Connecting During DeploymentExemplo

The Warrior’s Psalm

Psalm 91 has always been a favorite psalm to study and pray—especially for soldiers and their families living with the dangers of war. Because of its war-time imagery and call to God for help, it is called “The Warrior’s Psalm”. 

Read through the Psalm and note the psalmist’s descriptions of “fowler’s snare” . . . “deadly pestilence” . . . “terror of night”  . . . “arrow that flies by day” . . . “pestilence that stalks in the darkness.” You can almost imagine current battles with snipers, insurgents, suicide bombers, IEDs, and environmental terrorism. 

How can this Old Testament psalm encourage us in today’s modern battles? The psalmist makes it clear in verses 1-2 that God is the soldier’s personal refuge, fortress, and strength: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” 

Verse 4 tells us that God protects us both physically and spiritually, and verse 9 adds the all-important “if”: “If you make the Most High your dwelling.” The person who chooses God’s eternal shelter will experience God’s rescue, protection, deliverance, and salvation. “‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation’” (verse 14-16, NIV).

The ultimate warrior, Jesus Christ, faced the all-time champion of evil, Satan, at Calvary. He won the greatest victory on the cross, and because of that we are promised a long life—eternal life—in heaven with our strong and loving Savior. To God be the glory!

1. Read verses 14-16 aloud, replacing “he” and “him” with your name.

2. Read the same passage using your spouse’s name. 

Read more about the importance of Christ in your marriage in “10 Principles to Keep Christ at the Center of Your Home.”