The man that trusts in God.
I. WE HAVE HIS DESCRIPTION.
1. He dwells in the secret place, etc.
2. He abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
II. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH (Psalms 91:2.) The Lord is his Refuge, Fortress, the Joy of his soul, his God, his constant Confidence.
III. HIS COMMENDATION OF GOD TO OTHERS. (Psalms 91:3-13.)
1. As a sure Deliverer from the hidden foe and from the devouring pestilence.
2. As Protector; like that of the mother bird over her young; like that of shield and buckler to the soldier.
3. As the Inspirer of confidence. (Psalms 91:5.) Against the midnight attack—the terror by night (cf. 7:1-25.). Against open war, when the flight of arrows almost darkened the sky. Against secret disease (Psalms 91:6) and sudden death—the sickness that wasteth at noonday.
4. As rescuing from the very jaws of death. Thousands falling all around, but God's servant kept unharmed (Psalms 91:7). Seeing only, but never experiencing, the awful recompense of the wicked (Psalms 91:8).
5. He gives the reason of this. (Psalms 91:9.) He made the Lord his Refuge and his Habitation; there no evil could come, nor any plague.
6. He tells of the angelic ministries through which God thus guards his people; they keep and they upbear, so that no hurt shall come. Still more, they render the man invulnerable (Psalms 91:13). Forces terrible as the lion and subtle like the adder cannot harm. Thus, from his own experience, the man that trusts in God commends him to his fellow man. And next—
IV. THE DIVINE APPROVAL AND DELIGHT IN BOTH THE MAN AND HIS TESTIMONY. At Psalms 91:14 God begins to speak.
1. Declaring his mind towards his faithful servant. We may regard these verses (14-16) as a Divine soliloquy, in which God, well pleased, meditates what he will do, and why, for his servant. He will deliver, exalt, answer, keep near to, honour, satisfy with long life, and reveal to him the fulness of his love.
2. Endorsing the testimony in the mind of him to whom it has been given. Making him feel that it is all true, and that much more is true. Thus does God deal with his faithfully witnessing servants, and for and through them to others. This psalm is as true for today as for the day when it was written. Let us but thus trust in God, confess, and commend him.—S.C.