Psalm 91:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

NIV: With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

NASB: I will satisfy him with a long life, And show him My salvation.'

CSB: I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation.

NLT: I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.'

KJV: With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

NKJV: With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

The Lord promises long life to the person who trusts Him and loves Him. Other references in Scripture make it clear this is not a simplistic, absolute promise of invincibility (Psalm 3:1–2). Jesus, in fact, refuted a twisting of this very psalm when Satan tried to make that mistaken claim (Matthew 4:4–7; Psalm 91:11–12). It's true, however, that those who follow godly wisdom are much less likely to suffer unnecessary harm (Proverbs 1:7; 9:11–12). That comes with avoiding unhealthy habits, dangerous lifestyles, unneeded strife, and so forth (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Galatians 5:16–26). Of course, a believer may die young, but his death is simply a change of address from earth to heaven. He passes from temporal life to eternal life. The Lord also promises salvation. for the Christian, this can sometimes mean deliverance in this life, but it always means the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life (John 3:16–18).

Longevity was prized by the people of Israel. God had promised them in Exodus 20:12 that their days would be long in the Promised Land if they honored father and mother. Genesis 25:8 reports that Abraham, the friend of God (James 2:23), "died in a good old age, an old man and full of years." The Lord gives not only quantity of days but also quality of life. He satisfies the trusting believer with long life!

Psalm 91:14–16 speaks of promises and blessings from God, bestowed on the believer who trusts in Him. This marks a shift in voice, as the prior verses came from the perspective of the psalmist. These verses form a suitable closing to the psalm. They follow the psalmist's declaration of trust in the Lord and his list of the Lord's responses to that trust. Psalm 37:3–6 closely echoes this emphasis on trust in the Lord and its benefits.

The psalmist expresses his trust that God is a source of safety. He uses various dangers as symbols of the terrors which God's people do not need to fear. When God has resolved to protect someone, nothing can overcome that safety. Jesus refuted inappropriate use of this promise when being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:5–7). Those who love God, and honor Him, can count on His provision and protection, and know that nothing happens without His approval.

This psalm includes similar phrases to psalms 90 and 92. The theme of this song is trust in God, a common theme in Scripture. Notable parallels can be found in 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 9, 37, 40, 84, and 118, Proverbs 3:5–6, Proverbs 14:26, Isaiah 26:3, Nahum 1:7, John 14:1–6, and Hebrews 11. In Psalm 91 the writer reveals what the Lord does for those who trust in Him. Verses 11 and 12 were cited by Satan when tempting Jesus in Matthew 4:5–6.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.