I began a study on Psalm 91 just about one year ago to this day. In between the other ongoing studies I am writing, I decided it was time to complete the study I began on verses 5-8 in this Psalm. I’m so glad I was led to spend time in Psalm 91 again! I have been blessed thinking upon the sufficiency of all things we have in Christ and His continued care for me. I pray you are also encouraged by the reminder of God’s protection upon His children. The previous studies on verses 1-4 can be found under the titles:
The Perfect Shelter Ps 91:1; Fort Jefferson or Jesus Ps 91:2; Jitnot Ps 91:3; and Pinions Ps 91:4.
There is uncertainty about the writer of this Psalm and the date it was written. Perhaps it is written by Moses, but this is not clear. Psalm 91 is an optimistic account of faith. Verse one speaks of the protection of God, verse two His defense of the believer, verse three God’s deliverance from evil and verse four the refuge we can find in Him. Now on to verses 5 through 8 – let’s dig in!
Ps 91:5-8 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6 of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
What causes you to be afraid? Each of us has circumstances that evoke fear. Perhaps it’s the dark. For some it is the thought of pain and suffering from physical illness or injury. Others may have a fear of becoming involved in a traffic accident. Or even, as I write this, a hurricane is headed for the Southern East Coast and is expected to hit within hours. Certainly being fearful of the strength and damage caused by a catastrophic weather event is common amongst those who have been in the midst of these circumstances. I often find myself on a flight somewhere and when the airplane hits especially strong turbulence I can just feel fear rising up and have to pray to fight it. Change can cause fear also, the unknown or unexpected. Some people are fearful of not knowing what tomorrow will be like.
Psalm 91:5 says You will not be afraid of the terror by night.
The word afraid in this verse means exactly what you’d expect. To be frightened of something. Our English understanding of the word is to be ‘filled’ with fear or apprehension. Being fearful can cause worry, or concern or insecurity. When we are afraid we may hesitate to move forward. There is a common phrase ‘to be paralyzed with fear’ that most of us are familiar with. Some of our fears are imagined yet others are very real and apprehension may sometimes be a good response.
The specific fear referred to in Psalm 91:5 is ‘terror by night’ and ‘the arrow that flies by day’.
terror <pachad> a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling): dread; terror.
night <layil> a twist away of the light, night; figuratively, adversity; night (season)
What comes to mind when you think of the words, ‘terror by night’? It is true that many troubles happen in the night hours when it is dark. I don’t often think of locking my doors when I am home during the day and yet when I go to bed at night I make sure the house is secure. Walks I might take through the desert during the day are somewhat serene but become a bit worrisome when it is dark. In general, persons who have evil motives and intentions seem to take advantage of the night hours and darkness. Notice the definition of ‘night’ can mean a season also. You are probably able to look back at a season of life where you felt particularly alarmed or fearful. Worry, apprehension, uncertainty and unrest can set in quickly when we allow fear to settle in our thoughts.
Fear is not only a product of the night, but as our verse says, it can be ‘the arrow that flies by day’. Consider. Most often, an arrow is used for attack. It pierces the skin causing a wound.
How do we ‘not be afraid’? It is one thing to know intellectually we don’t need to let fear take over our thinking, yet it is much more difficult at times to ward off the strong feelings of fear.
Truth – God is more than sufficient to defend His children from danger. Regardless of what is causing your fear, peace and quietness and rest can be found in God’s presence. Faith in God will replace fear as you draw near to Him and choose to focus on His Truth and trust His protection. Bad things still happen but all needs to be turned to God, knowing that He works all things for good according to His glory. We simply cannot understand His ways. So as our faith increases, our fear turns into moments rather than paralyzing hours or days. There is nothing He allows in our lives that is a surprise to Him or out of His control. He has knowledge and power over all things. This causes me to always have to remember it is not this world I am living for, but God and the certain hope of eternal life. Where is your perspective?
Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
Ps 112:7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Ps 121:6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
We are all exposed to circumstances that cause fear. Fear is an emotion that is a part of being human. Yet, it is what we do with fear that is the question we need to address. As we focus on the Truth, our fears are placed in the almighty hands of God. Our fears are real but the force of their impact is in God’s hands. He says He is with us, walking beside us, and protecting us. I love what Psalm 112:7 says. We need a steadfast heart that continually places our trust in God.
Ps 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar [and] foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
When the disciples cried out to Jesus in fear to save their sinking boat, Jesus replied, “Why are you timid, you men of little faith?” (Mt 8:26). They lacked confidence in God. Read the words David gave to his son Solomon. 1Ch 28:20 Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
God’s protection, God’s defense, God’s deliverance and God’s faithfulness – lead us to live in the grips of His power rather than the clutches of paralyzing fear. Psalm 91:6 goes on to list those causes of fear either by day or night, pestilence that stalks in darkness and destruction that lays waste at noon.
Psalm 91:6-8 of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
Plagues and famine – a common fear in the time and place of our Psalmist – are still no cause for fear. We may not experience plagues and famine, but certainly there are times of fear and uncertainty in our lives.
Psalm 91:7 tells of the wide destruction that rages among the people, yet still God has His protective hand over His children. Read the following excerpt from the Treasury of David, “It shall not come nigh thee. It shall be so near as to be at thy side, and yet not nigh enough to touch thee; like a fire it shall burn all around, yet shall not the smell of it pass upon thee. How true is this of the plague of moral evil, of heresy, and of backsliding. Whole nations are infected, yet the man who communes with God is not affected by the contagion; he holds the truth when falsehood is all the fashion. Professors all around him are plague smitten, the church is wasted, the very life of religion decays, but in the same place and time, in fellowship with God, the believer renews his youth, and his soul knows no sickness. In a measure this also is true of physical evil; the Lord still puts a difference between Israel and Egypt in the day of his plagues. Sennacherib's army is blasted, but Jerusalem is in health.”
Evil and temptations, difficulties and discouragement, pain and suffering, and so many other adversities in life, surround us as we strive to live worthy as children of God. Although troubles may seem to encroach upon the believer, there is no need for us to become engrossed in them. We are safe in God’s hands. We can have complete confidence in His ways. God is our defense and our protection even when all those around us seem bent on evil and are suffering the results of sin immersed behaviors.
In verse 7 of Psalm 91, we are told that these attacks around us shall not approach us. But we do get hurt and we are affected so what does this mean? The word <nagash> used means these things won’t overtake us. In other words, we are secure in God’s hands and His care even though we may be acted upon by evil things around us. It is true that good men die but this is not apart from God’s allowance.
Isa 57:1-2 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, 2 He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, [Each one] who walked in his upright way.
With our focus on God, not matter the danger, there is no need to be overcome or overwhelmed by circumstances that seem to threaten us. God is always in control. No one is able to change my eternal destination. My future is always secure in my Savior.
Adam Clarke’s Commentary says we have “a promise of perfect protection, and the utmost safety”.
Psalm 91:8 says You will only look on with your eyes, And see the recompense of the wicked.
As we consider the perfect righteousness of God, there is an obvious punishment of those who choose to not follow Him. Exodus 34:6-7 speaks of God’s compassion and His judgement on those who reject Him.
Ex 34:6-7 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave [the guilty] unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
What is our response? Have we approached the throne of God with a heart yielded to Him, desiring to accept Him as our Lord and Savior?
If so, we will be intent on living for Him. We will acknowledge Him in all our ways. Then we will have the blessing of his mercy and protection and escape the judgement set aside for the wicked.
Pr 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Ps 37:34 Wait for the LORD, and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
We have been given incredible promises as God’s children! We have God’s protection, His defense, His deliverance and a refuge in Him. In God’s hands, we are secure and have no cause to fear evil or destruction.
Ge 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great."
Ge 26:24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham."
Ge 46:3 And He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
De 31:6 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
1Ch 28:20 Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
Isa 41:13 "For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'
Isa 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Lu 12:7 "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Ps 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
