What is the prescription from God in Psalm 91?
Psalm 91 is God’s way of assuring us that we will be spared from calamity and destruction if we flee to him and seek his divine protection. This message is conveyed through the book of Psalms. When we pray the words of this psalm, it transforms into a powerful shield that protects us from being terrified.
As a result of our continued self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world as we know it has been turned upside down. Because the virus has intervened in every facet of our lives, it is nearly impossible to avoid thinking about it. We are cut off from contact with our loved ones and friends.
The doors of the churches have been locked. Schools are closed, and many people have either lost their jobs entirely, had them put on hold, or are working from home. Gyms, restaurants, and other small businesses, as well as grocery stores, are being forced to close their doors, and grocery store hours are being cut back. Then there is the news; it seems like each new story or report is worse than the one before it.
The ongoing pandemic caused by the coronavirus is causing confusion and fear for hundreds of millions of people. In light of the historic nature of the current situation, it is difficult not to feel anxious or worried. One does not need to search for very long before coming across a version of Psalm 91 on their newsfeed. It should come as no surprise given that Psalm 91 is essentially a telephone directory for contacting our awesome God.
It is filled to the brim with proclamations and assurances that God will watch over us. This psalm speaks of God’s presence, power, and protection against fear at a time when the world is facing a pandemic caused by COVID-19. Fear is the one feeling that God specifically does not want to take hold of us. This is because when we are overcome by fear, it reveals in our hearts that we are placing our trust in our abilities rather than in our Savior.
The admonition “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline,” which was spoken by the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy, was intended to encourage Timothy to maintain his faith (2 Timothy 1:7). Psalm 91 is a call to battle, and this is essentially that call.
We have the right to be concerned about this pandemic as well as anything else that may arise in life; however, we do not have the right to worry or be afraid of anything. There are over 365 verses in the Bible that talk about fear, and even Jesus tells us not to be afraid multiple times in Matthew chapter 6 verses 25-34. He does not want us to be fearful or anxious because he does not want either of these feelings to rule us instead of Jesus.
Psalm 91 Is Our 9-1-1
The question is then, why do millions of Christians across the globe pray Psalm 91? The strength of Psalm is a reminder that God is still in control of everything, whether it be a financial collapse, loss of a job, war, cancer, or COVID-19. This is the power of Psalm. In the very first two verses of the Bible, we are given a clear description of who God is.
Whoever makes their home in the protection of the Highest will find rest in the protection of the Highest. I will proclaim about the LORD that he is my haven and my stronghold; he is my God, in whom I put my trust.
There are four of God’s powerful names that are easily overlooked, but they are the Highest, the Almighty, the Lord, and my God. Why does the author use four different names in just two verses, and what does it have to do with the pandemic today? The Hebrew word Elyon is translated as “Most High,” and it serves as the first name of God. The name is a symbolic representation of the majesty, sovereignty, and preeminence of God.
This passage serves to remind us that our very lives, breaths, movements, and very beings are grounded in God. He gives us the assurance that we will be protected, comforted, and cared for. It serves as a timely reminder that we do not fixate on the news; similarly, we do not fixate on anxiety, worry, or the pandemic. He is our dwelling place.
The second name, the Almighty, comes from the Hebrew word Shaddai, which means “a God mighty beyond our imagination or comprehension.” the Almighty is translated from this word. There are references to the fact that God is the God of the wilderness or the God of the mountains in the Bible, which contains a total of 48 occurrences.
The point I’m trying to make is that God can make mountains collapse, part the seas, and protect us from our adversaries. Because we will be with him for all of eternity, no matter what happens, he will be able to shield us from the effects of this pandemic.
Yahweh is the translation of the third name, which is the LORD. In Exodus chapter 6, verse 2, God reveals his name to Moses in the form of a personal name at the burning bush. It has been rendered in other languages as Yahweh and Jehovah, but the LORD is the most common rendering (in all caps).
It indicates that the Lord is God, who possesses unlimited power and knowledge, and is familiar with each of us on a profound and personal level. He is aware of the precise number of hairs that are on each of our heads, the color of our eyes when we are asleep and when we awaken, and the total number of days that each of us will spend on this planet.
The Hebrew word Elohim is where the fourth name, my God, originates. This name appears for the very first time in the very first verse of the very first book of the Bible, which is called Genesis 1:1 and reads, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Additionally, it can mean “mighty one” or “supreme one.”
Just by reading the first few verses of Psalm 91, we are given unequivocal confirmation that the God we serve is an almighty one. It serves as a constant reminder that even though we live in a corrupt world, he is still present among us. We are reminded that even in dangerous times like the COVID-19 pandemic, he is our refuge, our protector, and our deliverer. We are reminded that God is in control at all times and in every circumstance.
The Meaning of Verse 91 of Psalm
Psalm 91 is God’s way of assuring us that we will be spared from calamity and destruction if we flee to him and seek his divine protection. This message is conveyed through the book of Psalms. When we pray the words of this psalm, it transforms into a powerful shield that protects us from being terrified.
However, some people have the mistaken belief that teaching is an unqualified guarantee and proof that life will be easy sailing; that we won’t have to deal with difficulties, illness, or any other type of crisis.
The false and deceptive prosperity gospel is commonly preached by pastors and ministers, and it encourages people to think in this way. This couldn’t be further from the truth if it tried. God has given us his word that he will protect us, but that does not mean that there won’t be any casualties even in the face of this pandemic.
The promises that are found in this Psalm are something that we can rely on. It contains eight different promises that speak to the goodness and power that come from God:
(1) I will come to his rescue. (Deliver, Cause to Escape) (2) I will guard him… (Place Him in a Prominent Position)… (3) I will respond to him. (Respond to, Speak) (4) If we get into trouble, I will be there with him. (In Afflictions, in Distress) (5) I will hand him over to you. (Rescue, to Bring into Safety) (6) and pay respect to him. (To Make Rich, Strong, Heavy with Honor) (7) If I live to a ripe old age, I will finally satisfy him. (To Have Abundance in the Journey) (8) and demonstrate to him how I was saved. (Let Him Witness My Redemption and Victory)
What Does This Represent, Exactly?
God does not guarantee that we will not become ill or that we will not see loved ones suffer as a result of this illness or anything else that may occur in this life. The one thing he does guarantee is that he will accompany us and keep us safe from harm. The reassurance that he has promises and plans for each of us brings us comes from the fact that he is in control.
Faith is the foundation of our lives and our path as Christians. Having faith means having trust in God, particularly in his goodness, his faithfulness, and the plans he has for the world. And this is the result of having reverence for God: because we acknowledge God’s omnipotence, goodness, and control, we put our faith in him. You who revere the Lord put your confidence in the Lord! (Psalm 115:11).
Psalm 91 Prayer
Whoever makes their home in the protection of the Highest will find rest in the protection of the Highest. About the Lord, I will proclaim, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I have faith.” He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Surely he will rescue you from the fowler’s snare and the deadly pestilence.
You will not be afraid of the terror that comes with the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in the darkness, or the plague that destroys during the middle of the day. It may fall at your right hand ten thousand times, or it may fall at your side one thousand times, but it will not approach you. You won’t be able to do much more than watching the wicked get their just desserts in front of your very eyes.
If you declare, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Highest your dwelling place, then nothing bad will happen to you, and no catastrophe will come anywhere near your tent. Because of this, he will issue a command to his angels on your behalf, instructing them to watch over you in all that you do and to hold you high in their hands so that you do not hurt yourself by treading on any stones. You will trample the great lion and the serpent under your feet, and you will tread on the lion and the cobra.
The Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will save him; I will protect him because he acknowledges my name.” “I will rescue him; I will protect him.” He will come to me for help, and I will respond to him; when he is in trouble, I will be there for him, and I will deliver him and honor him. I will prove to him that I am righteous and save him through the length of my life.
