‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord : He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”’ Psalms 91:1-16(NLT)
The passage from which we will draw strength and assurance today is a jewel of the Scriptures. This psalm is one of the most famous ones of the Bible; most people know some of its verses by heart. In it, we can find powerful and vivid descriptions that will help us to understand the same concept or idea through different images, metaphors, and comparisons.
It is important to remember that the Psalms are songs and poems written to be memorized or sung. For this reason, we will find that many words are repeated. Repetition in Jewish poetry had the goal of allowing the listener to remember and better understand the verses. In our case, this repetition helps us to be continually reminded of God’s love, mercy, faithfulness, and power.
We often tend to focus on our own thoughts, and the psalmists are skillful in describing how they felt and how they chose to confront that feeling with the truth about God and his character. We are encouraged to put our trust and faith in the Lord Almighty, and to praise him for who he is and for what he would do for us.
Psalm 91 is the perfect depiction of security. The psalmist conveys the idea of feeling secure under the wings and the shadow of an All-Powerful God, the God Most High. Imagining this picture immediately makes you feel protected and untouchable. Instead of visualizing your worst nightmares and fears, visualize being under the wings of the Most High, or in a fortress—a safe place—who could ever harm you?
The psalmist’s advice is to “Run to him for safety, and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home” (verse 10 CEV). Why? Because God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will carry you in their arms. How reassuring it is to know that God’s angels are always by our side, protecting us from all evil.
At the end of the psalm, there is a condition. God promises safety, protection, honor, a long-life, and his saving power if we love him and truly know him. It is our relationship and fellowship with him which will bring all these blessings into being. It is our faith in him and in his person, the knowledge of his grandeur, which will free us from evil. All we have to do is call out to him; he promised that he would answer and be there to protect us.
from [The Lord Keeps You Safe Series] God Hears Your Cries