Psalm 91:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

NIV: Because he loves me,' says the LORD, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

NASB: 'Because he has loved Me, I will save him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

CSB: Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name.

NLT: The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

KJV: Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

NKJV: “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

God promises to deliver and protect the person who clings to Him in love. The primary fulfillment of this is eternal, as those who come to Christ in salvation receive everlasting life (John 3:16–18). Those who follow godly wisdom and remain near to the Lord's will also give themselves a better chance at avoiding disaster (Proverbs 1:7; 9:11–12). Some see a messianic tone to these words. Satan used part of this passage to tempt Jesus (Psalm 91:11–12; Matthew 4:5–6), who rejected it as a twisting of the Word (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16).

The word for "love" used here is a Hebrew term implying delight or longing. The same term is seen in Deuteronomy 7:7 and 10:15 regarding God's approach to the nation of Israel. This sets a high standard.

When Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" (John 21:16), He used the highest Greek word for love, from the root agapao, a self-sacrificing love. It is the kind of love God demonstrated by giving His Son as the sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Jesus affirmed that the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Such love for God mirrors His love for His people. The apostle John noted this fact in 1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us."

Psalm 91:14 further identifies the person who loves God as one who knows the Lord's name. In other words, he has learned by experience that the Lord is good and perfect in all He is and does.

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.