Psalm 91 Analysis
Psalm
Ashleigh Holloway
Colorado Christian University
Psalm 91
What is the Historical Context for the Psalm?
This Psalm is without a title, and we have no way of learning either the name of its writer, or the date of its composition, with certainty. When the author 's name is not mentioned we may assign the Psalm to the last named writer and, if so, this is another Psalm of Moses, the man of God. Many expressions here used are similar to those of Moses in Deuteronomy, and the internal evidence, from the unusual idioms, would point towards him as the composer. This is by far the most cheerful Psalm throughout the entire collection. No doubt Psalm 91 was originally a psalm prescribed for public worship. It has been attributed to Moses …show more content…
more often than to any of the other Old Testament writers. It could easily have been a psalm which was sung in the wilderness and may have been used by the Levites in their worship. There are five divisions to be noted in this psalm, each of which speaks of aspects of our walk with God.
Verses 1 and 2 speak of a personal position with God. In them the use of the first person gives a statement of trust. The condition of these verses must be met so that the promises that follow will be ours. Verses 3 and 4 are the response from a second person concerning deliverance and refuge. In verses 5 through 8, the promises of personal protection from the Lord are described fully and completely. Verses 9 through 13 are another response from the second person affirming the immunity that God gives us from plagues and disasters in the world. Verses 14 through 16 come from one speaking as the mouthpiece of God, possibly a priest or a high priest. Here the promises of God are given to the man who thoroughly trusts in Him with all his heart and who positions his life in God.
When Isaiah prophesied about all the things that were going to take place in the earth and spoke of the troubles and the storms that would be brewing, he said, and a man shall be as a hiding-place.… Isaiah 32:2, ASV. We do not need a cave or a bomb shelter; what we need is the Man Christ Jesus. The Lord, our precious Savior, is to be our hiding place. We learn to find Him as our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust. (Stevens, 2010-2014)
To be effective in God, we must learn to develop an awareness of His presence and His protection. Too many things distress us. Verses 3 and 4 speak of the protection that will come as we learn to do this. For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge. (Psalm 91) In symbolic language this speaks of a bird that flies to another bird for protection from the snare of the one who sets traps to catch little birds in his nets. We can go deeper and deeper into God’s presence until we find refuge. We fly under the wings of God to find protection and help in the time of need. We do not have peace if we are forever fearing an assault by the enemy. We do not have peace if we think that everything will go wrong. We have peace as we learn to come into His very presence and abide there in that secret place.
In Psalm 91:5–8 we find more of the wonderful personal protections that are ours: You will not be afraid of the terror by night. When children are fearful, instead of pointing to external causes which seem to trigger the fear, parents should look inside their own hearts. Where fear dominates, parents may be exposing the child or the home to too many fears by their own unbelief. Things of spirit are highly contagious. Learn to trust God! Learn to sing the praises of the Lord! Learn to say and believe, you will not be afraid of the terror by night.
Verses 9 and 10 continue the thought of the immunity against all the devastating things that could happen to us: For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you. (Psalm 91) This verse does not say that accidents cannot happen or that difficult circumstances will not come against us. As we trust God with all our hearts, the sovereign hand of God filters every circumstance and happening in our lives. Even in the things that Satan could use to destroy us, God’s hand is evident, and no evil will befall us.
Live courageously, without fear. Think of men like David who had faith to live, not recklessly, but with courage. David loved and trusted God and knew the significance of his destiny. He knew that God had raised him up to be a part of the history of Israel. He did not worry about protecting himself. He had the faith and the courage to face everything that came to him since he trusted in God and had learned to practice the presence of the Lord.
We belong to God. We have a destiny in God to fulfill. Yet at times we retreat, fearful of getting into the battle or committing ourselves wholly to the protection and immunity that God can give. We are afraid of what might happen. If we learn to trust God with all our hearts, we will still have difficulties; but we should battle through to the perfect will of God, rather than sit back in fear. Those who never make mistakes or stumble are those who are too fearful to try anything.
God gives a great deal of protection to the person who has courage to try. Position yourself on the front lines; the wounds are not deadly. Learn to practice the presence of the Lord. Learn to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. There you will find the protection of His wings. You will not be defeated or destroyed. You will come through to what God really has for your life. Let us practice God’s presence. As we all become more and more aware of His abiding presence, we can draw upon it and bring immunity and protection and the fulfillment of the promise of every good thing that we desire. (Stevens, 2010-2014)
What are the Major Literary Features and Technical Elements of the Psalm?
Merism
This is a listing of opposite parts to signify a whole or a totality. For example, the division of “night/day” and “darkness/noonday” in the Psalm below means “all the time.”
Psalm 91:5-6, "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday." (Carmichael, 2014)
The Bible contains many types of figurative language, whether in poetry or prose, gospel or epistle.
Why does God use such literary devices to communicate His word to us? These devices are a part of language. God created language, and gave us the ability to use language creatively for communication and pleasure. So naturally He would reveal Himself to us using the language ability and creativity that He endowed us with. And like other great works of literature, the Bible contains many types of figurative language. Sometimes the meaning is very clear, but also difficulties arise in understanding the precise meaning of certain passages. This is due to the differences in time and culture since the writing of the Bible, and because we aren 't used to some the types of literature and literary devices in the Bible. When we run into literary devices in a passage, it is sometimes helpful to consider the specific reason that the writer chose to use a particular means of expression, in order to understand the passage more …show more content…
deeply.
Verse 4 describes God protecting us under His wings, in the same way that a hen would protect her chicks under her wings. Obviously this hen image doesn 't mean God is a big bird. Instead, it communicates important truths about God. It presents an image that is real to us, rather than an abstract set of theological concepts. It teaches about God 's love, compassion, comfort, and protection to us. It does so in a way that is more concrete and easier to remember. It engages us not only spiritually, but emotionally and intellectually as well. So it is no surprise that the Bible contains much beautiful language that is not only pleasing, but communicates to our entire being spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally.
Are there any Contemporary Expressions and/or Uses for the Psalm?
I am finding it extremely hard to compare this Psalm to contemporary anything. Yes, this can be related to current life experience, but I may have explained them in earlier pages. I found this written by somebody who finds great meaning in the Psalm.
Throughout the ages, God 's faithful have wrapped themselves in the safety and protection of Psalm 91. Because of the miracles that have occurred in the lives of those who have stood on the words of this psalm, Psalm 91 has become known as the Protection and Shield Psalm. Just as rainbows are known as symbols of God 's promises to us, the words of Psalm 91 convey a covenant or spiritual contract energy. Psalm 91 is a covenant which promises "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my
God; in him will I trust." Cheryl Kirsch and Jayne Howard Feldman have answered God 's calling as Psalm 91 Angels.
It is their mission and ministry to lovingly wrap the world in the protection and blessing energies of Psalm 91. Cheryl and Jayne have created this website to spread the word that God has given us infinite gifts to enrich our spiritual lives; one of which is Psalm 91. Psalm 91 is a prayer of protection for you and your family. It is a wonderful spiritual tool to enhance your relationship with God. Read Psalm 91 daily for its words will fortify you and help you face life’s up and downs. In the midst of uncertainty in your life, be certain of God 's presence and protection. Meditate daily on God 's love conveyed through the words of Psalm 91. Memorize Psalm 91 so that you are able to recite it in times of trouble. When the going gets tough, go to the Bible and read Psalm 91. Believe in the power and miracle-working energies of Psalm 91. It is one of the most powerful psalms ever written. Every word is filled with the presence of God enveloping you in God 's love and protection energies. (Cheryl Kirsch, n.d.)
These women have taken this Psalm and turned it into modern inspiration. They reach out to people going through hard times and present motivation speeches. I am glad to know that there are people such as this out there who are willing to take the bible and turn it into inspiration and healing for many
people.
References
Carmichael, A. (2014). What kinds of literary techniques are used in the Bible? Retrieved from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: http://carm.org/bible-literary-techniques
Cheryl Kirsch, J. F. (n.d.). Psalm 91 Angels. Retrieved from http://psalm91angels.com/index.html
Psalm 91. (n.d.). In The Holy Bible.
Stevens, J. R. (2010-2014). The Man Who Thoroughly Trusts God—Psalm 91. Retrieved from Teachings of John Robert Stevens: http://www.johnrobertstevens.com/teachings/the-man-who-thoroughly-trusts-god-psalm-91/
Ashleigh Holloway
Colorado Christian University
Psalm 91
What is the Historical Context for the Psalm?
This Psalm is without a title, and we have no way of learning either the name of its writer, or the date of its composition, with certainty. When the author 's name is not mentioned we may assign the Psalm to the last named writer and, if so, this is another Psalm of Moses, the man of God. Many expressions here used are similar to those of Moses in Deuteronomy, and the internal evidence, from the unusual idioms, would point towards him as the composer. This is by far the most cheerful Psalm throughout the entire collection. No doubt Psalm 91 was originally a psalm prescribed for public worship. It has been attributed to Moses …show more content…
more often than to any of the other Old Testament writers. It could easily have been a psalm which was sung in the wilderness and may have been used by the Levites in their worship. There are five divisions to be noted in this psalm, each of which speaks of aspects of our walk with God.
Verses 1 and 2 speak of a personal position with God. In them the use of the first person gives a statement of trust. The condition of these verses must be met so that the promises that follow will be ours. Verses 3 and 4 are the response from a second person concerning deliverance and refuge. In verses 5 through 8, the promises of personal protection from the Lord are described fully and completely. Verses 9 through 13 are another response from the second person affirming the immunity that God gives us from plagues and disasters in the world. Verses 14 through 16 come from one speaking as the mouthpiece of God, possibly a priest or a high priest. Here the promises of God are given to the man who thoroughly trusts in Him with all his heart and who positions his life in God.
When Isaiah prophesied about all the things that were going to take place in the earth and spoke of the troubles and the storms that would be brewing, he said, and a man shall be as a hiding-place.… Isaiah 32:2, ASV. We do not need a cave or a bomb shelter; what we need is the Man Christ Jesus. The Lord, our precious Savior, is to be our hiding place. We learn to find Him as our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust. (Stevens, 2010-2014)
To be effective in God, we must learn to develop an awareness of His presence and His protection. Too many things distress us. Verses 3 and 4 speak of the protection that will come as we learn to do this. For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge. (Psalm 91) In symbolic language this speaks of a bird that flies to another bird for protection from the snare of the one who sets traps to catch little birds in his nets. We can go deeper and deeper into God’s presence until we find refuge. We fly under the wings of God to find protection and help in the time of need. We do not have peace if we are forever fearing an assault by the enemy. We do not have peace if we think that everything will go wrong. We have peace as we learn to come into His very presence and abide there in that secret place.
In Psalm 91:5–8 we find more of the wonderful personal protections that are ours: You will not be afraid of the terror by night. When children are fearful, instead of pointing to external causes which seem to trigger the fear, parents should look inside their own hearts. Where fear dominates, parents may be exposing the child or the home to too many fears by their own unbelief. Things of spirit are highly contagious. Learn to trust God! Learn to sing the praises of the Lord! Learn to say and believe, you will not be afraid of the terror by night.
Verses 9 and 10 continue the thought of the immunity against all the devastating things that could happen to us: For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you. (Psalm 91) This verse does not say that accidents cannot happen or that difficult circumstances will not come against us. As we trust God with all our hearts, the sovereign hand of God filters every circumstance and happening in our lives. Even in the things that Satan could use to destroy us, God’s hand is evident, and no evil will befall us.
Live courageously, without fear. Think of men like David who had faith to live, not recklessly, but with courage. David loved and trusted God and knew the significance of his destiny. He knew that God had raised him up to be a part of the history of Israel. He did not worry about protecting himself. He had the faith and the courage to face everything that came to him since he trusted in God and had learned to practice the presence of the Lord.
We belong to God. We have a destiny in God to fulfill. Yet at times we retreat, fearful of getting into the battle or committing ourselves wholly to the protection and immunity that God can give. We are afraid of what might happen. If we learn to trust God with all our hearts, we will still have difficulties; but we should battle through to the perfect will of God, rather than sit back in fear. Those who never make mistakes or stumble are those who are too fearful to try anything.
God gives a great deal of protection to the person who has courage to try. Position yourself on the front lines; the wounds are not deadly. Learn to practice the presence of the Lord. Learn to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. There you will find the protection of His wings. You will not be defeated or destroyed. You will come through to what God really has for your life. Let us practice God’s presence. As we all become more and more aware of His abiding presence, we can draw upon it and bring immunity and protection and the fulfillment of the promise of every good thing that we desire. (Stevens, 2010-2014)
What are the Major Literary Features and Technical Elements of the Psalm?
Merism
This is a listing of opposite parts to signify a whole or a totality. For example, the division of “night/day” and “darkness/noonday” in the Psalm below means “all the time.”
Psalm 91:5-6, "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday." (Carmichael, 2014)
The Bible contains many types of figurative language, whether in poetry or prose, gospel or epistle.
Why does God use such literary devices to communicate His word to us? These devices are a part of language. God created language, and gave us the ability to use language creatively for communication and pleasure. So naturally He would reveal Himself to us using the language ability and creativity that He endowed us with. And like other great works of literature, the Bible contains many types of figurative language. Sometimes the meaning is very clear, but also difficulties arise in understanding the precise meaning of certain passages. This is due to the differences in time and culture since the writing of the Bible, and because we aren 't used to some the types of literature and literary devices in the Bible. When we run into literary devices in a passage, it is sometimes helpful to consider the specific reason that the writer chose to use a particular means of expression, in order to understand the passage more …show more content…
deeply.
Verse 4 describes God protecting us under His wings, in the same way that a hen would protect her chicks under her wings. Obviously this hen image doesn 't mean God is a big bird. Instead, it communicates important truths about God. It presents an image that is real to us, rather than an abstract set of theological concepts. It teaches about God 's love, compassion, comfort, and protection to us. It does so in a way that is more concrete and easier to remember. It engages us not only spiritually, but emotionally and intellectually as well. So it is no surprise that the Bible contains much beautiful language that is not only pleasing, but communicates to our entire being spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally.
Are there any Contemporary Expressions and/or Uses for the Psalm?
I am finding it extremely hard to compare this Psalm to contemporary anything. Yes, this can be related to current life experience, but I may have explained them in earlier pages. I found this written by somebody who finds great meaning in the Psalm.
Throughout the ages, God 's faithful have wrapped themselves in the safety and protection of Psalm 91. Because of the miracles that have occurred in the lives of those who have stood on the words of this psalm, Psalm 91 has become known as the Protection and Shield Psalm. Just as rainbows are known as symbols of God 's promises to us, the words of Psalm 91 convey a covenant or spiritual contract energy. Psalm 91 is a covenant which promises "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my
God; in him will I trust." Cheryl Kirsch and Jayne Howard Feldman have answered God 's calling as Psalm 91 Angels.
It is their mission and ministry to lovingly wrap the world in the protection and blessing energies of Psalm 91. Cheryl and Jayne have created this website to spread the word that God has given us infinite gifts to enrich our spiritual lives; one of which is Psalm 91. Psalm 91 is a prayer of protection for you and your family. It is a wonderful spiritual tool to enhance your relationship with God. Read Psalm 91 daily for its words will fortify you and help you face life’s up and downs. In the midst of uncertainty in your life, be certain of God 's presence and protection. Meditate daily on God 's love conveyed through the words of Psalm 91. Memorize Psalm 91 so that you are able to recite it in times of trouble. When the going gets tough, go to the Bible and read Psalm 91. Believe in the power and miracle-working energies of Psalm 91. It is one of the most powerful psalms ever written. Every word is filled with the presence of God enveloping you in God 's love and protection energies. (Cheryl Kirsch, n.d.)
These women have taken this Psalm and turned it into modern inspiration. They reach out to people going through hard times and present motivation speeches. I am glad to know that there are people such as this out there who are willing to take the bible and turn it into inspiration and healing for many
people.
References
Carmichael, A. (2014). What kinds of literary techniques are used in the Bible? Retrieved from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: http://carm.org/bible-literary-techniques
Cheryl Kirsch, J. F. (n.d.). Psalm 91 Angels. Retrieved from http://psalm91angels.com/index.html
Psalm 91. (n.d.). In The Holy Bible.
Stevens, J. R. (2010-2014). The Man Who Thoroughly Trusts God—Psalm 91. Retrieved from Teachings of John Robert Stevens: http://www.johnrobertstevens.com/teachings/the-man-who-thoroughly-trusts-god-psalm-91/