A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it won’t come near you. Only keep your eyes open, and you will see how the wicked are punished. – Psalm 91:7–8 CJB

Finding Protection in God’s Word in Psalm 91:7-8

  • These verses have another powerful promise. They tell us
  • what might happen—a thousand or ten thousand may fall around us.
  • what we need to do—keep our eyes open and watch what happens to the wicked.
  • what God promises—no matter how many fall, it won’t come near us, and God will make sure the wicked are punished.
  • During COVID-19, many people were “falling,” according to the media. When people are falling around you, how does this verse encourage you?
  • This chapter has many parallel ideas. This verse has two numbers: a thousand and ten thousand. It also has two locations: your side and your right hand, which I believe reveals how closely it can impact us. What, if anything, is the difference between your side and your right hand?
  • Hebrew word study:
  • The word for ten thousand can also mean an abundance (in number), a myriad or a million.
  • The word for right hand can also mean the right side of a person or another object.
  • Fall can also mean die, fail, be judged, be overwhelmed and more. Many people are overwhelmed, even if they aren’t falling or dying.
  • How have current situations caused you to be overwhelmed or to fail at what God has for you to do during this season?
  • God promises that when people are falling around us, it won’t come near us. Why do you think some believers have gotten sick or died from diseases? Shouldn’t this promise protect all believers? There is no condemnation if you or others you know have gotten sick. Sometimes we don’t understand why “bad” things happen; we must trust God. I just want to encourage you to make sure you are doing your part so you can receive the promises. For God to do His part in keeping His promises, He expects us to do our part, including:
  • choose to continue dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and resting in His shadow (verse 1).
  • speak the truth about who God is and what He does (verse 2).
  • declare our trust in Him (verse 2).
  • find refuge under His wings (verse 4).
  • choose to not fear anything (verse 5).
  • As you look at the above list, are there any you are not doing? If so, confess them and ask God to help you. Write down what you could do differently.
  • Look at other translations of verse 8:
  • “You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes and witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High]” (AMP).
  • “You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done!” (TPT).
  • God says we won’t have to do anything when so many are falling around us except keep our eyes open and watch what God will do. He wants us to be spectators. I wonder how often we miss what He is doing because we are focused on the problems rather than on God. How might focusing on God change your perspective of difficult situations?
  • My second son was born with numerous problems and was in and out of the hospital. I was overwhelmed during Daniel’s first three months because I focused on the problems. When I finally changed my focus to God, the problem seemed much less severe, even though the situation hadn’t actually changed.
  • I heard about a man in the military in the middle of a serious battle. People all around him were falling, but he chose to focus on God and pray Psalm 91; he came out unscathed. (Note this may not happen for everyone.)
  • God will punish the wicked for what they have done. If you are like me, you may, at times. feel like God is never going to pay them back for the evil they do. I must remind myself that God’s timing is not the same as mine. Could it be that He is waiting to show His mercy?
  • Romans 2:4 (NASB) says, “Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
  • Have you ever been impatient with God, thinking He will never punish the wicked? If so, have you confessed that? Could it possibly be an opportunity for you to pray for their salvation? If God could turn the apostle Paul from killing Christians to being one of the most prolific and outspoken Christians, no one is too difficult for God to change (see Acts 9).
  • When have you been grateful for God’s kindness and patience for you?
  • In what ways are you struggling with current national, international and personal crises? Talk to God about how you are feeling and any questions you have on issues you don’t understand. You may also want to find a friend or counselor to discuss concerns.
  • What is God saying to you today through these verses?
  • What might you need to do as a result of this study?

A Prayer for You

Lord God, thank You for Your protection for me and my family. I confess that I’ve been afraid when I’ve heard about thousands of people dying. Show me anything I may need to do to receive these promises and then help me to do my part. I also confess that at times I’ve been impatient with You because it looks like You are letting the wicked get away with doing wrong. I want to trust You more, being confident that You know what You are doing.

An Affirmation to Make Based on Psalm 91:7-8

Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, I can be confident that these evils will not touch me and my family. I will keep my eyes open and see how the wicked are punished.

Pray Psalm 91

Actions to Take

What might you need to do to apply this verse in your life? You could also write your own prayer, expressing what God is revealing to you today.

Excerpted from Hidden from Harm: Powerful Promises Found in Psalm 91 by Gaylyn Williams.