Psalm 91

A Bible Devotion from Psalm 91

The Shadow of the Almighty

1 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.

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.

9 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; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 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 I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.
Psalm 91, NKJV

This Psalm is one of my favorite Psalms. I've included it here in its entirety because I can't think of any verses that I would be willing to leave out.

Jim Elliot, a missionary who gave his life for the gospel, upon reading Psalm 91:1, stated, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Since reading about him years ago Psalm 91:1 has become my life verse.

Read this entire Psalm and ponder it. Give yourself to Christ at an early age, and look at God's promise of protection and care throughout your whole life. What is there left to fear? Sickness or disease? He will cover you with His feathers. Falling in battle? A thousand may fall at your side, but He'll protect you. No evil shall befall you because He will give His angels charge over you.

Does that mean that bad things never happen to Christians? No, of course not. For the Christian, even in the midst of bad times, you constantly feel the presence of God and His grace to bear you up under the affliction. And, after the final affliction of death, you have the great peace and joy that His angels will bear you up into heaven.

Pray today that, as encouraged in this Psalm, you would dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and that you will abide under the shadow of the Almighty forever.

Next: Psalm 92 - A Cedar in Lebanon

More Devotions on the 91st Psalm from my blog, Daily Bible Devotions

Shadow of the Almighty, verses 1-2

He Shall Deliver Thee, verses 3-6

A Thousand and Ten Thousand, verses 7-8

Guardian Angels, verses 9-13

Upon Christ, verses 14-16