January 4
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PSALM 91-THE GOD WHO IS MY REFUGE AND FORTRESS
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
–Psalm 91:1-6
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In this psalm, the writer uses three titles of God namely in the first 2 verses:
• Most High (Elyon)- it means that no idol, god, or created being may be worshipped or exalted about the LORD because He is superior in every way.
• Almighty (El Shaddai)- conveys the idea God is an all-powerful being, able to control everything in the universe at all times.
• The Lord (Yahweh)- Yahweh is derived from the Hebrew word for “I AM,” it is the proper name of the divine person, coming from the verb which means to “exist,”
The psalmist introduces these titles in order to give reverence to the God whom he trusts and whom he considers his refuge and fortress.
According to Derek Kidner, the author of this psalm is unknown, but because it shares some of the themes of Psalm 90, some think the author is Moses. Some think it is David because it shares some common theme with Psalms 27 and 31. Whoever wrote this psalm have the same reverence as Moses and David have especially when addressing their Lord God.
Verses 1-6 enumerates promises of God to those who will abide in Him. In verse 1, we see the result of taking refuge in Him, we become very close to him, as if we are under his own shadow. You need to be close to someone for your shadows to intertwine and become one. Verse 2, gives us a picture of a fort that protects us from all harm and danger. Verse 3 promises deliverance or release from the tactics of the enemy and anything that will bring harm or death. Verse 4 describes how he protects us. Verse 5 promises strength and courage and verse 6 of his constant guidance and light. What rich psalm this is to remind us who we serve and how powerful he is to take care of us and to ensure we are protected.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to know God’s names and his promises?