提要
詩篇第九十篇非常獨特，因為它是唯一被認為是摩西寫的詩篇；它雖是屬於個人的沉思，作者還是代替全國人民說話。這篇詩也許是摩西在曠野飄流時撰寫的，因為那時他們沒有一個地方可稱之為家，也很容易受到仇敵的攻擊。不過，摩西明白，他們最安全的住所就是在上帝的裡面。
當以色列人在走向迦南的途中犯了罪不再信靠上帝時，他們一到邊界，上帝的烈怒就臨在他們的身上（約書亞與迦勒為例外），於是上帝不容許他們進入應許之地（民14：19~35）。在他們留在曠野的四十年中，他們目睹很多人相繼死去，無異提醒他們，他們犯了罪，以及人類具有脆弱的、短暫的本性；今天人還活著，明天就死了，但是上帝的存在直到永遠。上帝是既沒有開始，也沒有結束，因為上帝是超越時間的永恆之上帝（彼後3：8）。不過，人是受到時間限制的，即使一個人能活到七十歲，強壯的到八十歲，他的一生依然是短暫的，轉眼就成空（90：10）。
當想到我們所有的歲月是如此短暫，摩西就指出，每一天都是寶貴的，所以我們應以求取智慧為人生的目的。智慧在聖經中的定義就是敬畏上帝，也就是說，我們要從心底深處尊敬及順服上帝（箴9：10）。如果我們每天都努力認識上帝、熱愛祂，住在祂的裡面，那麼我們的日子就過得有價值了；他們在上帝的憐憫中找到滿足，並且心裡充滿了喜樂（90：14）。
最後，摩西祈求上帝祝福他們，使他們及其後裔享有上帝的聖工、榮耀、及華美。他也祈求上帝堅立他們手所作的工──對要繼承應許之地的後裔而言，這是非常重要的工作。摩西知道，若不是耶和華帶領他們進入應許之地，他們就決不會成功（90：16~17；比較申2：7；14：29；16：15；24：19）。
由於詩篇第九一篇沒有題目，在傳統上，人們相信這篇詩的作者和前一篇相同；因此，這等於是摩西所撰的另一詩篇。它擴大了詩篇九十篇一節的思想，進而指出耶和華自己就是「我們的住處」。在詩篇第九一篇中，我們看到，住在祂裡面的人都得到祂的祝福。「住宿」(dwell)與「居住」(abide)在上帝的裡面兩者是有分別的。「住宿」的意思是指停留一段時間，但「居住」則是指永遠住在或留在那裡。並不是所有的信徒都能居住在上帝的裡面，或是永遠享有與上帝的屬靈交通，但是祂依然盼望祂的百姓能永遠住在祂的裡面。這一有關親近上帝的差異說明了詩篇第九十篇語氣上的重大差異，也就是說，它是憂傷的，不像第九一篇那樣充滿了喜悅和安慰（比較90：10與91：16）。
這一詩篇中的福氣就是完全信靠上帝的人所得到的安全。上帝保護他們遠離「捕鳥人的網羅」，這就是說，居住在耶和華聖所裡的信徒決不會掉落在大騙子撒但所設的陷阱裡。在上帝的翅膀保護之下，有信心的信徒一定會找到一個庇護所，就像得到充份保護的小雞一樣（91：3~4下）。
另一種保護方法就是認識上帝的真理（祂的聖經），我們可用它來戰勝邪惡，使我們不再恐懼（91：4下~6）。對居住在耶和華裡的人而言，還有一個保護的方法就是，上帝的天使會不斷地看顧他，以免他被絆倒（91：11~12）。撒但就引用這一節經文試探耶穌，但是耶穌了解上帝話語的真理，他知道撒但曲解了它的意義。當耶穌引用聖經反駁時，它就成了耶穌用以得勝的武器（比較來4：12；弗7：17）。結果，魔鬼逃走了，天使來了，並伺候耶穌（太4：5~11）。居住在耶和華裡面，知道祂真理的人，同樣會戰勝撒但及祂手下的魔鬼，而且天使也會來幫助他們。不論對方是一隻獅子（來自撒但公開而又直接的攻擊），或是一條蛇（來自撒但間接、欺騙、狡滑的攻擊），有信心的信徒一定會戰勝它（91：13）！
上帝自己為祂的祝福提出一個理由：「因為他專心愛我……，因為他知道我的名」（91：14）。上帝在新約聖經中的完全啟示已經啟示出，那個名字就是「耶穌」。因此，要知道上帝的名字就是要知道耶穌、愛耶穌，並且居住在祂的裡面（徒4：12；約15：4~9）。我們的主耶穌就是那個庇護所──「至高者的隱密處」（91：1；來6：18~20）。
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Overview
Psalm 90 is unique because it is the only one in the psalter ascribed to Moses, and although it is a personal meditation, he speaks on behalf of the whole nation. Moses probably wrote this during their wilderness wanderings, when they had no place to call their home and were very susceptible to enemy attacks. Moses learned, however, that their safe dwelling place was in God.
When Israel sinned in not trusting God to enter Canaan, after reaching the border, God's wrath was upon that whole generation (with the exception of Joshua and Caleb), and they were excluded from entering the Promised Land (Num. 14:19-35). During those forty years of wilderness wandering, they saw many, many people die, which constantly reminded them of their sin and of man's frail, transitory nature; man is here one day and gone the next, but God is from everlasting to everlasting. God has neither a beginning nor an end, for He is our eternal God who is above time (2 Peter 3:8). Man, however, is bound by time and his lifespan is very short and fleeting, even when one lives beyond his seventy years and reaches eighty (90:10).
Considering the shortness of our days, Moses concludes that each day is precious and should be spent gaining wisdom in our hearts. The biblical definition of wisdom is to fear God, that is, to revere, respect, and obey Him with a sincere heart (Prov. 9:10). If we labour daily to know God, love Him more, and abide in Him, then our days will not be futile; they will find satisfaction in God's mercy and be filled with rejoicing (90:14).
Moses concludes by asking that God would bless them by letting His work, glory, and beauty be upon them and their children. He also asks that God would establish all the work of their hands — something especially important for their children who would inherit the Promised Land. Moses knew that without the Lord going before them into the Land, they could never succeed (90:16-17; cf. Deuteronomy 2:7; 14:29; 16:15; 24:19).
Since Psalm 91 is untitled, it is traditionally believed to be composed by the author of the preceding psalm; therefore, this may well be another psalm by Moses. It expands upon the thought of Psalm 90:1, which expresses that the Lord Himself is "our dwelling place". In Psalm 91, we learn of the blessings received by those who abide in Him. There is a difference between one who dwells and one who abides in the Lord. To dwell means to remain for a time, but abide means to continually remain or stay. Not all believers abide in constant closeness and fellowship with the Lord, but this is what He desires of His people. This difference in the closeness to God could account for the drastic change in tone from Psalm 90, which is somber, to that of Psalm 91 which is joyful and comforting (compare 90:10 and 91:16).
The blessing in this psalm is the security of the one who trusts fully in the Lord. He is providentially protected from "the snare of the fowler" (one who traps birds), which means that the believer who abides in the secret place of the Lord will never be caught in a trap by the great liar and deceiver, Satan. Under the wings of God, the trusting believer finds a place of refuge like a well protected chick (91:3-4a).
Another means of protection is in knowing the truth of God (His Holy Word), which acts as our armour, that we might be victorious over evil and never have fear (91:4b-6). Yet another means of protection for the one who abides in the Lord is that God's angels will keep watch over him, lest he stumble (91:11-12). Satan quoted this verse of scripture in tempting Jesus, but since Jesus knew the truth of the Word of God, He knew that Satan twisted its meaning. When Jesus rebutted by quoting the truth of Scripture, it was like a weapon, whereby Jesus was victorious (cf. Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17). The devil left and the angels came and ministered to Jesus (Matthew 4:5-11). Those who abide in the Lord and know His truth, can likewise be victorious over the devil and his demons, and the angels are close by to come to our aid. Whether it be a lion (an open and direct attack by Satan), or a serpent (an indirect, deceptive, or subtle attack by Satan) the abiding believer will trample over it victoriously (91:13)!
God Himself gives the reason for all these blessings: "Because he has set his love on Me.. .[and] because he has known My name" (91:14). The fuller revelation of God in the New Testament has revealed that name to be "Jesus". Therefore, to know God's name is to know and love Jesus personally and abide in Him (Acts 4:12; John 15:4-9). Our Lord Jesus is that refuge — "the secret place of the Most High" (91:1; Heb. 6:18-20).
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