Psalms 91

Psalms 91:1

Trust in God

The confrontation with the assailants (Psalms 62:3-4) forces David to say to his soul, to himself, to “wait in silence for God only” (Psalms 62:5). David uses this powerful word “only” or “sure” for the fourth time. This is stronger than what he says in Psalms 62:1b. It shows a growing confidence in God, as we also see in Psalms 62:6b. This in turn leads to encouraging others to put their trust in God as well (Psalms 62:8).

David does not bring the assailant before God, but himself. He tells himself that his expectation is from God only. Everything in him is directed toward God in the confidence that he and his future are in God’s hand. In doing so, he silences the opponents, as well as any potentially emerging doubt in his soul.

With another powerful “only” or “sure” (Psalms 62:6), he adds what God is to him. God is his unshakable “rock”, his present and future “salvation” and his impregnable “stronghold”. When he thus says Who God is to him, he comes to the statement: “I shall not be shaken.” As already mentioned, we see here a growing trust in God. A few verses back he spoke of “not be greatly shaken” (Psalms 62:2). Now he says with certainty “I shall not be shaken”. This growing in certainty will also be found in the believing remnant in the end time.

This growing certainty is also reflected in what David has “in God” (Psalms 62:7). Here it is no longer so much about Who God is to him, but Who God Himself is. When he says that his “salvation” and his “glory” rest on God, the emphasis is not on his own salvation and his own glory, but on God. His salvation, honor, glory, or position have their origin and meaning in God. They are in Him and have value only because of that.

The same is true of his “rock” and his “refuge”. The emphasis is not on their usefulness to him – and that usefulness is great! – but on God, in Whom these things are present. Neither his protection nor his safety are in the foreground anymore, but God in Whom these things are found.

God is always what David says of Him here. God uses the various circumstances in which His own may be to reveal more and more of Himself. He wants to focus our eye beyond redemption or through redemption on Himself. All His actions in our favor must bring us to admire His Person and not the actions themselves.

When the eye is thus fixed on God, the believer bears witness of this to encourage others to trust God in this same way (Psalms 62:8). In what David says here, we hear the Messiah speaking, inviting the people, the remnant, to also trust in God and to do so “at all times”. It is about constant trust and that in all circumstances, of prosperity and of adversity. If we believe that He is perfect in His ways, we will not wish to do anything without Him.

This does not mean that there are no more exercises and trials. Waiting for God also does not mean that we do not need to cry out to Him. It is precisely because there is trust in God that the exhortation to pour out their hearts before Him follows. Everything that is in the heart may be said to Him. God’s answer to this is that He gives His peace in the heart (Philippians 4:6-7). Whether He gives what we ask for, and at what time He gives it, we will leave to Him if we remember that He is full of goodness and love for those who wait for Him.

Christ poured out His heart for God throughout His life. We see this every time we read in the Gospels that He is in prayer. He is prayer (Psalms 109:4b). We see this particularly in the Gospel according to Luke where He is presented as the perfect Man. We find Him there eight times in prayer (Luke 3:21; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18; 29; Luke 11:1; Luke 22:41; Luke 23:34a). The seventh prayer, the one in Gethsemane, is very impressive. There He pours out His heart before God because it is full with the work that He will accomplish on the cross of Calvary where He will be made sin.

Then He says not only “my refuge is in God” (Psalms 62:7), but “God is a refuge for us”. By the word “us” He connects Himself with the remnant. He does the same when He lets Himself be baptized and says: “In this way it is fitting for us [He and John the baptist] to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

Psalms 91:2

Unfounded Trust

After David points out that we are to trust in God at all times, he warns against trust in people and human resources. By the “men of low degree” (Psalms 62:9) – Hebrew bene adam, which is sons of men, children of men – are meant ordinary people. They are only “vanity” or a “sigh”, in Hebrew hebel. From that the name Abel is derived. When Adam and Eve name their son Abel, it is an act of faith. We find the same thing in Psalms 90, where it says that we finish our years “like a sigh” (Psalms 90:9).

A sigh is something intangible and extremely volatile. That is how a person is: today he is there, tomorrow he is no longer there. It is the greatest folly to expect any support from something so uncertain. God, on the other hand, always remains the same, He has all power and with Him everything is certain.

The “men of rank” are “a lie”. Here we are talking about dignified people – Hebrew bene-isch –, people, whom other people look up to expectantly. David, that is, God’s Spirit, wipes out that expectation with one word: they are a “lie”. It is not about their personal character, as if they were always false and traitorous, but about the idea that any expectation of their help instead of that of God is “a lie”.

When all people are weighed together in a scale, they are even lighter than breath. The picture is that of the old-fashioned balance scale, the scale with two arms with a scale on each arm. If on one scale all the people are placed and on the other scale breath, the balance tips over to the side of the scale with breath. All the people together have no weight at all. How foolish, then, to expect from them, whether simple or considerable, any help. It is meaningless, without any weight. You must have the right scale, God’s scale, to come to that conclusion (cf. Daniel 5:27).

After the vanity of trust in people, David points out the vanity of trust in wrong means (Psalms 62:10). “Trust in oppression” means that we pressure people to help us, for example, by manipulating them. We then improperly and cunningly bend the resources to our will. Following on from this is the robbery of another person’s property. Then we appropriate resources in an illicit and brutal manner. Any trust in what has been robbed is “vain hope”. It is hope that perishes like a sigh. In addition, God will judge this.

Trust in wealth is also wrong. If it increases – even without oppression and without robbery – the heart should not be set upon it. Between wealth and uncertainty, an ‘equal to’ sign should be placed: wealth = uncertainty (1 Timothy 6:17a). It can simply vanish, it can simply dissolve into nothing (Proverbs 11:28; Proverbs 23:5; Proverbs 27:24).

People and resources can never save a man’s life for eternity, nor can they ever give true satisfaction to his existence. Only God can satisfy the deepest needs of a human being.

Psalms 91:3

Unfounded Trust

After David points out that we are to trust in God at all times, he warns against trust in people and human resources. By the “men of low degree” (Psalms 62:9) – Hebrew bene adam, which is sons of men, children of men – are meant ordinary people. They are only “vanity” or a “sigh”, in Hebrew hebel. From that the name Abel is derived. When Adam and Eve name their son Abel, it is an act of faith. We find the same thing in Psalms 90, where it says that we finish our years “like a sigh” (Psalms 90:9).

A sigh is something intangible and extremely volatile. That is how a person is: today he is there, tomorrow he is no longer there. It is the greatest folly to expect any support from something so uncertain. God, on the other hand, always remains the same, He has all power and with Him everything is certain.

The “men of rank” are “a lie”. Here we are talking about dignified people – Hebrew bene-isch –, people, whom other people look up to expectantly. David, that is, God’s Spirit, wipes out that expectation with one word: they are a “lie”. It is not about their personal character, as if they were always false and traitorous, but about the idea that any expectation of their help instead of that of God is “a lie”.

When all people are weighed together in a scale, they are even lighter than breath. The picture is that of the old-fashioned balance scale, the scale with two arms with a scale on each arm. If on one scale all the people are placed and on the other scale breath, the balance tips over to the side of the scale with breath. All the people together have no weight at all. How foolish, then, to expect from them, whether simple or considerable, any help. It is meaningless, without any weight. You must have the right scale, God’s scale, to come to that conclusion (cf. Daniel 5:27).

After the vanity of trust in people, David points out the vanity of trust in wrong means (Psalms 62:10). “Trust in oppression” means that we pressure people to help us, for example, by manipulating them. We then improperly and cunningly bend the resources to our will. Following on from this is the robbery of another person’s property. Then we appropriate resources in an illicit and brutal manner. Any trust in what has been robbed is “vain hope”. It is hope that perishes like a sigh. In addition, God will judge this.

Trust in wealth is also wrong. If it increases – even without oppression and without robbery – the heart should not be set upon it. Between wealth and uncertainty, an ‘equal to’ sign should be placed: wealth = uncertainty (1 Timothy 6:17a). It can simply vanish, it can simply dissolve into nothing (Proverbs 11:28; Proverbs 23:5; Proverbs 27:24).

People and resources can never save a man’s life for eternity, nor can they ever give true satisfaction to his existence. Only God can satisfy the deepest needs of a human being.

Psalms 91:4

God Rewards Each According to His Work

God calls His own to trust in Him, for power belongs to Him, and not to man, whoever that man may be (Psalms 62:11). The power that a man needs – to protect and save him – is found only in God. Everyone and everything fails, but not God. This should lead us to place our trust in God only.

This is once spoken by God. David heard it twice, which is to say that he was absolutely sure of it. Christ always had an open ear for all that God spoke (Isaiah 50:4). What God spoke once, He heard twice. That determined His whole life. God also speaks to man once or twice, but his response is completely different, for he takes no notice of it (Job 33:14).

Not only power belongs to God, but also lovingkindness is His (Psalms 62:12). God’s lovingkindness means His covenant faithfulness. God is called “Lord” here, that is Adonai, the sovereign Ruler. It means that God, the Creator and sovereign Ruler, uses His power to act in accordance with His covenant. He will bless and keep all who trust in Him, but judge all who reject Him.

This rare combination of power and lovingkindness is only present with God. The God-fearing therefore knows that God is using His power for him in love. When God demonstrates His power in the judgment on evil, it means the deliverance of the righteous. He has gone God’s way on earth amidst evil and has waited in trust for God’s intervention. God’s recompense of evil is its reward. For us, this means the encouragement that we can count on Him and wait for Him.

Psalms 91:5

God Rewards Each According to His Work

God calls His own to trust in Him, for power belongs to Him, and not to man, whoever that man may be (Psalms 62:11). The power that a man needs – to protect and save him – is found only in God. Everyone and everything fails, but not God. This should lead us to place our trust in God only.

This is once spoken by God. David heard it twice, which is to say that he was absolutely sure of it. Christ always had an open ear for all that God spoke (Isaiah 50:4). What God spoke once, He heard twice. That determined His whole life. God also speaks to man once or twice, but his response is completely different, for he takes no notice of it (Job 33:14).

Not only power belongs to God, but also lovingkindness is His (Psalms 62:12). God’s lovingkindness means His covenant faithfulness. God is called “Lord” here, that is Adonai, the sovereign Ruler. It means that God, the Creator and sovereign Ruler, uses His power to act in accordance with His covenant. He will bless and keep all who trust in Him, but judge all who reject Him.

This rare combination of power and lovingkindness is only present with God. The God-fearing therefore knows that God is using His power for him in love. When God demonstrates His power in the judgment on evil, it means the deliverance of the righteous. He has gone God’s way on earth amidst evil and has waited in trust for God’s intervention. God’s recompense of evil is its reward. For us, this means the encouragement that we can count on Him and wait for Him.

Psalms 91:7

Introduction

In this psalm we hear the longing of the God-fearing for the sanctuary because it is God’s dwelling place on earth, while yet he is far from it. In the previous psalm, God is his trust, while here God is the great refreshment for his thirsty soul. As in Psalms 61-62, we see in this psalm the longing for close fellowship with God.

Psalms 61-63 were written in the same period. They refer to the same period in the end time and portray the remnant’s exercises of faith when they are driven out of the land. They come to realize that although they are far from Jerusalem, they may yet experience the LORD’s lovingkindness. Thus, they still come to praise.

Yearning for God

For “a Psalm of David” (Psalms 63:1a) see at Psalms 3:1.

The psalm informs us about the circumstances David is in when he writes the psalm. That is “when he was in the wilderness of Judah”. Since David is speaking of his kingship (Psalms 63:11), it is plausible that it is the time, when he is fleeing from Absalom. Then he is in the wilderness (2 Samuel 15:23), where he is separated from the ark and the dwelling place of God (2 Samuel 15:25). The trial of David reveals what was in his heart. So too will it be with the remnant in the future. David proves to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), for God himself.

David begins the psalm by telling God Who He is to him (Psalms 63:1b). God is his God. This speaks of an intense love for God. His deep love for Him we also hear when he then says that he seeks God “earnestly”. He does so because his soul thirsts for Him and his flesh yearns for Him (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2). His soul and his flesh represent his whole person. His severe thirst and intense yearning are a spiritual reflection of the wilderness in which he is. He feels like being in a wilderness, like being in “dry and weary land where there is no water”.

When the Lord Jesus says on the cross “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), it is a thirst for God because of the three hours in which He is forsaken by God. When the rich man thirsts in Hades (Luke 16:23-24), it is a thirst because as a creature he is eternally separated from his Creator (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2).

He remembers God’s “power” and “glory” which he has “seen … in the sanctuary” (Psalms 63:2). He has always entered God’s sanctuary to worship and meet God (2 Samuel 7:18a), with the result that God has revealed Himself to him in His power and glory.

Those who are in God’s presence become impressed with the power of His love and the glory of His Person. David beheld something of that glory, that is, he had an intense look at it. These are the impressions of God’s presence he has made with his heart. He has not forgotten them. Now that he is in the wilderness, he wants to experience them again and even more intensely.

Whoever has been an eyewitness of God’s power and lovingkindness with the eyes of his heart, has as it were “tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:3). As a result, he also knows that God’s lovingkindness – that is, the blessings God wants to give on the basis of the covenant – is better than life (Psalms 63:3). Life is the most precious possession one has. But the lovingkindness of God surpasses life. We may lose life, but the lovingkindness of God remains, while the awareness of it increases, especially as life seems to flow away. When that awareness becomes great to one’s heart, one’s lips open to praise God.

Blessing or praising God (Psalms 63:4) here precedes salvation (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praising God for His lovingkindness is also not limited to a single moment, but can be done continually as long as we live. We do not wait with it until we are with Him. Whoever loves God and experiences His lovingkindness will never stop praising Him. In God’s Name he will lift up his hands as the outward gesture of lifting up his heart to praise God.

Being thus occupied with God’s lovingkindness satisfies the soul “as with marrow and fatness” (Psalms 63:5). Here the God-fearing transcends the wilderness conditions, so to speak, and his mouth praises God “with joyful lips”. He sings about Who God is to him. His body does suffer through his sojourn in the wilderness, but his soul is abundantly satisfied with the best of fellowship with God. God is the best part for the soul (Psalms 16:5). This is experienced most when the circumstances are tough.

Psalms 91:8

Introduction

In this psalm we hear the longing of the God-fearing for the sanctuary because it is God’s dwelling place on earth, while yet he is far from it. In the previous psalm, God is his trust, while here God is the great refreshment for his thirsty soul. As in Psalms 61-62, we see in this psalm the longing for close fellowship with God.

Psalms 61-63 were written in the same period. They refer to the same period in the end time and portray the remnant’s exercises of faith when they are driven out of the land. They come to realize that although they are far from Jerusalem, they may yet experience the LORD’s lovingkindness. Thus, they still come to praise.

Yearning for God

For “a Psalm of David” (Psalms 63:1a) see at Psalms 3:1.

The psalm informs us about the circumstances David is in when he writes the psalm. That is “when he was in the wilderness of Judah”. Since David is speaking of his kingship (Psalms 63:11), it is plausible that it is the time, when he is fleeing from Absalom. Then he is in the wilderness (2 Samuel 15:23), where he is separated from the ark and the dwelling place of God (2 Samuel 15:25). The trial of David reveals what was in his heart. So too will it be with the remnant in the future. David proves to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), for God himself.

David begins the psalm by telling God Who He is to him (Psalms 63:1b). God is his God. This speaks of an intense love for God. His deep love for Him we also hear when he then says that he seeks God “earnestly”. He does so because his soul thirsts for Him and his flesh yearns for Him (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2). His soul and his flesh represent his whole person. His severe thirst and intense yearning are a spiritual reflection of the wilderness in which he is. He feels like being in a wilderness, like being in “dry and weary land where there is no water”.

When the Lord Jesus says on the cross “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), it is a thirst for God because of the three hours in which He is forsaken by God. When the rich man thirsts in Hades (Luke 16:23-24), it is a thirst because as a creature he is eternally separated from his Creator (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2).

He remembers God’s “power” and “glory” which he has “seen … in the sanctuary” (Psalms 63:2). He has always entered God’s sanctuary to worship and meet God (2 Samuel 7:18a), with the result that God has revealed Himself to him in His power and glory.

Those who are in God’s presence become impressed with the power of His love and the glory of His Person. David beheld something of that glory, that is, he had an intense look at it. These are the impressions of God’s presence he has made with his heart. He has not forgotten them. Now that he is in the wilderness, he wants to experience them again and even more intensely.

Whoever has been an eyewitness of God’s power and lovingkindness with the eyes of his heart, has as it were “tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:3). As a result, he also knows that God’s lovingkindness – that is, the blessings God wants to give on the basis of the covenant – is better than life (Psalms 63:3). Life is the most precious possession one has. But the lovingkindness of God surpasses life. We may lose life, but the lovingkindness of God remains, while the awareness of it increases, especially as life seems to flow away. When that awareness becomes great to one’s heart, one’s lips open to praise God.

Blessing or praising God (Psalms 63:4) here precedes salvation (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praising God for His lovingkindness is also not limited to a single moment, but can be done continually as long as we live. We do not wait with it until we are with Him. Whoever loves God and experiences His lovingkindness will never stop praising Him. In God’s Name he will lift up his hands as the outward gesture of lifting up his heart to praise God.

Being thus occupied with God’s lovingkindness satisfies the soul “as with marrow and fatness” (Psalms 63:5). Here the God-fearing transcends the wilderness conditions, so to speak, and his mouth praises God “with joyful lips”. He sings about Who God is to him. His body does suffer through his sojourn in the wilderness, but his soul is abundantly satisfied with the best of fellowship with God. God is the best part for the soul (Psalms 16:5). This is experienced most when the circumstances are tough.

Psalms 91:9

Introduction

In this psalm we hear the longing of the God-fearing for the sanctuary because it is God’s dwelling place on earth, while yet he is far from it. In the previous psalm, God is his trust, while here God is the great refreshment for his thirsty soul. As in Psalms 61-62, we see in this psalm the longing for close fellowship with God.

Psalms 61-63 were written in the same period. They refer to the same period in the end time and portray the remnant’s exercises of faith when they are driven out of the land. They come to realize that although they are far from Jerusalem, they may yet experience the LORD’s lovingkindness. Thus, they still come to praise.

Yearning for God

For “a Psalm of David” (Psalms 63:1a) see at Psalms 3:1.

The psalm informs us about the circumstances David is in when he writes the psalm. That is “when he was in the wilderness of Judah”. Since David is speaking of his kingship (Psalms 63:11), it is plausible that it is the time, when he is fleeing from Absalom. Then he is in the wilderness (2 Samuel 15:23), where he is separated from the ark and the dwelling place of God (2 Samuel 15:25). The trial of David reveals what was in his heart. So too will it be with the remnant in the future. David proves to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), for God himself.

David begins the psalm by telling God Who He is to him (Psalms 63:1b). God is his God. This speaks of an intense love for God. His deep love for Him we also hear when he then says that he seeks God “earnestly”. He does so because his soul thirsts for Him and his flesh yearns for Him (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2). His soul and his flesh represent his whole person. His severe thirst and intense yearning are a spiritual reflection of the wilderness in which he is. He feels like being in a wilderness, like being in “dry and weary land where there is no water”.

When the Lord Jesus says on the cross “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), it is a thirst for God because of the three hours in which He is forsaken by God. When the rich man thirsts in Hades (Luke 16:23-24), it is a thirst because as a creature he is eternally separated from his Creator (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2).

He remembers God’s “power” and “glory” which he has “seen … in the sanctuary” (Psalms 63:2). He has always entered God’s sanctuary to worship and meet God (2 Samuel 7:18a), with the result that God has revealed Himself to him in His power and glory.

Those who are in God’s presence become impressed with the power of His love and the glory of His Person. David beheld something of that glory, that is, he had an intense look at it. These are the impressions of God’s presence he has made with his heart. He has not forgotten them. Now that he is in the wilderness, he wants to experience them again and even more intensely.

Whoever has been an eyewitness of God’s power and lovingkindness with the eyes of his heart, has as it were “tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:3). As a result, he also knows that God’s lovingkindness – that is, the blessings God wants to give on the basis of the covenant – is better than life (Psalms 63:3). Life is the most precious possession one has. But the lovingkindness of God surpasses life. We may lose life, but the lovingkindness of God remains, while the awareness of it increases, especially as life seems to flow away. When that awareness becomes great to one’s heart, one’s lips open to praise God.

Blessing or praising God (Psalms 63:4) here precedes salvation (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praising God for His lovingkindness is also not limited to a single moment, but can be done continually as long as we live. We do not wait with it until we are with Him. Whoever loves God and experiences His lovingkindness will never stop praising Him. In God’s Name he will lift up his hands as the outward gesture of lifting up his heart to praise God.

Being thus occupied with God’s lovingkindness satisfies the soul “as with marrow and fatness” (Psalms 63:5). Here the God-fearing transcends the wilderness conditions, so to speak, and his mouth praises God “with joyful lips”. He sings about Who God is to him. His body does suffer through his sojourn in the wilderness, but his soul is abundantly satisfied with the best of fellowship with God. God is the best part for the soul (Psalms 16:5). This is experienced most when the circumstances are tough.

Psalms 91:10

Introduction

In this psalm we hear the longing of the God-fearing for the sanctuary because it is God’s dwelling place on earth, while yet he is far from it. In the previous psalm, God is his trust, while here God is the great refreshment for his thirsty soul. As in Psalms 61-62, we see in this psalm the longing for close fellowship with God.

Psalms 61-63 were written in the same period. They refer to the same period in the end time and portray the remnant’s exercises of faith when they are driven out of the land. They come to realize that although they are far from Jerusalem, they may yet experience the LORD’s lovingkindness. Thus, they still come to praise.

Yearning for God

For “a Psalm of David” (Psalms 63:1a) see at Psalms 3:1.

The psalm informs us about the circumstances David is in when he writes the psalm. That is “when he was in the wilderness of Judah”. Since David is speaking of his kingship (Psalms 63:11), it is plausible that it is the time, when he is fleeing from Absalom. Then he is in the wilderness (2 Samuel 15:23), where he is separated from the ark and the dwelling place of God (2 Samuel 15:25). The trial of David reveals what was in his heart. So too will it be with the remnant in the future. David proves to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), for God himself.

David begins the psalm by telling God Who He is to him (Psalms 63:1b). God is his God. This speaks of an intense love for God. His deep love for Him we also hear when he then says that he seeks God “earnestly”. He does so because his soul thirsts for Him and his flesh yearns for Him (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2). His soul and his flesh represent his whole person. His severe thirst and intense yearning are a spiritual reflection of the wilderness in which he is. He feels like being in a wilderness, like being in “dry and weary land where there is no water”.

When the Lord Jesus says on the cross “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), it is a thirst for God because of the three hours in which He is forsaken by God. When the rich man thirsts in Hades (Luke 16:23-24), it is a thirst because as a creature he is eternally separated from his Creator (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2).

He remembers God’s “power” and “glory” which he has “seen … in the sanctuary” (Psalms 63:2). He has always entered God’s sanctuary to worship and meet God (2 Samuel 7:18a), with the result that God has revealed Himself to him in His power and glory.

Those who are in God’s presence become impressed with the power of His love and the glory of His Person. David beheld something of that glory, that is, he had an intense look at it. These are the impressions of God’s presence he has made with his heart. He has not forgotten them. Now that he is in the wilderness, he wants to experience them again and even more intensely.

Whoever has been an eyewitness of God’s power and lovingkindness with the eyes of his heart, has as it were “tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:3). As a result, he also knows that God’s lovingkindness – that is, the blessings God wants to give on the basis of the covenant – is better than life (Psalms 63:3). Life is the most precious possession one has. But the lovingkindness of God surpasses life. We may lose life, but the lovingkindness of God remains, while the awareness of it increases, especially as life seems to flow away. When that awareness becomes great to one’s heart, one’s lips open to praise God.

Blessing or praising God (Psalms 63:4) here precedes salvation (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praising God for His lovingkindness is also not limited to a single moment, but can be done continually as long as we live. We do not wait with it until we are with Him. Whoever loves God and experiences His lovingkindness will never stop praising Him. In God’s Name he will lift up his hands as the outward gesture of lifting up his heart to praise God.

Being thus occupied with God’s lovingkindness satisfies the soul “as with marrow and fatness” (Psalms 63:5). Here the God-fearing transcends the wilderness conditions, so to speak, and his mouth praises God “with joyful lips”. He sings about Who God is to him. His body does suffer through his sojourn in the wilderness, but his soul is abundantly satisfied with the best of fellowship with God. God is the best part for the soul (Psalms 16:5). This is experienced most when the circumstances are tough.

Psalms 91:11

Introduction

In this psalm we hear the longing of the God-fearing for the sanctuary because it is God’s dwelling place on earth, while yet he is far from it. In the previous psalm, God is his trust, while here God is the great refreshment for his thirsty soul. As in Psalms 61-62, we see in this psalm the longing for close fellowship with God.

Psalms 61-63 were written in the same period. They refer to the same period in the end time and portray the remnant’s exercises of faith when they are driven out of the land. They come to realize that although they are far from Jerusalem, they may yet experience the LORD’s lovingkindness. Thus, they still come to praise.

Yearning for God

For “a Psalm of David” (Psalms 63:1a) see at Psalms 3:1.

The psalm informs us about the circumstances David is in when he writes the psalm. That is “when he was in the wilderness of Judah”. Since David is speaking of his kingship (Psalms 63:11), it is plausible that it is the time, when he is fleeing from Absalom. Then he is in the wilderness (2 Samuel 15:23), where he is separated from the ark and the dwelling place of God (2 Samuel 15:25). The trial of David reveals what was in his heart. So too will it be with the remnant in the future. David proves to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), for God himself.

David begins the psalm by telling God Who He is to him (Psalms 63:1b). God is his God. This speaks of an intense love for God. His deep love for Him we also hear when he then says that he seeks God “earnestly”. He does so because his soul thirsts for Him and his flesh yearns for Him (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2). His soul and his flesh represent his whole person. His severe thirst and intense yearning are a spiritual reflection of the wilderness in which he is. He feels like being in a wilderness, like being in “dry and weary land where there is no water”.

When the Lord Jesus says on the cross “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), it is a thirst for God because of the three hours in which He is forsaken by God. When the rich man thirsts in Hades (Luke 16:23-24), it is a thirst because as a creature he is eternally separated from his Creator (cf. Psalms 42:1b-2).

He remembers God’s “power” and “glory” which he has “seen … in the sanctuary” (Psalms 63:2). He has always entered God’s sanctuary to worship and meet God (2 Samuel 7:18a), with the result that God has revealed Himself to him in His power and glory.

Those who are in God’s presence become impressed with the power of His love and the glory of His Person. David beheld something of that glory, that is, he had an intense look at it. These are the impressions of God’s presence he has made with his heart. He has not forgotten them. Now that he is in the wilderness, he wants to experience them again and even more intensely.

Whoever has been an eyewitness of God’s power and lovingkindness with the eyes of his heart, has as it were “tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:3). As a result, he also knows that God’s lovingkindness – that is, the blessings God wants to give on the basis of the covenant – is better than life (Psalms 63:3). Life is the most precious possession one has. But the lovingkindness of God surpasses life. We may lose life, but the lovingkindness of God remains, while the awareness of it increases, especially as life seems to flow away. When that awareness becomes great to one’s heart, one’s lips open to praise God.

Blessing or praising God (Psalms 63:4) here precedes salvation (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praising God for His lovingkindness is also not limited to a single moment, but can be done continually as long as we live. We do not wait with it until we are with Him. Whoever loves God and experiences His lovingkindness will never stop praising Him. In God’s Name he will lift up his hands as the outward gesture of lifting up his heart to praise God.

Being thus occupied with God’s lovingkindness satisfies the soul “as with marrow and fatness” (Psalms 63:5). Here the God-fearing transcends the wilderness conditions, so to speak, and his mouth praises God “with joyful lips”. He sings about Who God is to him. His body does suffer through his sojourn in the wilderness, but his soul is abundantly satisfied with the best of fellowship with God. God is the best part for the soul (Psalms 16:5). This is experienced most when the circumstances are tough.

Psalms 91:12

Support From God

From early in the morning [earnestly is literally early] (Psalms 63:1b) until late at night, when he is in bed (Psalms 63:6), David is dealing with God. When he cannot sleep, in the night watches – in the Old Testament the Jews divided the night watches into three night watches – he meditates on God (cf. Psalms 119:148). Then he does not ‘count sheep’ to fall asleep, but meditates on the Shepherd. There is so much about Him to remember. We can also think about Who He is to us and what He has done for us and praise Him for it.

David looks back at God’s faithfulness in the past. He tells God that He “has been” his “help” (Psalms 63:7). He trusts that also in the future the LORD will not disappoint him and will deliver him. Therefore, he can always sing for joy. He feels safe and secure under the shadow of God’s wings. There he finds protection from the heat of the sun during the day and there he finds warmth during the cold of the night. There he is close to God, despite the fact that he cannot be in the sanctuary. God Himself is his sanctuary here (cf. Isaiah 8:13-14). That brings up a song of praise in him; there, in that place so close to God, he can sing for joy.

It fills him with deep desire never to let go of God again (Psalms 63:8). His soul clings to God and goes after Him. He expresses his covenant loyalty to God and, as it were, becomes attached to Him (cf. Deuteronomy 10:20). To cling to or adhere to someone is to attach oneself to someone in an intimate way. It is like the man’s joining or attaching to his wife (Genesis 2:24).

In doing so, he is upheld by God’s right hand, which symbolizes God’s power. He does not have to cling to God in his own strength and follow Him. It means that God holds David’s hand with His right hand and leads him (cf. Isaiah 41:10; 13).

Psalms 91:13

Support From God

From early in the morning [earnestly is literally early] (Psalms 63:1b) until late at night, when he is in bed (Psalms 63:6), David is dealing with God. When he cannot sleep, in the night watches – in the Old Testament the Jews divided the night watches into three night watches – he meditates on God (cf. Psalms 119:148). Then he does not ‘count sheep’ to fall asleep, but meditates on the Shepherd. There is so much about Him to remember. We can also think about Who He is to us and what He has done for us and praise Him for it.

David looks back at God’s faithfulness in the past. He tells God that He “has been” his “help” (Psalms 63:7). He trusts that also in the future the LORD will not disappoint him and will deliver him. Therefore, he can always sing for joy. He feels safe and secure under the shadow of God’s wings. There he finds protection from the heat of the sun during the day and there he finds warmth during the cold of the night. There he is close to God, despite the fact that he cannot be in the sanctuary. God Himself is his sanctuary here (cf. Isaiah 8:13-14). That brings up a song of praise in him; there, in that place so close to God, he can sing for joy.

It fills him with deep desire never to let go of God again (Psalms 63:8). His soul clings to God and goes after Him. He expresses his covenant loyalty to God and, as it were, becomes attached to Him (cf. Deuteronomy 10:20). To cling to or adhere to someone is to attach oneself to someone in an intimate way. It is like the man’s joining or attaching to his wife (Genesis 2:24).

In doing so, he is upheld by God’s right hand, which symbolizes God’s power. He does not have to cling to God in his own strength and follow Him. It means that God holds David’s hand with His right hand and leads him (cf. Isaiah 41:10; 13).

Psalms 91:14

Support From God

From early in the morning [earnestly is literally early] (Psalms 63:1b) until late at night, when he is in bed (Psalms 63:6), David is dealing with God. When he cannot sleep, in the night watches – in the Old Testament the Jews divided the night watches into three night watches – he meditates on God (cf. Psalms 119:148). Then he does not ‘count sheep’ to fall asleep, but meditates on the Shepherd. There is so much about Him to remember. We can also think about Who He is to us and what He has done for us and praise Him for it.

David looks back at God’s faithfulness in the past. He tells God that He “has been” his “help” (Psalms 63:7). He trusts that also in the future the LORD will not disappoint him and will deliver him. Therefore, he can always sing for joy. He feels safe and secure under the shadow of God’s wings. There he finds protection from the heat of the sun during the day and there he finds warmth during the cold of the night. There he is close to God, despite the fact that he cannot be in the sanctuary. God Himself is his sanctuary here (cf. Isaiah 8:13-14). That brings up a song of praise in him; there, in that place so close to God, he can sing for joy.

It fills him with deep desire never to let go of God again (Psalms 63:8). His soul clings to God and goes after Him. He expresses his covenant loyalty to God and, as it were, becomes attached to Him (cf. Deuteronomy 10:20). To cling to or adhere to someone is to attach oneself to someone in an intimate way. It is like the man’s joining or attaching to his wife (Genesis 2:24).

In doing so, he is upheld by God’s right hand, which symbolizes God’s power. He does not have to cling to God in his own strength and follow Him. It means that God holds David’s hand with His right hand and leads him (cf. Isaiah 41:10; 13).

Psalms 91:15

Rejoice in God

After the praise, David suddenly becomes aware, as it were, as a thought in retrospect, oh yes, the enemies are still there, but they are unimportant. If you have seen God, then you become aware of the greatness of God and the pettiness of your enemies.

David knows he has enemies (Psalms 63:9). The contrast indicated by the word “but” shows that his enemies have no part in Who God is to him and what he has in God. They are after him to destroy that. They want to take away from him his fellowship with God. In this they will not succeed. On the contrary, they will “go into the depths of the earth”. He is close to God; they will be rejected far from God.

Their fate is that they will be “delivered over to the power of the sword” (Psalms 63:10). They have used the sword to bring down others and therefore will themselves be brought down by the sword, i.e. killed (Revelation 13:10). After that, they will “be a prey for foxes”. The Hebrew word sualim can be translated as both “foxes” and “jackals”. Jackals are true scavengers; foxes are casual scavengers. That the enemies are prey for these animals means that they are not buried, which is a huge disgrace (cf. Isaiah 66:24). The disgrace will be even greater when the unholy foxes will feast on their dead bodies (cf. Revelation 19:17-18; 21).

In contrast, the king will “rejoice in God” (Psalms 63:11). David knows that he will ultimately rejoice in God because God will give back to him the throne from which he was expelled. God is his source of rejoicing. Those who rejoice in God will acknowledge His authority and exaltation above all. He will consecrate himself to Him and serve Him alone. He expresses this by swearing by Him.

He who swears by God involves Him in all his intentions in the acknowledgment of His authority (Deuteronomy 6:13; cf. Genesis 42:15-16) and “will glory”. To glory means to boast in God, to honor and magnify Him for the help He has given in carrying out the intentions.

Liars also boast, but they speak lies. These are the people who have spread lies about God’s king. Their mouths will be stopped forever. This will be the fate of the antichrist and all his followers who have spread lies about the Christ of God. “Their part [will be] in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8).

Psalms 91:16

Rejoice in God

After the praise, David suddenly becomes aware, as it were, as a thought in retrospect, oh yes, the enemies are still there, but they are unimportant. If you have seen God, then you become aware of the greatness of God and the pettiness of your enemies.

David knows he has enemies (Psalms 63:9). The contrast indicated by the word “but” shows that his enemies have no part in Who God is to him and what he has in God. They are after him to destroy that. They want to take away from him his fellowship with God. In this they will not succeed. On the contrary, they will “go into the depths of the earth”. He is close to God; they will be rejected far from God.

Their fate is that they will be “delivered over to the power of the sword” (Psalms 63:10). They have used the sword to bring down others and therefore will themselves be brought down by the sword, i.e. killed (Revelation 13:10). After that, they will “be a prey for foxes”. The Hebrew word sualim can be translated as both “foxes” and “jackals”. Jackals are true scavengers; foxes are casual scavengers. That the enemies are prey for these animals means that they are not buried, which is a huge disgrace (cf. Isaiah 66:24). The disgrace will be even greater when the unholy foxes will feast on their dead bodies (cf. Revelation 19:17-18; 21).

In contrast, the king will “rejoice in God” (Psalms 63:11). David knows that he will ultimately rejoice in God because God will give back to him the throne from which he was expelled. God is his source of rejoicing. Those who rejoice in God will acknowledge His authority and exaltation above all. He will consecrate himself to Him and serve Him alone. He expresses this by swearing by Him.

He who swears by God involves Him in all his intentions in the acknowledgment of His authority (Deuteronomy 6:13; cf. Genesis 42:15-16) and “will glory”. To glory means to boast in God, to honor and magnify Him for the help He has given in carrying out the intentions.

Liars also boast, but they speak lies. These are the people who have spread lies about God’s king. Their mouths will be stopped forever. This will be the fate of the antichrist and all his followers who have spread lies about the Christ of God. “Their part [will be] in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8).