Finding Christ in the Old Testament - Psalm 91

Finding Christ in the Old Testament

Psalm 91:9-13

"Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot."

This passage finds its fulfillment in Christ, who is the true refuge of His people. Satan himself twisted these words in his temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:6), urging Him to test God’s protection. Yet Christ, in perfect obedience, did not seize divine privilege for self-preservation but entrusted Himself fully to the Father’s will. The promise of angelic protection belongs ultimately to Him, and through Him, to all who abide in Him by faith. The victory over the lion and the serpent echoes Genesis 3:15, where the Seed of the woman crushes the serpent’s head. Christ, by His death and resurrection, has trampled Satan underfoot, and in Him, the Church shares in this triumph. Though we suffer affliction, we are never abandoned; the angels guard us, and in Christ, we tread down the powers of darkness.

Devotion

Our security is not found in earthly comforts but in the presence of Christ, who is our refuge. The enemy prowls like a lion (1 Peter 5:8), and the serpent still seeks to deceive, yet Christ has already won the battle. His angels watch over His people, not to spare them from every trial, but to ensure they endure in faith. When temptations arise, when the enemy whispers lies, we cling to the One who overcame in the wilderness and at the cross. In Him, we are guarded, protected, and ultimately victorious.

New Testament Verse:
Luke 10:19 (ESV) “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Collect
Almighty God, who has given Your angels charge over us and has made Christ our refuge, grant that we may dwell securely in Your presence, trusting in Your protection, and, by the victory of Your Son, tread down the serpent and all the forces of evil; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn Verse:
"A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal."

LSB 656:1, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"