Psalm 91:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress; in you, my God, I trust.” For he himself will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his wings, and under his wings you will take refuge. His truth is a shield and buckler; you will not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will see with your own eyes the reward of the wicked, for the Lord is your refuge, and you have chosen the Most High as your defender. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any calamity come near your tent; for he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall walk on the cobra and the adder, the lion and the dragon you shall trample underfoot. Because he has taken refuge in me, I will deliver him; I will take care of him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With length of days I will grant him and show him my salvation.
The historical context of Psalm 91:
The historical context of Psalm 91 is fascinating because, unlike many other psalms (which have a specific historical event in their title, such as “when he fled from his son Abizalon”), Psalm 91 has no historical title or author identification.
This absence of the author's name and specific date is not an error, however—it has a profound meaning. Here are the key levels of historical and literary context for this psalm:
1. Who is the author - traditional and expert views.
● Jewish tradition: The Talmud and ancient rabbinic texts attribute authorship to Moses. According to this tradition, Psalm 91 was written by the same author who composed the previous psalm (Psalm 90 – “A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God”). Psalm 90 speaks of human frailty and transience (“Man is like grass…”), while Psalm 91 is a logical continuation and response – pointing to divine protection in the midst of this fragile world.
● Modern Biblical scholarship: Biblical historians agree that the exact century of its creation is difficult to determine, but the psalm bears the hallmarks of the temple liturgy of the later period of Israel (the period of the kingdom or after the return from the Babylonian exile).
2. Ancient Near Eastern setting - A world of dangers.
To understand the imagery in the psalm, we need to look at what ancient man was actually afraid of:
● “Destructive plague” and “contagion in the twilight”: In ancient times, epidemics, plagues, and invisible diseases (which came suddenly and decimated entire cities) were seen as something terrifying and demonic. People did not understand bacteria or viruses, so they saw them as “an arrow flying by day.”
● “The lion and the adder” / “tread on the lion and the dragon”: In the Middle Eastern world of that time, wild beasts were a real and deadly threat when traveling through deserts and inhospitable lands. The symbolism of the “dragon” (Hebrew tannin) or serpent often referred to the forces of chaos and hostile powers.
3. The context of the temple ceremony and liturgy.
Many biblical historians believe that the psalm originated or was used in the context of the Temple in Jerusalem.
● It could have been an antiphonal chant (singing in alternating voices) used in rituals when a person seeking asylum or protection came to the temple.
● The priest or Levite could have responded to the singer with the final verses (14-16), in which God personally confirms his protection over those who place their trust in his hands.
4. The original message in Israel - security in God, not in politics.
At a time when Israel was constantly threatened by powerful empires (Assyria, Babylon, Egypt), political elites often relied on military alliances and armies. Psalm 91 represents a profound theological shift: it reminds us that true security lies not in human power or weapons, but in total surrender to God’s protection.