The Most Misused Psalm in the Psalter
Psalm 91 is one of the most beloved and most misused psalms in the Psalter. Its promises of divine protection — "He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge" (91:4); "no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent" (91:10); "he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (91:11–12) — have been claimed as guarantees of physical safety by believers across the centuries. The psalm was used as a protective amulet in ancient Judaism; it was quoted by the devil in his temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:6); and it has been invoked by Christians seeking protection from illness, accident, and danger in every generation.
The pastoral challenge is to interpret the psalm's promises honestly — neither dismissing them as mere poetry nor claiming them as unconditional guarantees of physical safety. The psalm's promises are real, but they require careful interpretation in the light of the full biblical witness about suffering, providence, and the nature of divine protection.
The Conditions and the Character of the Protection
The psalm's promises of protection are not unconditional; they are addressed to a specific person: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty" (91:1). The protection is for those who have made the LORD their dwelling place, their refuge, their fortress (91:2, 9). The condition is not perfect obedience but genuine trust — the orientation of the whole person toward God as the ultimate source of security.
The character of the protection described in the psalm is also significant. The psalm does not promise the absence of danger — it promises protection in the midst of danger. "You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot" (91:13) — the dangers are real, but the protected person passes through them rather than around them. This is consistent with the broader biblical witness: God's protection does not exempt his people from danger but sustains them through it.
The Temptation of Jesus and the Proper Use of Psalm 91
The devil's use of Psalm 91:11–12 in the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:5–7) is a cautionary tale about the misuse of the psalm's promises. The devil invites Jesus to throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple, citing the psalm's promise of angelic protection. Jesus's response — "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test" (Matthew 4:7, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16) — is a refusal to use the psalm's promises as a license for presumption. The psalm's promises are for those who trust in God; they are not a blank check for reckless behavior that demands divine intervention.
For pastoral ministry, this episode provides a framework for interpreting Psalm 91 responsibly. The psalm's promises are genuine expressions of divine care and protection, but they are not unconditional guarantees that exempt believers from the normal risks of human life. As you preach on Psalm 91, consider how to affirm the reality of divine protection while guarding against the presumption that treats God's promises as a license for recklessness or a guarantee against all suffering.
Implications for Ministry and Credentialing
Psalm 91's promises of divine protection offer a framework for pastoral ministry that affirms genuine divine care while guarding against presumption and false guarantees. For those seeking to develop their capacity for pastoral ministry and biblical theology, Abide University offers graduate programs that integrate scholarly rigor with genuine pastoral concern.
For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.
References
- Goldingay, John. Psalms, Volume 3: Psalms 90–150 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament). Baker Academic, 2008.
- Kidner, Derek. Psalms 73–150 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries). InterVarsity Press, 1975.
- Mays, James L.. Psalms (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching). Westminster John Knox, 1994.
- Anderson, A. A.. The Book of Psalms, Volume 2 (New Century Bible Commentary). Eerdmans, 1972.
- Longman, Tremper. How to Read the Psalms. InterVarsity Press, 1988.