Prayer · Psalm|Schutz · AT

Psalm 91 (Under God's Protection)

Original Prayer

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shadow of the Almighty

will say to the LORD: My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

Surely he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;

he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You shall not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place, the Most High, who is my refuge,

no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent;

for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Context (Old Covenant)

Psalm from the Old Testament, an expression of faith under the Old Covenant.

What it teaches

Refuge and trust; God's faithfulness; encouragement in threat.

Realization in the New Covenant

Psalm 91 is a trust psalm from the Old Covenant. In the New Covenant, this goes even further:

  • Identity: You are a child of God, a new creation (Joh 1:12; 2Cor 5:17)
  • Authority: You have authority in Jesus' name (Lk 10:19; Mt 28:18-20)
  • God's protection is not a formula to "activate." It is relationship and trust.
  • "Nothing can separate us from God's love" (Rom 8:38-39), that is the New Covenant version of Psalm 91
  • God no longer dwells in a temple, he dwells in you (1Cor 3:16)

Prayer in the New Covenant

Father, thank you that I am secure in Christ. You are my refuge, not as a formula, but as reality. I receive courage and clear steps today. Nothing separates me from your love. I stand in the authority Jesus gave me. Amen.
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