“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;” (Ps 91:5 AV)
This psalm is a mixed bag. Some attribute the psalm to Moses. One can understand. The overwhelming threat seems to be a pestilence that comes in the night. The psalm speaks of the enemies of God falling by the pestilence, but the addressees being free from the evil. However, some attribute the psalm to David, and the pestilence was the one sent on the occasion of David numbering the people. Perhaps David did write it. But he could have written it upon reflection of the first Passover. The challenge with Psalm 91, as many passages, is application. The psalm concludes with a promise of divine protection based on the love the addressees have toward the LORD. The promise of protection for Israel, at least concerning Passover, was specific to that event. There would be other pestilences that did exact a loss. When God promises to perfectly protect and deliver those mentioned in the psalm, we can take the promise as a principle rather than direct application. What I mean is that persecution and adversity are the domain of the saint. God does not promise us the same as others in different dispensations. Our promises are more in the light of eternity. So, how can we apply the above promise?
First, let us note that arrows do fly by day. Let us also note that terrors do come at night. God does not promise to remove the threat. And He certainly did not. The angel of death came on that first Passover night. Egypt pursued them to the Red Sea. They compassed them in and were preparing to extinguish them by arrow and sword. The threats were not removed. What God promises is deliverance from fear. “Thou shalt not be afraid” is the promise. It is not deliverance from adversity so that adversity never comes. In fact, one can read the entire bible from cover to cover, and outside of eternity, no one is free from adversity. Adversity is part of the human condition. It is how we live.
There is a scene in the movie Ten Commandments was the people are preparing to leave. They sing portions of this psalm. Joshua, as he is preparing his household is heard reciting this psalm. Reciting this psalm did not take away the plague of the death of the firstborn. The blood over the door frame did. Singing the psalm did not keep Egypt from pursuing Israel. But it did give them the courage to cross the Red Sea. Trouble will come. Adversity is assured. But fear does not have to be a part of it. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1Jo 4:18 AV)