The deliverance could also refer to future glory. Motyer states, “the promise is not security from but security in” (emphasis in original). The deliverance promised can involve spiritual deliverance and protection for those who trust the Lord in the midst of these outward difficulties. In this case, pestilence would be “a figure for various evils” literally meaning “plagues of mischiefs,” as stated in the Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Perhaps this deliverance refers to a wide range of persistent attacks, including spiritual-and not necessarily always referring to illnesses. Three other interpretive notes can be considered concerning God’s deliverance from pestilence. And the ones who would become ill and pass from this life are not excluded from the promises of God for Israel that will be fulfilled at the end of this age. God promised that no pandemic would keep them from being the nation He foretold they would become. The psalm does not promise, then, that no Israelite would ever become ill. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." "You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. As they trusted, no pestilence would keep the Israelite army from defeating its enemies and from becoming the nation God promised.Ĭonsider Exodus 19:4-6a, which contains similar imagery to Psalm 91 of God’s protective wing:
As listeners of this psalm commit themselves to God, He would give success in their purpose of inhabiting the promised land and being God’s beacon to the nations. the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” How do we faithfully interpret those statements?įirst, we can remember God’s covenants with Israel, in which God promises abundance as the nation is faithful. Consider, for example, verses 3 and 6: “For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence” and “You will not fear. The word is most frequently used in the prophetic books. The word pestilence means any sudden fatal epidemic or pandemic, and in its Biblical use it generally indicates that these are divine visitations. However, verses in this Psalm do appear to promise present, bodily deliverance from pestilence. That God is our refuge, comfort, and shade amidst pandemic does not mean that if we believe in Jesus Christ we have physical immunity to COVID-19-all credible commentators agree. Learning from Jesus, then, we also must handle Scripture well in our times. Careless behavior is not condoned by God-and neither is misuse of Scripture. Jesus, honoring Scripture, responded that God is not to be put to the test. But Satan misused God’s Word, removing it from the context of the whole and unity of Scripture. The Devil said that surely Jesus could place Himself in the way of harm in order to demonstrate the rescuing power of God. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.Psalm 91 was used by Satan to tempt Jesus in the desert (see Matthew 4:5-7). 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. Bible Gateway Psalm 91 :: NIV Psalm 91 1 Psalm 91 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.