The security and happiness of the godly under the divine protection.
1HE that dwelleth 1in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow 2of the Almighty.
1 That is, under the protection; further signified by the word shadow in this same verse. Compare Num. 14:9; Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 61:4; 63:7; Hosea 14:8 with the annotation.
2 Of the Hebrew word shadday, see Gen. 17:1.
23I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Or, I will say to the LORD.
3Surelya4he shall deliver thee 5from the snare 6of the fowler,band from the noisomec pestilence.
a Psalm 124:7.
4 The prophet seems to speak to himself with these words. Or, he turns his soul unto a believing person.
5 See similar expression in Psalm 10:9.
6 That is, from all subtle, both bodily and spiritual enemies, especially from the devil, which goes round about us still, seeking whom he may devour. God makes use both of the good and the evil angels’ service, for the executing of His judgments. See 2 Sam. 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Cor. 10:10.
b bird-hunter
c hurtful, deadly
4He shalld cover thee with his feathers, and 7under his wings shalt thou trust: 8his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
d Psalm 57:1.
7 See Ruth 2 on verse 12.
8 That is, the firmness of His holy promises shall serve thee for protection, even as a man’s body is secured against the strokes and shots of the enemy by a broad shield. This Paul ascribes to faith, Eph. 6:16, because the same holds fast to God’s promises.
5Thoue shalt not be afraid for 9the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
e Job 5:19, 20; Prov. 3:25; Cant. 3:8.
9 Or, fear; that is, of what otherwise does easily affright men by night.
6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth 10at noonday.
10 That is, openly; so likewise Jer. 15:8. As if he said: Thou shalt not be afraid of the pestilence, neither by night nor by day; yea, though it snatches away many round about thee, the Lord shall preserve thee, if so be namely, it may make for His glory and for thy salvation.
7A thousand shall 11fall 12at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it 13shall not come nigh thee.
11 Namely, on your left side.
12 Understand: being killed by the pestilence.
13 Or, she shall, namely, the pestilence of which is spoken in verse 6.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou 14behold and see the 15reward of the wicked.
14 Namely, how the wicked shall be dreadfully affected with such plagues.
15 That is, how the ungodly shall be rewarded for their malice and how God shall punish them.
9Because thou 16hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, 17thy habitation;
16 One may take this as if the prophet addressed himself or his soul; or that he directed his speech to the believing person, as verse 3.
17 Namely, where you may dwell and abide in safety.
10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11Forf he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee 18in all thy ways.
f Psalm 34:7; Mat. 4:6; Luke 4:10.
18 Namely, in all those ways in which God has commanded you to walk. These words the devil left out when he quoted this verse disputing with Christ, Mat. 4:6.
12Theyg shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
gLuke 4:11.
13Thou 19shalt tread 20upon theh lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
19 Namely, without receiving any hurt by them. Understand by the name of the lion and the adder also all other things which may hurt or hinder a man in soul or body. They are all subdued and overcome by faith, Mark 16:17, 18; Heb. 11:33, 34. See the example of David, 1 Sam. 17:34, of the three young men, Daniel 3, and of Daniel himself, Dan. 6:23.
20 Or, over.
hJob 5:22, 23.
14Because 21he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because 22he hath known my name.
21He, namely, the true believer.
22He hath known my name, that is, he doth love and honour Me, as Psalm 1:6; or, he acknowledgeth Me for his God, in Whom he putteth his trust. See Psalm 9 on verse 10.
15He 23shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
23 Or, When he shall call upon me, then will I answer him.
16With long life 24will I satisfy him, and shew him 25my salvation.
24 It is said of Abraham, Isaac, David, Job, etc., that they were full of days, Gen. 25:8; 35:29; 1 Chron. 23:1; Job 42:17.
25 This may well be understood of the everlasting salvation and deliverance, which is the chiefest good God shows the godly, and which follows upon their long life here and final departure hence by death.