Satan was quoting Psalm 91:11–12, attempting to provoke Jesus to test the Father’s protection.
Psalm 91:11-12
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
This shows us clearly: Psalm 91 is about Jesus. And we are to be like Jesus and follow Him.
But Satan left out one key phrase: “in all thy ways.” The promise applies when you’re walking in the will of God—not when you’re tempting God. It’s sin to tempt God and you aren’t abiding with God by sinning against him. Satan is very tricky. Our ways need to match God’s ways.
Psalm 91:13
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
That’s Jesus destroying Satan (the serpent, the lion, the dragon):
- Genesis 3:15 — the seed of the woman crushing the serpent’s head. That’s Jesus.
- 1 Peter 5:8 — Satan as a roaring lion.
- Revelation 12:9 — that old serpent, the dragon, called the Devil.
And look at verses 14–16:
Psalm 91:14-16
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
That’s the Father speaking of the Son. Jesus set His love on the Father. He knew His name.
He fulfilled all righteousness. And He was delivered, raised, glorified, and satisfied eternally. This entire chapter is the life, death, resurrection, and reign of Jesus in shadow form. God delivered Jesus Christ from death and hell. God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus himself raised Jesus from the dead – from death and hell.
But this chapter also speaks to you and I.
Final Truths from Psalm 91
- You must abide to receive the covering.
- The truth of God is your protection.
- You are not promised escape from trouble, but victory in the middle of that trouble.
- This Psalm, Psalm 91, is a sword against fear, doubt, and spiritual enemies.
- Jesus is the fulfillment and keeper of these promises.
Call to Action
Where do you dwell? Are you living in the world and falling for all the deception?
Whose shadow are you under? This world offers panic, but God offers protection. Get under the wings of God and get that protection. Stay close to God.
Make the Lord your habitation. Don’t just visit Him every once in a while—live in Him. Don’t just visit church here to get closer to God. Stay with him as you come and go.
Get into the secret place and stay there. That’s where the shadow of the Almighty falls.
Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Today, here, right now, this is our closet of prayer. This is our secret place right here and right now. This church is the pillar and ground of the truth. Let’s take everything seriously within the Bible and make the changes we need to make. Let’s pray.
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