More psalms: Psalm 1, 10, 33, 71, 91

Many of the psalms have no author attributed to them, so we have a large group of ‘unallocated’ psalms that have no identified author.

Historical context aside (and it’s easy to imagine any besieged King or even a prophet in fear of his life praying this psalm), Psalm 91 a prayer that anyone facing persecution can find refuge in.

The trick is to not misuse it, especially in the way Satan tried to lead Jesus into misusing the Word when tempting Him:

^{Matthew 4:5} Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’’

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy to resist Satan, but it’s clear from Psalm 91 (the source of Satan’s quote) that the angels are holding up someone who made the Lord their refuge, the Most High your dwelling-place. It’s hardly the stuff of throwing oneself off a building to show off.

The trick, so to speak, is to live in the shelter of the Most High, to abide in His shadow and to make Him your dwelling place.

Psalm 91

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

¹⁴ Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honour them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.