Psalms 91:9-16

9 Because you have said, I am in the hands of the Lord, the Most High is my safe resting-place;

10 No evil will come on you, and no disease will come near your tent.

11 For he will give you into the care of his angels to keep you wherever you go.

12 In their hands they will keep you up, so that your foot may not be crushed against a stone.

13 You will put your foot on the lion and the snake; the young lion and the great snake will be crushed under your feet.

14 Because he has given me his love, I will take him out of danger: I will put him in a place of honour, because he has kept my name in his heart.

15 When his cry comes up to me, I will give him an answer: I will be with him in trouble; I will make him free from danger and give him honour.

16 With long life will he be rewarded; and I will let him see my salvation.

Psalms 91:9-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 91

Jarchi and others think this psalm was written by Moses {m}, as was the preceding; but the Targum ascribes it to David; as do the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions; and very probably, as is generally thought, was penned by him on occasion of the pestilence which came upon the people, through his numbering of them, 2Sa 24:1. The person all along spoken of, and to, according to the Targum, is Solomon his son; and, according to the title in the Syriac version, King Hezekiah, so Theodoret, who is called the son of David; neither of which are probable. Some think the Messiah is meant; and that the psalm contains promises of protection and safety to him, as man, from diseases, beasts of prey, evil spirits, and wicked men, under the care of angels; and this not because that Satan has applied one of these promises to him, Mt 4:6, but because they seem better to agree with him than with any other: and one part of the title of the psalm, in the Syriac version, runs thus,

``and spiritually it is called the victory of the Messiah, and of everyone that is perfected by him.''

It seems best to understand it of every godly man, who is always safe under the divine protection. The Talmudisis {n} call it Myegp ryv, "a song of the occursions", or "meetings with evil spirits."