Psalms 91:1

PSALM XCI

The safety of the godly man, and his confidence, 1, 2.

How he is defended and preserved, 3-10.

The angels of God are his servants, 11, 12;

and he shall tread on the necks of his adversaries, 13.

What God says of, and promises to, such a person, 14-16.

NOTES ON PSALM XCI

This Psalm has no title in the Hebrew; nor can it be determined on what occasion or by whom it was composed. It is most likely by the author of the preceding; and is written as a part of it, by fifteen of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., commencing before the repetition of the four last words of the ninetieth. It is allowed to be one of the finest Psalms in the whole collection. Of it Simon de Muis has said: "It is one of the most excellent works of this kind which has ever appeared. It is impossible to imagine any thing more solid, more beautiful, more profound, or more ornamented. Could the Latin or any modern languages express thoroughly all the beauties and elegancies as well of the words as of the sentences, it would not be difficult to persuade the reader that we have no poem, either in Greek or Latin, comparable to this Hebrew ode."

Verse Psalms 91:1. He that dwelleth in the secret place] The Targum intimates that this is a dialogue between David, Solomon, and Jehovah. Suppose we admit this, - then

DAVID asserts: "He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty," Psalms 91:1.

SOLOMON answers: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in him will I trust," Psalms 91:2.

DAVID replies, and tells him what blessings he shall receive from God if he abide faithful, Psalms 91:3.

Then the SUPREME BEING is introduced, and confirms all that David had spoken concerning Solomon, Psalms 91:14: and thus this sacred and instructive dialogue ends.

In the secret place of the Most High] Spoken probably in reference to the Holy of holies. He who enters legitimately there shall be covered with the cloud of God's glory - the protection of the all-sufficient God. This was the privilege of the high priest only, under the law: but under the new covenant all believers in Christ have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; and those who thus enter are safe from every evil.