Psalm 91 (90):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This psalm served as a challenge for the devil when he sought to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, let us remain vigilant concerning it, so that, being fortified by its truths, we may withstand the adversary, relying not on our own strength but on Him who has faced temptation ahead of us, to avoid being overwhelmed when we encounter trials. Christ had no necessity for temptation; rather, His temptation serves as our instruction. If we heed His responses to the devil, we will be equipped to reply similarly when we face temptation, thus entering through the gate as described in the Gospel. What does it signify to enter through the gate? It is to pass through Christ, who proclaims, "I am the door" (John 10:7). To traverse this path means to emulate His actions. He calls us to follow Him in those aspects that He could only undertake by becoming Man; how could He endure suffering without becoming Man? How else could He have died, crucified and humiliated? Likewise, when you face the hardships of this world, inflicted by the devil either overtly through men or covertly as in Job’s trials, be steadfast and patient; you will dwell under the protection of the Most High, as expressed in this psalm. If you turn away from His support, lacking strength to aid yourself, you will stumble.

Many exhibit bravery when they endure persecution from others, appearing openly upset; they believe this reflects the sufferings of Christ, thinking they mirror Him when persecuted. Yet, when attacked by the hidden assaults of the devil, they assume they are unworthy of Christ's reward. Never fear to emulate Christ. When the devil tempted our Lord, there was no man present in the wilderness; the temptation occurred secretly, yet He triumphed, overcoming even when the adversary attacked openly. So, if you wish to enter by the door, endure when the enemy covertly strikes you, urging harm through physical ailments, fever, sickness, or other bodily misfortunes, akin to Job's experience. He didn't see the devil but recognized God's sovereignty, understanding that the adversary could not harm him unless permitted by the Almighty. He gave all glory to God, denying any power to the devil.

Thus, anyone who emulates Christ by enduring trials while placing their hope in God, so as not to fall into traps, will not be overcome by panic. This is the one who dwells under the shadow of the Most High and will endure under God's refuge, as stated in Psalm 90:1, which begins the well-known lines you have heard and sung. When we reach those words, you will recognize the familiar phrases used when the devil tempted our Lord: "He shall say unto the Lord, Thou art my refuge and my fortress: my God" (Psalm 90:2). Who declares this to the Lord? It is the one who resides under the protection of the Most High, not relying on their own defenses. Who is that one? The one who dwells under the Most High's shelter is humble, unlike those who sought to elevate themselves to divinity and forfeited their original immortality. They chose to seek their own security over that of the Most High, thus missing what the devil falsely promised them.

So you too can declare, "In Him I trust. For He shall deliver me" (Psalm 90:3), and not depend upon self. Does this not teach us that our trust must be entirely in God, not in humanity? Where shall He deliver you? From the snares of the fowler and from the biting words. Being freed from the snare of the fowler is indeed a great blessing; but what of rescue from harsh language? Many have fallen into traps laid by hunters due to unkind words. I’m indicating that the devil and his minions set traps like hunters do; however, those who walk in Christ are removed from these snares, for he does not dare to ensnare them among His followers; the traps are set off the path, not within it. Thus, let your journey be along Christ's path, and you will not stumble into the devil’s traps.

And what does it entail, a harsh word? The devil has ensnared many through unkind speech: for instance, Christians among Gentiles face insults, and they feel shame upon hearing disrespect, leading them to stray into the traps of hunters. Yet, how does a harsh word truly harm you? Can the snares of the enemy, arising from harsh criticism, truly affect you? It is a common practice to set traps at the hedge’s end for birds and to throw stones into the hedge; these stones do not harm the birds. When has any bird been struck by someone hurling a stone into the bushes? Yet, the frightened birds, startled by harmless noise, become ensnared in the traps; likewise, individuals who fear baseless reproaches and blush at undeserved insults fall into the snares of hunters, caught by the devil.

Just as among the heathen, a Christian who fears their derision becomes ensnared by hunters, so too do those Christians who strive to be more diligent and righteous often face scorn from other Christians. What good is it, then, dear brother, if you happen upon a town without pagans? No one there insults a Christian simply because there are no Gentiles present; but many Christians live poorly, while some endeavor to lead virtuous lives amidst the unfaithful, worshiping God sincerely among those indulging in sinful practices, attending church and enduring reproaches from fellow Christians who label them as righteous or idealist. They receive insults from every side; and if they yield to fear and abandon the way of Christ, they will find themselves caught in the snares of fishermen. What, then, when faced with such words, should the believer do? When confronted with harsh remarks, what sustenance prevents you from straying from the way? Let him say: What do such words mean for me, a slave and a sinner? Our Lord faced accusations: "There is a demon in you" (John 8:48). You have just heard critical words hurled against our Lord. He did not need to tolerate these insults; yet by doing so, He admonished you against the pitfalls of harsh words, warning you not to become entangled in the hunters’ nets.

He will safeguard you beneath His wings, and you shall find solace under His protection (Psalm 90:4). He states this to ensure that your defense is never based on your own strength. Trust in Him; He will shield you from the traps laid by hunters and from harmful words. The imagery of standing between His shoulders encompasses both front and rear: this positioning is round about His head; yet, the directive to "hope under His wings" clarifies that the coverage of His outstretched wings envelops you, placing you without fear in the center, where no harm can approach you. Just as a hen shelters her chicks beneath her wings, how much more secure will you be under the wings of God against the devil and his minions, who fly like vultures seeking to devour the vulnerable? The comparison of the hen to the very Wisdom of God is fitting, as Christ, our Lord and Savior, likened Himself to a hen, saying, "How often would I gather your children" (Matthew 23:37). If you observe other birds, you will find many warming their eggs and nurturing their young; however, none exhibit the same care as a hen. We can see that swallows, sparrows, and storks may sit outside their nests, often uncertain about their offspring, but a hen reveals herself as a true mother through her tender call and protective stance. She transforms in love for her chicks, as she becomes weaker in their vulnerability. In the same manner, due to our weakness, the Wisdom of God chose to become weak when the Word became flesh (John 1:14), that we might take refuge under His wings.

His truth shall envelop you like a shield (Psalm 90:5). Wings serve as shields, for they represent protection; yet neither should be interpreted literally as such. If either wings or shields were literal, how could one serve as the other? Can wings truly function as a shield or vice versa? These expressions are metaphorical, conveyed through imagery. If Christ were merely a Stone (Acts 4:10-11), He could not simultaneously be a Lion; if He were a Lion (Revelation 5:5), He could not be a Lamb. Instead, He embodies all these attributes metaphorically as Jesus Christ, our savior, signifying that He surpasses mere images. His truth is described as your shield—a shield that assures you will not be aligned with those who trust in themselves rather than in God. Both may be sinners, but one holds presumption, mocking God, while another, in humility, pleads, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). One is contemptuous, while the other repents. God's unchanging truth discerns the penitent from the unrepentant, the humble from the proud, the self-serving from those devoted to God. You will fear no terror by night.

Neither shall you fear the arrow that flies by day, nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor for destruction at noon (Psalm 90:6). These phrases correspond to their partners; do not fear the terror by night, nor the destruction in darkness, nor the calamity at noon. What is it we fear by night, and what by day? When someone sins out of ignorance, it is as if he sins by night, but when one sins knowingly, it is a transgression by day. The two types of sin differ; the former is lighter, while the latter carries greater weight. However, this distinction may not be immediately apparent, and with God’s blessing, I will elucidate this understanding. The lighter temptation of ignorance is likened to the terror of the night, while the heavier temptation of willful sinning is represented by the arrow that flies by day. What do we mean by light temptations? They are those that do not heavily burden us, allowing us to quickly bypass them if we choose to refuse. Consider those who face threats from persecutors; the terror they bring weighs on the faithful, leading them to doubt their identity as Christians when they become fearful due to temporary hardships.

There are those unaware that their Christian identity empowers them to overcome present challenges and hope for the future. All trials must be endured to attain what God promises eternally; this understanding empowers them. However, when they face intense persecution, they may yield under duress, recognizing their sin but succumbing as in daylight.

But why mention noon? The persecution intensifies at that hour, symbolizing immense pressure and heat. The torment represented by noonday is fierce persecution. Our Lord mentions, "The sun arose, and because they had no root, they withered away.” This explicitly points to those tempted by persecution when they lack inner strength. Therefore, we correctly interpret the malevolent force at noon as intense persecution.

Dearly beloved, listen as I recount the persecution from which the Lord preserved His Church. Initially, when earthly emperors aimed to eliminate the Christian name from existence through oppression, they decreed severe punishment for anyone declaring Christianity. Whoever sought to avoid punishment denied their faith, fully aware of their sin. The arrow that flew by day struck him. Conversely, an individual who focused not on earthly living but possessed unwavering faith in eternal life evaded that arrow, embracing their identity as Christian. He who faced physical suffering was liberated in spirit, awaiting the redemption of his body in resurrection, having triumphed over that temptation from the arrow that flies by day.

"Anyone identifying as a Christian shall be beheaded" represented the adversary's arrow in broad daylight. The adversary that appeared at noon unleashed fierce persecution, affecting even the most steadfast. When onlookers observed individuals willingly moving toward martyrdom, causing the number of believers to surge alongside the number of sufferers, they conspired to eradicate what they perceived as a rampant influence. Their decree read: "Anyone declaring themselves a Christian shall be struck down." Their ensuing orders escalated to: "Anyone who professes Christ shall be tortured until they renounce their faith."

The arrow soars as if from below, and turmoil walks in shadows. "From the raid and the spirit of midday." In Greek, this can be more aptly expressed as "from chance." By chance or fortune, something unexpected may occur. Alternatively, "chance" may describe when multiple individuals fall simultaneously. Thus, observe what the psalmist wrote: even though many have strayed, you, O Holy One, may you remain steadfast on the path of righteousness. Allow me to illustrate this for the simple-minded, so they may comprehend these notions. Imagine you, a solitary monk, entering a town. As you stroll, you hear loud noises from a circus.

You will triumph not only over physical and mental foes but also through divine assurance, evading nighttime threats and daytime assaults from adversaries. With unwavering trust, safeguarded by God, you will dispel fear from within yourself, experiencing confidence even at noon, steering clear of demonic attacks by seeking assistance from above. The Prophet referred to this as 'the demon of midday,' reflecting the thoughts of many, as it is common for an ill-willed individual to target another when they are satiated, viewing them as easy prey, and it becomes uncomplicated to ensnare someone who lacks care from divine protection.

From the entities that roam in shadows, from the encounter and the midday demon. The Lord declares that those who dwell in the shelter of the Almighty shall not fear anything that lurks in darkness, whether it be a thief, a marauder, or an arsonist. Darkness is akin to fornication, adultery, and various uncontrollable passions. An encounter refers to things that happen unintentionally or without our will. The midday demon, as described by Eusebius and others, represents the spirit of laziness and negligence, particularly leading individuals at noon to linger; others define it as the demon of base and carnal thoughts, or the demon of lack of self-control, all of which wage war against humanity during midday when one is satiated and burdened with food.

It is clear that the earlier reference pertains to evil spirits. These entities exhibit numerous variations in their deceitful tactics, prompting the prophet to speak of ‘the calamity that befalls by night,’ indicating the one who operates and fulfills his purpose in darkness. After this general declaration, the prophet identifies the insidious forces that revel in obscurity, and due to their malevolent nature, they have no communion with the light; consequently, they are compelled to retreat into complete darkness. However, they also strike at noon when most individuals are typically resting. As deceivers and marauders, demons prefer to remain hidden from plain sight, wary of the sacredness of humanity’s image. Therefore, they often conceal themselves near graves, in unclean and abandoned places, and during daylight hours, they audaciously attempt to manifest and assault us.

In our world, soldiers protect themselves from enemy arrows. Believer, our existence is analogous to a battle, one fought against numerous adversaries. We confront the devil and his angels, the desires of the flesh, the corrupt world, and the betrayal of false brethren, along with both hidden and overt foes. This struggle is relentless and daunting. What armor can we don to guard ourselves from our enemies' assaults on that dreadful day? The sacred scripture directs us to the path of faith in the Lord's name, and the lives of the saints exemplify this truth. True Christians, when faced with adversity, turn to this shield, thereby defending themselves against their foes.

The prophet elaborates extensively on what was previously succinctly stated, indicating that regardless of the direction from which the adversary assails us, and whatever sort of arrows he seeks to inflict upon us, we shall remain unharmed if we remain beneath the safeguard of God. For those whom He shelters are shielded in every situation. Yet, as it is often true that our existence is vulnerable not only to misfortunes but also to the threats of death, doubts can infiltrate our minds, stirring feelings of fear and anxiety. Therefore, the Prophet wisely outlines the various forms of evil, so that the faithful might hope for salvation from God while also boldly facing the countless trials.

From the entity shrouded in darkness that fades away, from the withering and the noon specter. From Hebrews: "of the pestilence that walks in darkness, of the plague that desolates at noon." This means that he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall not be fearful of any nighttime disaster, affliction, or the spirit of despondency at midday. St. Athanasius notes that the prophet refers to this as the spirit of hopelessness. Blessed Theodoret elaborates, saying that the term "the spirit of midday" reflects the views of many; for it is typical for a wicked person to regard someone after they have eaten and are satisfied, eyeing them as though they are easy prey. Therefore, one who is safeguarded by God will dispel fear and will not succumb to dread at noon, but will evade demonic accusations, taking refuge in divine assistance.