Psalm 91 (90):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This psalm serves as the basis for the devil's temptation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us therefore be vigilant, equipping ourselves so we can stand against the tempter, not relying on our own strength but on Him who faced temptation before us, so that we are not overpowered in our own trials. Christ had no need for temptation; His trial becomes our lesson. By heeding His responses to the devil, we can respond similarly when we are enticed. We enter through the gate spoken of in the Gospel. What does it mean to enter through the gate? It signifies entering through Christ, who declared: ‘I am the door’ (John 10:7). To enter through Him involves emulating His example. He invites us to mimic Him in the aspects of His life that necessitated His humanity. How could He have endured suffering and faced death, crucifixion, and humiliation without being made flesh? Likewise, when you experience the tribulations of this life, inflicted by the devil through others or in secret, as in Job's case, be strong and patient; you shall dwell under the shield of the Most High, as expressed in this psalm. For if you turn away from His assistance—having no strength to aid yourself—you will stumble.

Many are brave when they are persecuted openly by others, believing they are imitating Christ’s sufferings; yet when they face the subtle assaults of the devil, they often doubt their victory in Christ. Fear not when you imitate Christ. When the devil tempted our Lord, there was none present in the wilderness; he approached Him covertly, but was defeated, whether he attacked overtly or in secret. This is how to enter through the gate: when the adversary attacks quietly, when he suggests harm through physical ailments, fever, or various afflictions, much like Job’s experiences. Job did not recognize the devil but acknowledged divine power. He understood that the devil could only act against him if it was permitted by the Sovereign Lord of all, attributing all glory to God while denying any authority to the devil.

Thus, anyone who imitates Christ by enduring life’s tribulations and placing their hope in God—so that they do not fall into traps—will remain unshaken by fear; this person will abide under the refuge of the Most High, as Psalm 90:1 begins. When we arrive at these expressions, you will recognize the well-known words used by the devil to tempt our Lord: “He shall say unto the Lord, Thou art my refuge” (Psalm 90:2). Who speaks these words to the Lord? The one who resides under the shelter of the Most High, not in their own strength. Who is that? The one who dwells safely under the Most High is humble, unlike those who sought to elevate themselves to divinity and, as a consequence, lost the immortality for which they were formed. They opted to secure themselves by their own strength rather than by the protection of the Most High; the devil’s promises did not come to fruition for them.

You shall also declare, “In Him I trust” (Psalm 90:3), for He alone shall deliver me, not I myself. This clearly indicates that all our hope must be placed in God and not man. From what shall He rescue you? From the snare of the hunter and from damaging speech. Escape from the hunter’s net is a substantial blessing, but what about protection from harmful words? Many have fallen into traps laid by hunters due to harsh words. What do I mean? The devil, along with his angels, set traps like hunters do, and those who walk in Christ are safeguarded from these snares, as he dares not lay them near Christ. He may place them off the path, but not in it. Therefore, let your path be that of Christ, and you shall evade the devil’s nets.

What is the harm posed by damaging speech? Many have been ensnared by the devil's harsh words: for instance, Christians among Gentiles suffer slander, and when they hear insults, rather than standing firm, they can fall into the traps set by the hunters. However, what can harsh words ultimately do to you? Can the nets the enemy lays through slanders genuinely affect you? It is customary to set nets at the hedge for birds and to throw stones there; such stones do not harm the birds. When has a stone thrown at a hedge ever struck a bird? Yet, frightened by the innocuous noise, a bird may end up caught in a net. Likewise, those who fear the empty insults of derogators and avoid unprovoked contempt may find themselves ensnared by the devil.

Moreover, among the Gentiles, a Christian who fears their mockery may stumble into the net of the hunter; similarly, Christians who strive to be more dutiful than others are often targeted by slander from their fellow believers. What benefit is it if you find a place where Gentiles do not exist? Even there, one might not be insulted for being a Christian; but many unrighteous Christians remain, among whom those committed to a righteous life will still suffer reproach and harsh words. When these righteous are mocked and accused of being too zealous or perfect, they endure insults on all sides. Should they yield to fear and abandon the way of Christ, they will fall into the traps set by the fishermen.

When enduring such reproaches, what should your response be? When faced with criticism, how can you find comfort that guards you from turning away? Consider this: Who are you, a mere servant and sinner? To our Lord Jesus they said, “There is a demon in you” (John 8:48). You have just heard hurtful words directed at our Lord. He could have ignored them but chose instead to demonstrate to you the importance of resisting such slander, lest you also fall into the traps of the hunters.

He will protect you beneath His wings, and you will find refuge under His covering (Psalm 90:4). These words highlight that your security comes not from your own abilities, lest you believe you can defend yourself. He will guard you, freeing you from the hunter's snares and from damaging speech. Being sheltered under His wings not only signifies protection but also serves as assurance. Just as a hen guards her chicks beneath her wings—how much more will you be secure under the wings of God against the devil and his minions, who swoop like hawks to snatch away the vulnerable? The analogy of the hen representing the Wisdom of God holds true; for our Lord and Savior compared Himself to a hen who longs to gather her chicks (Matthew 23:37). If you observe other birds, you will find that many cocoon their young, yet none exhibit the nurturing care of a hen. Swallows, sparrows, and storks flit about without clear signs of their chicks. But the hen’s vocalization and her expanded feathers indicate she is ever watchful over her young. So, in His love, the Wisdom of God took on weakness when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), that we might find hope beneath His wings.

His truth shall be your shield (Psalm 90:5). Wings and shields are analogous; neither exists in a literal sense in this context. If wings were truly a shield, how could both be reconciled? However, these terms are employed metaphorically through similitudes. If Christ were genuinely a Stone (Acts 4:10-11), He could not simultaneously be a Lion (Revelation 5:5) or a Lamb (John 1:29). He is described as both a Lion and a Lamb, among other metaphoric titles, as He embodies all these images without being confined to any one of them. His truth serves as your shield, affirming that He distinguishes between those who place their hope in self and those who place it in God. Both may be sinners, yet one person may carry pride and mockery while another humbly acknowledges their transgressions, saying, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Though both individuals are sinners, one scoffs while the other repents. The truth of God, which is impartial, differentiates the contrite from the arrogant, the self-seeking from the God-dependent.

You shall not fear the terrors of the night (Psalm 90:6), nor the arrow that flies by day, nor destruction that brings calamity at noon. These expressions reflect the different types of fears faced. What fears arise at night? Those who sin without awareness act as if they sin in darkness; when aware, they sin in the light of day. The former is less grievous than the latter. The trivial temptations that catch the unaware resemble the terror of the night; the more substantial temptations that confront the knowledgeable are likened to arrows flying by day. Such temptations are those that do not press down heavily enough to compel submission, but rather pass quickly if we do not engage with them. If a persecutor provokes and instills fear in the uninformed, particularly those whose faith is shaky, they begin to feel abandoned by Christ, questioning the validity of their faith in the face of transient challenges.

Some, however, recognize their calling to a hopeful future, understanding that what God promises extends beyond this life. They endure various trials to obtain eternal rewards. These individuals, well aware of their hope, may bend under severe persecution yet still know their sinfulness. They may capitulate under oppressive duress, falling into sin, akin to sins committed in broad daylight.

But why mention noon? Because it symbolizes the peak of persecution's intensity. Thus, the demon of noon represents the scorching heat of fierce trials, aligning with our Lord’s words: “The sun arose; and since they had no root, they withered away.” This truth applies to those who falter when trials increase because they lack true foundation. This context implies that a demon striking at noon signifies an intense persecution. Remember how the rulers sought to crush the Christian faith by declaring judgments against believers. Their decree was that anyone proclaiming themselves a Christian would face punishment. Many, fearing immediate harm, would deny their faith, clearly understanding their sinful betrayal. Yet, those who held steadfast to their faith, firmly believing in the unseen promises of the future, endured the trials and awaiting reward of their spirit—escaping the temptations that threatened them.

Those who claimed the name of a Christian stood as targets of persecution. Each wave of disdain intensified, yet those resolute in faith triumphed over the day and harsh conditions. Yet, many who faltered under intense scrutiny or torture, tempted to flee or deny Christ, faced overwhelming trials. While the sword could kill the body, it would propel their souls to God. This shows the futility of the enemy's tactic against the faithful, who endure yet rise again.