Psalm 91 expresses confidence in God to protect His people in all kinds of trouble. However, it raises more questions than it gives answers. It seems to stand in stark contrast to the previous three psalms. In Psalm 88, the poet is ″overwhelmed with troubles″ (v. 3). Psalms 89 and 90 both affirm that life is fleeting (Psalm 89:47; 90:5) and full of sorrow (90:10). Yet, Psalm 91 promises that those who love God won't even strike their foot against a stone (91:12) and will be blessed with a long life (v. 16). How does a Christian understand and sing Psalm 91?

The psalm begins by promising us that we will be kept safe because God is our shelter (v. 1). The psalmist identifies two threats to our life and safety: plague and war (vv. 3, 6-7). However, from what he later writes, we know that he's claiming God's protection from anything and everything that can harm us (vv. 11-13). The poet uses the popular Old Testament image of the Lord as a bird, under whose wings we find refuge, to describe God's protection (v. 4; see also 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7). The psalm concludes by assuring all those who love God that He will deliver them from all their troubles and, finally, give them salvation (vv. 15-16).

The psalmist's words appear to contradict what many of us experience. I spent 11 years in missionary service. I experienced suffering as a result of following Christ–I repeatedly fell sick; I experienced frustration and failure. I also realised that suffering is often the pathway to Christian maturity. In the light of experience and the rest of Scripture, how can we understand Psalm 91?

First, the book before Psalms is Job. Job testifies that sometimes God, in His mysterious wisdom, will allow His faithful servants to suffer terribly. The writer of Psalm 91 knew this. So, he is not denying that ″in this world you will have trouble″ (John 16:33).

Second, for us today, the fullest understanding of the meaning of Psalm 91 is spiritual. For example, the apostle Paul was not protected from beatings, stoning, imprisonments, and shipwrecks, but he knew all these hardships ″will turn out for my deliverance″ (Philippians 1:19). In the Lord's prayer, we ask God to ″lead us not into temptation″ (Matthew 6:13; the Greek word for ″temptation″ can also mean testing) and He does. While Satan attacks us, God will always rescue and protect His people (Revelation 12:13-17; Luke 22:31-32). And those who love God will enjoy a long life; indeed, the certain hope of a believer is eternal life.

In the second temptation of Jesus, the devil quoted Psalm 91:11-12 (see Matthew 4:5-7). Jesus refused to put God to the test. While this psalm applies to everyone who trusts God, preeminently it applied to Jesus. He knew suffering. His life was cut short. Yet He rose from the dead. Spiritual protection and bodily resurrection are the ultimate promise of this psalm and the hope of all believers.