Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psalm 91 is one of the great Messianic psalms of divine protection, preservation, and triumph. Though its promises comfort all the saints of God, the Psalm belongs first and chiefly unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous Man Who trusted wholly in His Father. Satan himself acknowledged the Messianic character of the Psalm when he quoted verses 11-12 during Christ’s temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10-11). Yet Satan quoted the Psalm deceitfully, tempting Christ to presume upon the Father rather than trust Him obediently. The Lord Jesus answered by perfect submission to the word of God. Thus, Christ stands throughout the Psalm as the true trusting Man under the shadow of the Almighty.
Beginning in verse 14, Jehovah Himself speaks directly. These are the Father’s words concerning His beloved Son. The promises apply perfectly and completely to Jesus Christ first, and then unto His people through union with Him.
“Because he hath set his love upon me.” No man ever fulfilled these words perfectly except the Lord Jesus Christ. He set His love upon the Father entirely, continually, and without measure. His whole earthly life was devoted unto the glory, will, and pleasure of God. Christ Himself said, “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). Again, “That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:31).
The phrase “set his love” speaks of fixed affection, steadfast devotion, and deliberate cleaving unto God. Christ did not love the world, earthly honor, or fleshly ease above the Father. He loved the Father perfectly. Even when obedience led unto suffering, rejection, Gethsemane, and the cross, His love never failed. He continued steadfastly unto death itself.
This clause also reveals the heart of true obedience. Christ did not obey mechanically or outwardly only. He loved the Father. His obedience flowed from holy affection and delight. Therefore Psalm 40 says prophetically of Him, “I delight to do thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). The first Adam fell through disobedience, but the last Adam stood fast through perfect love and obedience unto God.
“Upon me.” The object of Christ’s love is the Father Himself. Throughout His ministry, the Son continually directed glory unto the Father. He came not to seek His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him (John 6:38). He prayed unto the Father, trusted the Father, obeyed the Father, and committed Himself unto the Father even upon the cross. Thus, this Psalm reveals the perfect communion and harmony between the Father and the Son.
“Therefore will I deliver him.” Here, Jehovah promises deliverance unto His beloved Son. This does not mean Christ would be spared all suffering. The Psalm itself cannot mean exemption from affliction absolutely, for Christ suffered more than any man. He was despised, rejected, scourged, mocked, crucified, and slain. Yet the Father delivered Him through and out of suffering. Death could not hold Him.
Peter declared concerning Christ, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death” (Acts 2:24). Again, Christ prayed, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27). The greatest fulfillment of this deliverance is therefore the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
This deliverance also includes His preservation throughout His earthly ministry until His appointed hour had come. Men sought repeatedly to destroy Him before the time determined by God, yet they could not touch Him until the Father permitted it (John 7:30; John 8:20). The Lord preserved His Christ according to His purpose.
“I will set him on high.” This reaches its fullest glory in the exaltation of Jesus Christ after His humiliation. The Father not only delivered Him from death, but highly exalted Him above all creation. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). Christ ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3).
To be “set on high” speaks of honor, authority, triumph, safety, and dominion. The world cast Christ down, but God lifted Him up. Men crowned Him with thorns, but the Father crowned Him with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9). The rulers of the earth condemned Him, but Jehovah enthroned Him above all principality and power (Ephesians 1:20-21).
This also harmonizes perfectly with Psalm 2 and Psalm 110. The heathen raged against God’s Anointed, yet Jehovah set His King upon His holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6). Christ humbled Himself unto death, and afterward sat down at God’s right hand until His enemies are made His footstool (Psalm 110:1).
“Because he hath known my name.” Christ knew the Father perfectly. No mere man has ever known God fully, but the Son knows the Father completely. Christ said, “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son” (Matthew 11:27). Again, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee” (John 17:25).
To know God’s name means far more than knowing titles or words. It speaks of knowing His character, glory, truth, holiness, wisdom, mercy, and power. Christ perfectly knew the Father because He came forth from Him and was ever with Him. He manifested the Father’s name unto His disciples (John 17:6).
This knowledge also explains Christ’s perfect trust. Because He knew the Father perfectly, He trusted Him perfectly. Even in Gethsemane and at Calvary, the Son committed Himself unto the Father’s will and purpose. Therefore, the Father delighted in Him continually: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Only after this Messianic fulfillment should believers apply the verse unto themselves. The saints love God because Christ first loved the Father perfectly in their stead. The saints are delivered because Christ was delivered from death and exalted at God’s right hand. The saints know God because Christ has declared the Father unto them. Thus, all the blessings of Psalm 91 flow through union with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here, Jehovah Himself declares His delight in His beloved Son. Christ loved the Father perfectly, knew His name fully, trusted Him completely, and obeyed Him unto death. Therefore, the Father delivered Him, raised Him from the dead, and set Him on high above all creation. Psalm 91:14 thus magnifies the triumph, resurrection, exaltation, and glory of Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous Man and everlasting refuge of His people.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psalm 91 is one of the great Messianic psalms of divine protection, preservation, and triumph. Though its promises comfort all the saints of God, the Psalm belongs first and chiefly unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous Man Who trusted wholly in His Father. Satan himself acknowledged the Messianic character of the Psalm when he quoted verses 11-12 during Christ’s temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10-11). Yet Satan quoted the Psalm deceitfully, tempting Christ to presume upon the Father rather than trust Him obediently. The Lord Jesus answered by perfect submission to the word of God. Thus, Christ stands throughout the Psalm as the true trusting Man under the shadow of the Almighty.
Beginning in verse 14, Jehovah Himself speaks directly. These are the Father’s words concerning His beloved Son. The promises apply perfectly and completely to Jesus Christ first, and then unto His people through union with Him.
“Because he hath set his love upon me.” No man ever fulfilled these words perfectly except the Lord Jesus Christ. He set His love upon the Father entirely, continually, and without measure. His whole earthly life was devoted unto the glory, will, and pleasure of God. Christ Himself said, “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). Again, “That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:31).
The phrase “set his love” speaks of fixed affection, steadfast devotion, and deliberate cleaving unto God. Christ did not love the world, earthly honor, or fleshly ease above the Father. He loved the Father perfectly. Even when obedience led unto suffering, rejection, Gethsemane, and the cross, His love never failed. He continued steadfastly unto death itself.
This clause also reveals the heart of true obedience. Christ did not obey mechanically or outwardly only. He loved the Father. His obedience flowed from holy affection and delight. Therefore Psalm 40 says prophetically of Him, “I delight to do thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). The first Adam fell through disobedience, but the last Adam stood fast through perfect love and obedience unto God.
“Upon me.” The object of Christ’s love is the Father Himself. Throughout His ministry, the Son continually directed glory unto the Father. He came not to seek His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him (John 6:38). He prayed unto the Father, trusted the Father, obeyed the Father, and committed Himself unto the Father even upon the cross. Thus, this Psalm reveals the perfect communion and harmony between the Father and the Son.
“Therefore will I deliver him.” Here, Jehovah promises deliverance unto His beloved Son. This does not mean Christ would be spared all suffering. The Psalm itself cannot mean exemption from affliction absolutely, for Christ suffered more than any man. He was despised, rejected, scourged, mocked, crucified, and slain. Yet the Father delivered Him through and out of suffering. Death could not hold Him.
Peter declared concerning Christ, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death” (Acts 2:24). Again, Christ prayed, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27). The greatest fulfillment of this deliverance is therefore the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
This deliverance also includes His preservation throughout His earthly ministry until His appointed hour had come. Men sought repeatedly to destroy Him before the time determined by God, yet they could not touch Him until the Father permitted it (John 7:30; John 8:20). The Lord preserved His Christ according to His purpose.
“I will set him on high.” This reaches its fullest glory in the exaltation of Jesus Christ after His humiliation. The Father not only delivered Him from death, but highly exalted Him above all creation. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). Christ ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3).
To be “set on high” speaks of honor, authority, triumph, safety, and dominion. The world cast Christ down, but God lifted Him up. Men crowned Him with thorns, but the Father crowned Him with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9). The rulers of the earth condemned Him, but Jehovah enthroned Him above all principality and power (Ephesians 1:20-21).
This also harmonizes perfectly with Psalm 2 and Psalm 110. The heathen raged against God’s Anointed, yet Jehovah set His King upon His holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6). Christ humbled Himself unto death, and afterward sat down at God’s right hand until His enemies are made His footstool (Psalm 110:1).
“Because he hath known my name.” Christ knew the Father perfectly. No mere man has ever known God fully, but the Son knows the Father completely. Christ said, “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son” (Matthew 11:27). Again, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee” (John 17:25).
To know God’s name means far more than knowing titles or words. It speaks of knowing His character, glory, truth, holiness, wisdom, mercy, and power. Christ perfectly knew the Father because He came forth from Him and was ever with Him. He manifested the Father’s name unto His disciples (John 17:6).
This knowledge also explains Christ’s perfect trust. Because He knew the Father perfectly, He trusted Him perfectly. Even in Gethsemane and at Calvary, the Son committed Himself unto the Father’s will and purpose. Therefore, the Father delighted in Him continually: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Only after this Messianic fulfillment should believers apply the verse unto themselves. The saints love God because Christ first loved the Father perfectly in their stead. The saints are delivered because Christ was delivered from death and exalted at God’s right hand. The saints know God because Christ has declared the Father unto them. Thus, all the blessings of Psalm 91 flow through union with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here, Jehovah Himself declares His delight in His beloved Son. Christ loved the Father perfectly, knew His name fully, trusted Him completely, and obeyed Him unto death. Therefore, the Father delivered Him, raised Him from the dead, and set Him on high above all creation. Psalm 91:14 thus magnifies the triumph, resurrection, exaltation, and glory of Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous Man and everlasting refuge of His people.