In times of crisis, when disaster strikes, when danger is all around us, when the governments of the world are at their wit’s end – there is one place we can always run to: the arms of our Heavenly Father! Where He is, no evil can be also. In His shadow, disaster cannot reach us.
Being immersed in God’s presence
Psalm 91 describes the experience of being in the shadow of the Almighty. According to the Jewish sages, Moses wrote this Psalm, when he entered God’s sanctuary – the Tabernacle in the wilderness – on the day it was completed. He impressively relates how he felt, immersing in the cloud of glory – the presence of God Almighty, the most powerful and yet most loving being in the universe.
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A prayer for protection and deliverance
The Talmud calls Psalm 91 the “Song of Plagues” and claims that praying it in faith will mobilise God to act as a deliverer. It comes as no surprise then, that in modern days Psalm 91 is considered to be the “Soldier’s Psalm” or the “Soldier’s Prayer”.
Conditional promises
Yet, Psalm 91 sets a condition to the wonderful promises is speaks about. And although it is such a well-known psalm, this condition is often overlooked. “Whoever dwells in the secret place of the Most High…”
Psalm 91 Verse 1 makes it perfectly clear, that not everyone “will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Not every believer, not every Christian, but only those who dwell in God’s secret place – the place of intimacy with God.
So yes, while this is a wonderful prayer to pray, Psalm 91 is a call to intimacy with God. Intimacy with God, being in God’s secret place, is the key to unlock the promises of Psalm 91!
Commit yourself to God’s hand
Pray this Psalm with confidence in His love and faithfulness. Pray it over yourself, your family, your city, your nation. But please, don’t see it as a magic formula. Praying this prayer is not what saves you, nor protects you – God is!
Pray this prayer to remind yourself, of who He is and who He wants to be in your life – and then apply it! Put your trust in Him – stop speaking unbelief, stop speaking fear. As God’s child, you can say with David: “My times are in Your hands.” Entrust your life, your future to Him – come what may.
Praying Psalm 91
Here a modified version of how I pray Psalm 91:
As I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Lord, You are my refuge and my fortress. (You shield me from any disaster around me.) My God, I trust in You!
Save me from the snare Satan is laying for me and from the deadly pestilence. Cover me with your feathers, let me find refuge under your wings; shield me with your never-ending faithfulness!
I shall not fear the terror of night, but I shall have sound sleep. Any calamity during the day, be it accidents or terror attacks – I shall not fear them.
I shall not fear the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday – be it coronavirus or any other disease!
A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me. I will only observe with my eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
Today I declare: “The Lord is my refuge!” I run to the Most High and make him my dwelling place! And because of that, no harm will overtake me and no disaster will come near my house and my family.
For the Almighty has commanded his angels to guard me in all my ways; they will lift me up in their hands, so that I won’t hit my foot against a stone. I will tread on the spiritual forces of darkness trying to poison and destroy me.
Lord, I love you – rescue me! I acknowledge you, Jesus, as my Lord. Please protect me. Answer me, whenever I call on you. Be with me in times of trouble, deliver me and honour me. Satisfy me with long life and let me see your salvation.
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Be sure to also read:
- Intimacy with God – Enjoy the blessings of Psalm 91
- How we can get through this lockdown – and come out stronger
- Always pray, don’t give up. The importance of persistent prayer
- Strength in the secret place (Isaiah 40:31 – pt 2)
A great Psalm especially during this epidemics season. We have to hide under the umbrella of the Lord. I’m also learning that the Psalm was Moses’ prayer. Thank you for this beautiful psalm.