God's Eternal Promises

August 21st, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”

Although Psalm 91 began with the Psalmist speaking and teaching about God’s protection, here in vv. 14-16 it is God who speaks—previously referred to as Elyon, Shaddai, Yahweh, and Elohim by the Psalmist. This is nothing new in the Psalms but occurs elsewhere (cf. 60:6-8; 81:6-16; 95:8-11). God therefore confirms what the Psalmist has written with some promises.

First, God promises deliverance to those who love and trust Him (14a). Such deliverance is not promised in a physical capacity, although on numerous occasions God does protect His own physically. The promise is that of ultimate, eternal deliverance into God’s physical presence.

Second, God promises to “set on high” (Heb. sagab) those who have “known” (Heb. yada) His name (14b). To know God in Psalm 91 as Most High (Elyon), as Almighty (Shadday), as Lord (Yahweh), and as God (Elohim) is to understand that there is no god higher than He, no god mightier, no god who is eternally existing, and no god who creates and sustains like the one God (cf. Deut. 6:4). To “know” Him is not simply to know He exists, it is love Him intrinsically.

Third, God promises to answer those who call upon Him, comforting him in a time of trouble, rescuing him and even honoring him (15). Sadly, it is most often true for mankind that we fail to seek God when times are good. Seeking God seems to occur mostly when we are in “trouble” or needing “rescue” from some difficult situation, either that we have entered into because of sin or because God set us in such a position. Either way, God promises to hear our prayers to Him. At times, the answer from God is clear but not always. Other times, God is simply with us during our darkness. Other times, God outright rescues us and honors us. But one thing is clear: God is always with us, hearing our prayers in each and every circumstance.

Fourth, God promises “a long life” of satisfaction to those who love Him, promising to let that person see God’s salvation (16). Although the blessing of a long life is promised to the righteous in the OT (cf. Deut. 30:20; Pss. 21:4; 23:6; Prov. 3:2, 16), specifically to those who obey their parents (Exod. 20:12), the promise is not necessarily to old age, for many who are righteous live only a short lifespan (e.g., Abel, Enoch, John the Baptist, et al.). What God has in mind must be more along the lines of a complete life, a life lived to the fullest. Ultimately, God promises life in heaven with Him to those who truly love Him—for eternity.

The point has to be made over and over concerning Psalm 91 that these promises of God are not necessarily physical promises that we as Christians can claim. Moreover, these promises are not for everyone, only for those who love and trust God—those who abide the shadow of the Almighty, who dwell in the shelter of the Most High (v. 1). Those who always seem to be down on their luck, feeling depressed and anxious, are typically not those who love and trust God. Those who become entrenched in the world around them, who worry about life and death, who fret about finances—these are those who miss out on the blessings of God on this side of eternity, and perhaps on the other side as well.

Food For Thought
Ask yourself, Do you love God through faith in Jesus Christ? Is Jesus your Lord whom you submit to, or is He just your fire-insurance-policy Savior for when you die to keep you from hell? God’s blessings are for His people, and His people love and trust Him. Is that you?