Enfolded: A Reflection on God’s Psalm 91 Promises

Scriptures: Psalms 18:2, Psalms 32:7, Psalms 91

My fifth-grade teacher held a class contest to memorize Psalm 91. That assignment spurred me into a lifetime of Bible study. 

I have been immersed in this psalm we memorized since I was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. I never knew I’d need it so much 60 years later! 

As I begin this reflection, I have two daily weekday treatments left. My wife and I have experienced supernatural peace, strength, and joy—mainly because Psalm 91 has been my devotional focus for over six weeks. We know from whom all blessings flow and by whom all healing comes. 

My best word to capture the depth and breadth of Psalm 91 is “enfolded.” The en-prefix communicates location, whether in geographical space or existential state. Tucked inside the safety folds of God’s personal and providential care, the psalmist trusts the powerful all-sides preservation of God. 

Have you heard of the “Double Down sandwich”? The sandwich is breadless. Chicken filets form the outside of the sandwich, slices of cheese and bacon comprise the center, and a secret sauce permeates every bite. In Hong Kong, the take-out version comes with an edible wrapper! 

Similar to this double-down sandwich format, each new section of Psalm 91 begins with the word “for” (or “because”), wrapping emphasis around reasons while addressing a range of dangers, including death. 

1. The Enfolder (vv. 1-2) 

2. The Enfolding I (vv. 3-8) 

3. The Enfolder, Enfolded, and Enfolding (vv. 9-10) 

2. The Enfolding II (vv. 11-13) 

1. The Enfolded (vv. 14-16) 

This spiritual sandwich will not get soggy. Store it in your heart!

Scriptures: Psalms 14:6, Psalms 91:1-2, Psalms 121:5

A “quadrangle of safety” marks four points on the surface of the human body to prevent mistakes during invasive surgery. In public safety, the exact phrase points people to areas of refuge to protect them. 

In Psalm 91, four metaphors and four names of God point you to a quadrangle of safety. We’ll start with the metaphors. 

Shelter: God keeps the believer. We enter into this promise by dwelling in God as our preferred shelter. We are not just temporarily housed in Him. Dwelling in God is personally expressed by trusting in Him. 

Shadow: Only the larger object can be detected in the shadow-silhouette, though smaller objects may be nestled in the bigger thing. God overshadows us in protection, even as He overshines us in person. 

Sanctuary: We say to the Lord, “You are my refuge.” This is not merely positive self-talk. “Trust” here is expressed in words, “I will say” (vs. 2; cf. v. 9), but means much more. It is personal acknowledgment—a move toward and a reliance on God. 

Stronghold: “Fortress,” a synonym for refuge, is common verbiage in the psalms for defense. God envelops us in Himself as our fort. Attack(er)s have to go through Him to get to you. None is able without His knowledge or permission. 

Notice the possessive pronouns in addition to “I,” “my refuge, my fortress, my God.” Once declared, one can’t return to alternate sources of necessary and sufficient protection. The psalmist did not have auto, health, or life insurance to guarantee coverage in the case of accidents, illness, or death. God is the place of personal preservation, prevention, and protection.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:1-2, Exodus 3:14, Revelation 1:17-18

Yesterday we examined four metaphors in Psalm 91:1-2. Today we will look at four names of God included in these verses. 

Most High: The worst sin in the Old Testament is to deify anyone (or anything) who is not God—idolatry! Though idols are nothing, the Bible does not deny that other “gods” are worshiped. However, it reserves the title of the Most High to only One. Elyon is Sovereign over all reality. 

Almighty: By definition, an almighty is in a class of one. There can’t be two “almighties.” Unlike boxers who compete for the most respected belts, God’s competition belt never retires, nor is it exchangeable as newer, younger, brighter contestants “beat” Him. The might of Shaddai—the all-powerful, omnipotent One—resembles mountain-like majestic strength. 

LORD: This version, all letters in caps, is YHWH. It conveys God’s disclosed self-identity (Exodus 3:14)—His eternal and causal self-existence. The covenant-making, keeping, and saving One is committed to His people in steadfast love. 

God: The old line, “there’s only One God, and you ain’t He!” captures Elohim; the root word means the first and last. He is the one and only creator and ruler of heaven and earth. 

The New Testament accords God’s Old Testament names—Alpha and Omega; the first and last; the One Who was, is, and is to come; the Almighty; King of kings; Lord of lords—to the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:8; 17-18; 19; 5:11-14; 19:16). 

I recently met “twice-refugees.” Three families worked at the U.S. Airforce base in Kabul until they fled to Ukraine at the withdrawal of the protection of U.S. troops. Sadly, Russia invaded Ukraine. Again, with nothing but a suitcase, they traipsed into Germany. 

Germany’s refugee policy, not entirely altruistic, welcomes the stranger into their sanctuary. Each town has solicited volunteers who keep and feed refugees until they find footing in their new residence. The only condition: they have to learn the language to dwell in the shelter and shadow of their protectors. Have you ever thought of yourself as a vulnerable, spiritual refugee? How about moving from seeking asylum to residing in God’s preserve?

Scriptures: Genesis 50:20, Psalms 91:3-8, Romans 8:28-39

Rampant inflation; pandemic threats; formula, food, and fuel shortages; and national tragedies of war and killings dominate the headlines. We are all vulnerable. So, let’s move forward in Psalm 91, beyond abstraction to application, and consider God’s preservation of believers. In prevention, you are covered. In protection, you are carried.

“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence” (v. 3). Like a majestic bird covers its young, the Lord will be your shield and a rampart (v. 4). “Rampart” communicates prevention from sudden, deadly attacks and continuous attacks, whether at night or day (vv. 5-6). These attacks may fall a multitude, but you will be prevented from coming close (v. 7). Though unable to defend yourself, you will still get to see attackers meet their fate (v. 8).

God’s “preventive” mercies alert us to how much we don’t know. In heaven, we will find out how often and close we were to danger and destruction. At present, we know partly and see darkly. When we see the Lord face-to-face and know fully, our words will simply be “I see” (1 Cor. 13:12).

Until then, here are four features of God’s promises in verses 3-8 of preventive covering:

Continuous—in time. Whether you are awake or asleep, no part of day or night weakens God’s attention.

Comprehensive—in scope. The covering listed in verses 3-8 and verses 10-12 is parallel to the attacks from human enemies or supernatural forces, be they physical or verbal, visible or invisible, private or public, sudden or ongoing.

Coordinated—for God’s purposes. Nothing is random or accidental. He works all things for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28). He even turns evil into good (Genesis 50:20).

Consistent—in intensity. Truly nothing can “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

Scriptures: Psalms 71:3, Psalms 91:9-10, Proverbs 12:21

Psalm 91:9 begins with a “because” statement (in the original Hebrew). 

“If [because] you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” (vv. 9-10, NIV). 

Intentional connections between verse 9 and verses 1 and 2 include words and phrases like Lord, refuge, Most High, and dwelling. Other concepts like “coming near your tent” (v. 10b) reflect YHWH’s bastion of prevention. Verse 10 sets us up for God’s protective action in the coming verses. “No harm will overtake you” (v. 10a). 

All leaders, when planning, give thought to assessing and managing risks. “Near your tent” comforted itinerant workers and traveling warriors, who set up temporary tents while on assignment. Their environments were unsafe. Both accidental and intentional disasters were likely common. 

Construction workers on the Golden Gate suspension bridge who concentrated more on not falling to their deaths than on their work could not give their best. However, a giant safety net was placed to catch accidental falls. Not only were lives saved, but the workers performed more than 20% better. The safer they were (and the safer they felt), the better their performance. 

Rest assured that if the Lord is your refuge and dwelling place, no harm will overtake you. You can freely live for Him.

Scriptures: Psalms 91:11-13, Luke 4:9-12, Hebrews 1:14

When potential risks become realities, God moves from preventive cover methods into a protective carry mode. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (v. 11). Supernatural angelic assistance (v. 12) is provided to conquer supernatural demonic attacks (vv. 3-6). 

Angelic ministry to those under God’s charge is assumed in the Old and New Testaments. Angels strengthen Daniel (Daniel 10:10-21), Jesus (Matthew 4:11), and Paul (Acts 27:23) and minister to all believers (Hebrews 1:14). God sends them as divine security guards to personally whisk His people away “in their hands” from injury. They will conquer obvious lion-like (visible, public) terror and private serpent-like (obscure, invisible) strikes. 

Evil is currently contained by God’s common mercies. It is yet to be defeated. Thus anyone anywhere at any time can be afflicted by disease and death. This is why the “whoever” (v. 1) is more than a principle. This psalm is an invitation to take refuge in the divine quadrangle of safety: shelter, shadow, sanctuary, and stronghold. 

If these verses are taken to guarantee a pain-free life, we would have to discount all the psalms where believers cry out to God in unbearable trouble. A grief-free life does not fit the realities of a fallen world. The Lord Jesus Himself wept at His friend’s death and winced at human suffering; He did not shun Gethsemane and Golgotha. He lived His entire Incarnation in voluntary limitation. 

A trouble-free life would be a trust-free life and a prayer-free life. This psalm affirms the realities of danger and distress and expects the believer to call on God, who will be with him in trouble (v. 15). 

A guarantee of permanent safety was the kind of misuse of the psalm that Jesus did not accept from Satan (Luke 4:9-11). Our Lord countered Satan’s misapplication of Psalm 91 (Matthew 4:6-7; Luke 4:10-12). Presuming God’s purposes and forcing God’s timing would be putting God to the test (cf. Deuteronomy 6:16). Indeed, Satan left out the qualifying phrase “in all your ways” to make Scripture suit his purposes. 

When Jesus could have called on His Father to deploy 12 legions of angels to keep Him from suffering, He did not, since God’s purposes as written in the Scriptures would not have been fulfilled (Matthew 26:53-54). We trust the God who can’t be tested to help us triumph through our trials.

Scriptures: Psalms 37:23-24, Psalms 91:11-13, Proverbs 3:23

If Psalm 91 doesn’t mean we won’t experience troubles, what is the promise of the psalm?

The norm in Psalm 91 is God’s prevention and protection of those who love, know, and trust Him. Even our houses are not safe, as people in war zones have found out. Many times my wife has sent me to places affected by war, violence, persecution, and upheaval with a simple assurance: “You are safest in obedience to God’s will.”

I find it helpful to distinguish between a guarantee and a warranty. In business, the former pertains to the manufacturer’s integrity; the latter relates to the product’s quality to assure the buyer.

Many years ago I was given an unbelievable gift, a new Toyota. I wanted to protect this gift for a long time and bought an extended warranty for the car. Sadly, the warranty company went out of business. I should have purchased a guarantee of the warranty!

However, a manufacturer with integrity can warranty a product with a lifetime assurance of replacement. Recently, our handyman neighbor looked at our leaky kitchen faucet, identified the worn-out part, and assured us of the integrity of the manufacturer whom we called. To our surprise, the manufacturer received our inquiry and replaced the part. They even covered shipping costs!

Less reliable manufacturers would have tried to find a way out of their commitment by claiming a new business owner does not honor the former owner’s commitments. Or that the warranty is not transferable. The most meaningless warranties apply to the “lifetime of the product!” Devious, slippery, wily.

In the believer’s life:

God is your total, final, personal guarantor and warrantor. No one will pay a better price for your salvation.

The lifetime of the salvation product is forever. Eternal life begins now and lasts forever. God has made a full advance payment for you. You are never at risk of losing salvation in the short or the long term.

Your warranty lasts as long as you live. The matters of transferability and expiration date are moot. You can’t transfer your product to anyone else. Others can directly receive the free product with a life-long warranty from the same Guarantor.

Lack of maintenance does not void a warranty. However, product function can deteriorate due to a lack of care. Routine maintenance enables and enhances the enjoyment of its benefits.

The promises of God do not promote carelessness nor presumption. But they do promote confidence in God Himself and the salvation that He provides.

How do we enjoy the benefits of this psalm today? Pray toward God’s prevention and projection, and trust Him to provide. We can’t live free of tears, but we can live free of fears.

Scriptures: Psalms 50:14-15, Psalms 91:14-16, John 16:23-24

The grand finale of this great psalm of comfort and counsel is a direct visit between God and any believer. In verses 14-16, The enfolded psalmist meets three spiritual conditions (bolded), and The Enfolder makes several personal commitments (numbered).

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, (1) “I will rescue him; (2) I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and (3) I will answer him; (4) I will be with him in trouble, (5) I will deliver him and (6) honor him. With long life (7) I will satisfy him and (8) show him my salvation.

What are the characteristics of those who are enfolded?

They love God. The enfolded put the First Commandment into operation. Love is the foundational core of our relationship with God. This foundational core expands around the four nouns of Hebrew anthropology—first-love of the heart, real-love of the soul, truth-love in the mind, and full-love in strength.

They know God’s name. Hebrew naming practices capture character. The psalmist is immersed in the Only One who occupies the supreme position, possesses the absolute ability, exhibits steadfast love, and displays original activity. The psalmist and his people experienced attacks of disease and death. Still, those circumstances did not make them flinch concerning the good character, full abilities, and right purposes of their God. The dweller abides in His known promises of a protected long life even if the exceptional circumstance of terminal disease and premature death is experienced in the unknown purposes of an all-good, all-able, all-right God. “Acknowledgment” is not only believing in God’s name; it is making God’s name known through public confession.

They call on God. Beyond confession, the enfolded call on God in intercession. They petition God’s protection and preservation. This third characteristic becomes concrete in the unequivocal offer of our Lord, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full” (John 16:23-24). Jesus’s invitation to use His name in prayer with God is unique among religious claims. Can you believe you know God’s name? Has anyone else given you the privilege of using his name to gain access to God and His action? Call on God in Jesus’s name!

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