Psalm 91:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

NIV: He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

NASB: He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

CSB: When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.

NLT: When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

KJV: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

NKJV: He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

The psalmist continues to quote the Lord' promises to those who trust and love Him. He promises to answer their call for help when they are in trouble. He also promises to be with them in trouble, to rescue them, and to cause others to respect them.

It is noteworthy that the Lord does not promise to keep the believer entirely free from trouble, but to be with him in it and deliver him out of it. Scripture is clear that danger and death are still parts of life, even for those who honor God (Psalm 3:1–2; John 16:33). Those who trust in God know that nothing happens outside of His control (Romans 8:28). They also know that honoring God by obeying His wisdom is a more secure path to success (Proverbs 1:7; 9:11–12).

Job is a classic example of a believer who experienced trouble. Extreme trials befell him, but in the end the Lord blessed Job with double what he lost when the trials struck. We see this by comparing Job chapters 1 and 2 to Job chapter 42. Job also received honor from all who visited him after the trials (Job 42:11).

Jesus did not hide His scars when He commissioned His disciples to proclaim the gospel throughout the world. He had promised that they would have tribulation in the world (John 16:33), but He promised to be with them until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Hebrews 13:5 quotes the Lord as promising, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

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.