The 91st Psalm is a long-standing favorite of many people. The opening verse, talking about abiding under the shadow of God Himself, provides a wonderfully attractive picture of the ultimate security, there with God. Although this Psalm is adored by many, it is, in many ways, an enigma, because few take the time to study it thoroughly.
This Psalm, and the one which precedes it, were actually written to go together. Although we don’t read them that way, in the Body of Christ, the Jewish people, who they were written for, often do, taking them as two parts of a whole. Along with their understanding of the historic context of these two Psalms, this changes their understanding and appreciation of it.
These Psalms were not written by King David, although half of the Psalms we have in our Bibles are attributed to him. They were actually written by Moses, although many people only see him as the author of the 90th Psalm. That contradicts Jewish traditions, which attributes Psalms 90 through 100 to Moses. Interestingly enough, those who say that Moses didn’t write Psalms 91 through 100 don’t generally have an answer as to who did write them, although some sources attribute them to David. A true understanding of the Psalm makes Moses the logical author.
The Story of Psalm 90
Both of these Psalms start out by talking about the Lord as our dwelling place, providing an instant connection between them. But the circumstance of these two Psalms and their message are quite different. Psalm 90 was most likely written just after Israel defeated the Amalekites, with Joshua leading the army of Israel. This was the famous time when Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands through the battle, for they had noticed when Moses held up his hands, Joshua and the army prevailed. But when Moses’ hands became heavy and fell, the Amalekites prevailed. It was through the efforts of Aaron and Hur, supporting Moses, while he supported the army, that Israel gained a great victory.
So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. – Exodus 17:10-12
After the battle was won, God directed Moses to write down what had happened, which he did. Moses also built an altar there, calling it, “The Lord is My Banner” or “Jehovah Nissi.” As banners are associated with armies and warfare, this name gives praise to God as a God of war, that He is the banner over the army of His people. When they go to war under that banner, they prevail.
But to go to war under the banner of Jehovah Nissi, the battle must be one that has been sanctioned by God Himself. We cannot just choose our own wars and expect Him to bless them. Rather, just like the nation of Israel, we are used by God as an instrument of His justice. That was always the purpose of any battle that He commanded the nation of Israel to fight.
This Psalm is a prayer, as some Psalms, more than a song. While it may have been sung by Moses, it was not intended to be either praise or worship. Rather, it was intended to be a cry of his heart, recognizing who God is. The big message of this Psalm is that our meaning in life doesn’t come from who we are; nor does it come from our own accomplishments. Rather, true meaning comes from who He is in our lives, and what He enables us to do. Through His mercy, we are able to accomplish worthwhile things; whereas on our own, our lives are essentially meaningless times of suffering.
This prayer was written long before the building of the Tabernacle, while the people of Israel were wandering in the wilderness. It was a critical time for Israel and a critical time for their trust in Jehovah God. They had just crossed the Red Sea and entered into the desert. Chapter 17 starts with God supplying water for them from the rock. But as often happens after God brings a blessing, Satan comes to bring problems in our lives, attempting to steal the blessing. In this case, Satan worked through the king of Amalek, bringing the first attack against Israel, in their wandering.
In a very real sense, their winning of this battle was miraculous and not only because of the scene described above, where Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands. The Israelites in the desert had all grown up in slavery in Egypt. They were not men of war and quite possibly didn’t even have swords to fight with. Their only previous battle wasn’t a battle at all, but rather as demonstration that God was their protector. He parted the waters of the Red Sea for them, and then had those same waters fall on the Egyptian army, killing them as they pursued after Israel. So, this battle was the first fought with their hands, although it was won by God’s mighty hand.
The Story of Psalm 91
The circumstances surrounding the writing of Psalm 91 are totally different from those that brought about Psalm 90. In a sense, they form bookends for a significant time in the history of Israel. As we just discussed, Psalm 90 was written just after their first military battle and victory, while traveling in the wilderness; but Psalm 91 was written by Moses just after building the Tabernacle. The people of Israel were still in the wilderness, but now they had the Tabernacle to house the presence of God. This brought them together as a people, with a clear definition of what God they served.
I can only imagine what Moses might have felt, finally completing the Tabernacle. God had given him very specific instructions as to what to build and how to build it. Those instructions were followed to the letter, producing something that must have truly been awe-inspiring. The gold and silver alone used in the making of the Tabernacle weighed close to a ton and was worth over $60 million in today’s dollars, let alone the other materials and the craftsmanship that went into building it all.
But the financial value of the Tabernacle wasn’t its true value. Back in those times, an expensive temple was seen by people as being evidence of a mighty god, with the most powerful gods having the most elaborate and expensive temples. So, to the various people groups living in Canaan, that was certainly very impressive. But to Moses, there was something more important about that tabernacle; that was the presence of Jehovah.
Chapter 40 of Exodus both explains the instructions that God gave Moses in erecting the Tabernacle and provides evidence that he followed those instructions. The Tabernacle was erected in the midst of the Israeli camp and the furnishings placed inside. Moses himself lit the candle stand, placed the shewbread on the table constructed for it and burned incense on the altar. And God’s presence came to rest in that place.
And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. 34 then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. – Exodus 40:33-34
The cloud being mentioned here is the same cloud that had been with Israel ever since they had fled captivity in Egypt.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. – Exodus 13:21-22
Some believers have made reference to this cloud as the “glory cloud” or the “shekinah glory cloud.” I beg to differ. While this pillar of cloud did represent God’s glory, it was not the glory itself. Rather, the glory, which is the presence of God, was in the fire that was within the cloud. There are many places in the Bible, especially in prophecy, where we see God represented by fire; but also in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2). Even in the book of Revelations, the face of Jesus is represented by fire (Revelations 2:18). During the day, all they saw was the cloud; but at night, when the sun had gone down, the cloud would glow from the fire within, making it appear like a pillar of fire.
This was a glorious moment in the history of Israel and a glorious one for Moses himself. Ever since the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17), Moses had dedicated his life to bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt and uniting them together with God. While he had reached some measure of success in Exodus, chapter 20, when he received the tablets of the Law from God on Mount Sinai, that work culminated in the edification of the Tabernacle.
But there was more to it, from Moses’ point of view. In his opening statement to the Psalm, where he talks of living under the shadow of the almighty, he was talking about himself and his own experience; for he was the one living in that place. For years, before the construction of the Tabernacle, Moses’ tent was known as “the tent of meeting” (Exodus 33:7), because that was where he would meet with God. We know this, because the pillar of cloud that represented God’s presence and glory would settle at the door of Moses’ tent.
And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle (Moses’ tent), and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle (Moses’ tent) door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. – Exodus 33:9-10
Moses had literally lived under the shadow of God’s presence for years. He is the only one in the entirety of Scripture, besides Adam and Jesus, who is said to have spoken to God the Father, face to face (Exodus 33:11). If there is anyone who understands the reality of living in the secret place of the Most High, it is Moses. Not even the High Priest was blessed with this opportunity.
Once the Tabernacle was completed and erected in the center of the Israeli camp, Moses would pitch his tent alongside it, outside the courtyard of the Tabernacle itself, but within the ring of the Levites and Priests who pitched their tents closest to the Tabernacle. Not even Aaron, Moses’ brother, who was chosen to be the High Priest, was as close to God as Moses was.
The Message of Psalm 91
It is the opening two verses of Psalm 91 that gives its context and which people identify with. In it, Moses describes the benefit of living under the shadow of God’s presence and the protection that comes from being there. But just where is this place?
When we look at the Tabernacle that God directed Moses to build, we find it divided into three distinct areas. There’s the Holy of Holies, which has only the Ark of the Covenant in it; the Holy Place, which has the Altar of Incense, the Table of Shewbread, and the Candle stand in it; and the Courtyard, which housed the Altar of Burnt Offerings (Brazen Altar) and the Brazen Laver). God’s presence was said to sit above the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holy of Holies.
We could spend a considerable amount of time discussing the place of God’s presence, the Holy of Holies; but that’s not the purpose of this study. It is significant that there was no candle stand there, like there was in the Holy Place. The only light that could be found in the Holy of Holies, would have to come from the presence of God Himself. The curtains and the veil were heavy enough that no light could leak through. The other important thing is that nobody went in there, except the High Priest, and that only on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement. The priests went into the Holy Place to do their duties; but the people of Israel were only allowed into the courtyard, and that when they were bringing an offering to God.
Yet this Holy of Holies is the place that Moses made reference to, when he talked about the “secret place of the Most High.” Obviously, He had been there and had an intimate knowledge of what it was like to be in God’s presence. Otherwise, he couldn’t have written these opening verses. If anyone in the history of the Bible understood the presence of God and abiding in it, it would have had to be Moses.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” – Psalms 91:1-2
Two key words in that first verse are “dwells” and “abide.” There’s a huge difference between one who visits the presence of the Lord and one who dwells there or abides there. There is even a difference between dwelling and abiding. Dwelling is to spend time there, waiting to hear from God; but abiding is to make one’s home there. Those who simply visit the place of God’s presence cannot understand the beauty of abiding there.
One of the defining characteristics of revival is people dwelling in God’s presence. They get a taste for that presence and want to stay in it as much as possible. Still, the pressures of life make it difficult to abide in His presence. But it is in His presence where we receive true benefit and where He is able to do the greatest work for us. In a very real sense, the more we can abide in the presence of God, the more that He can do to remake us into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).
In His Presence, there is Protection
Most of the rest of the Psalm is spent talking about the protection that comes from being in God’s presence. Moses had obviously experienced tremendous security while abiding in God’s presence and was expressing that experience in the words that he wrote. He makes a very clear declaration about that in verse 2, saying, “He is my refuge and my fortress.”
Considering that Moses confronted Pharaoh directly, challenging the power and authority of the greatest ruler of his day. That was not something that the supreme ruler of Egypt was likely not accustomed to, as well as something that he would react strongly against. Even so, there is nothing mentioned in the Bible, showing that Pharaoh came against Moses or caused him any harm. As long as Moses did what God told him to and remained in God’s presence, he was protected.
Moses makes it clear that he was protected from all sorts of dangers, whether they be enemies, wild animals or plagues. None are welcome in God’s presence; therefore, being in His presence provides protection from them all.
This Psalm is so famous for its declaration about God’s protection, that even Satan knows of it and has tried to twist it to his benefit. When he tempted Jesus, after Jesus was baptized by John and had fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness, Satan came to tempt Him. The second temptation was quoted from this Psalm:
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over you, and “in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” – Matthew 4:5-6
These words are quoted directly from Psalm 91, verses 11 and 12. But like most things that Satan quotes, it is misquoted. What is there is quoted correctly, but a critical part is left out, changing the meaning of the passage. The first half of verse 5 was told, but the second half, which explains the first half, was left out.
For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. – Psalm 91:11
Not only that, but the previous verses in the Psalm provide much needed context, as they declare under what conditions God will give His angels charge over us.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. – Psalm 91:9-10
So, to receive that protection from God, it is necessary that one make the Lord their refuge and dwelling place. Yet Satan tried to tempt the Son of God to ignore that requirement, as if it didn’t matter. As with all false doctrine, it relies on taking some portion of scripture out of context, trying to get it to stand on its own two feet, while ignoring the larger context of the entirety of the teaching of God in the Bible.
We cannot trust in a teaching or preaching, just because someone backs it up with scripture. We must always check the Bible ourselves, ensuring that they had not taken what they quoted out of context. Many well-meaning preachers have taught falsehood, because of ignoring this cardinal rule of biblical interpretation. Worse, some have actually listened to the devil, not realizing that it was he who was leading them astray.
Again, the key is abiding in God’s presence. As the fourth verse of the Psalm says, “under His wings you shall take refuge.” Just as a hen’s chicks hide under her wings, we are to hide under the wings of Jehovah. That’s how closely we are to abide in His presence.
God Speaks
The last three verses of the Psalm take a clear change in direction. Rather than it being Moses talking of God, Moses takes upon himself the mantle of the prophet and speaks forth God’s response. These verses become the validation of all that Moses has said, as God affirms his words. We know this, because it is no longer Moses talking about God, but God talking about him; the word “he” is no longer capitalized, but the word “Me’s is, and the words of God are put in quotation marks.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” – Psalm 91:14-16
What a wonderful promise from God. As with many of God’s promises, it is conditional, requiring first that we place our love upon Him. The answer that God provides, however, is much greater than what He asks of us. He promises to deliver us, set us on high, answer us, be with us in trouble, deliver us, honor us, and give us long life. That’s quite a string of promises.
Finally, God says one more thing, to end the Psalm. He promises to show the one who abides in His presence His salvation. For us, living on this side of the cross, it is salvation which allows us to enter into His presence. But for Moses and the others that lived on His side of the cross, before Jesus walked this earth and died for our sins, it is their faith that allowed them to abide in the presence of God. As the Bible says, four times, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” That righteousness, like the righteousness of Jesus that we receive when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, allowed Abraham, Moses and others to abide in the presence of God.
Did they have to accept Jesus? Yes, they did. But they were in relationship with Jehovah God, before accepting Jesus and His saving work on the cross. It was that relationship which allowed them to see it, even though it had not yet come.