The throes of war have been thrust upon the world and many feel helpless as they think about their loved ones in harm’s way. During wartime, it’s usually our soldiers, both here and abroad, who come to mind. Many of us have favorite scriptures or prayers we use for intercession when it comes to friends and family in the military. But there is one that stands out so much that it’s referred to as the Soldier’s Prayer. It’s none other than Psalm 91, which describes dwelling in God’s shelter during times of crisis. Though the Bible does not call this the Soldier’s Prayer, the verses certainly paint a picture of God’s protective shield that becomes our armor in times of physical and spiritual warfare.

Psalm 91 became affectionately known as the “soldier’s psalm” during World War 1. Legend has it that the soldiers of the 91^st Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Expeditionary Army were given little cards with Psalm 91 written on them. Their Brigade commander urged them to recite and pray the words on the card as they prepared for battle. At one point they were involved in three of the bloodiest battles in WW1, but they suffered no casualties in combat. Even though other units around them experienced devastating death tolls, this brigade seemed to have a supernatural layer of protection surrounding them.

View Comments (15)

Though this account cannot be officially verified, the details remind us of an encouraging truth that we should cling to in times of trouble. God’s word is a powerful weapon and we can count on it in our darkest hour.

Psalm 91:1 (KJV) says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” There’s a lot to unpack in this verse, but the words dwell and abide hold rich meaning for all believers in Jesus, which includes both civilians and soldiers. The Hebrew word for dwell is yashab and it means to sit down, remain, stay, inhabit, or to marry. This word carries the idea of being joined together in a home as husband and wife. It implies a strong, close bond that is not easily broken, even in times of strife.

Similarly, the word abide in Hebrew is luwn and this word means to lodge, or pass the night. We find this same word luwn being used in the story of Ruth. “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried,” (Ruth 1:16). Many Christians simply state the verse this way: “Where you go, I will go.” This reminds us that when we lodge with Jesus, or “go where he goes,” we have nothing to fear. Even in the midst of an explosion, he remains with us. As we dwell and abide under the shadow of the Almighty, we are surrounded by his presence whether we are in our room, or hiding in a bunker in a remote part of the world. Reciting and praying Psalm 91 declares this truth even as bullets are flying.

Psalm 91:4 gives believers a powerful picture of this all-encompassing divine protection.

^“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The Hebrew word used for shield in Psalm 91:4 is tsinnah. Most shields cover the front, but this one is large and covers the entire body. Even more interesting is that tsinnah also means hook or barb and this alludes to something that’s prickly. Picture barbed wire that covers the top of a fence and keeps invaders or trespassers from gaining access. Putting these ideas together from Psalm 91, we understand that the shield of Jesus surrounds us on all sides, forming a very sharp perimeter that can cut our enemies to pieces. It’s important to note that the verse emphasizes “HIS TRUTH SHALL BE THY SHIELD AND BUCKLER.”  The WORD is the truth so as we proclaim it, a divine covering will form all around us.

When we pray Psalm 91:4 which says, “Lord, cover my loved one with your feathers…give them refuge under your wings,” we are really praying that they will find a hiding place under the wings of God. Imagine a mother bird covering the bodies of her babies. They are safe and warm under the shadow of her wings. Even the Jewish prayer shawl alludes to this because there are four corners on this garment and they are called wings. The wings of the shawl are designed to cover the head and body of the person as he/she prays. In this secret place, all the world is shut out, while God’s presence surrounds the believer. Whether you’re praying for military members or refugees in Ukraine, you’re asking God to bring that person under his mighty wings where they can experience complete comfort and protection. Even as bombs explode, safe havens are created both physically and spiritually.

Several years ago, I was in prayer and felt a sudden burden for our nation and the world.  I had an overwhelming feeling of dread and impending danger. I asked the Lord if there were any verses I should specifically pray for our leaders and the nation. I also inquired about the best way to intercede during times when our world is so uncertain.

Little did I know I would receive an answer the next day. I stepped outside to check the mail and noticed a bag sitting by my front door. When I opened it, I found a variety of books inside. The first one I pulled out was called Life Lessons from the Hiding Place, which featured spiritual insights from the life of Corrie ten Boom.

I was familiar with Corrie ten Boom because I had read her book called The Hiding Place. It’s the amazing story of how Corrie and her family provided a hiding place (a Psalm 91 refuge) for the Jews during World War II. In addition, she survived the horrors of a concentration camp by dwelling in Jesus’ shelter, as Psalm 91 describes.

As I began looking through the Life Lessons from the Hiding Place book, I noticed a little yellow note stuck inside. My mouth dropped open when I saw what it was–a handwritten copy of Psalm 91. I had just asked God how and what to pray in times of trouble and now I had a clear answer. I wondered who had left the books for me. Later my friend called and said they were from her. Immediately, I asked if she put the Psalm 91 note in the book. Puzzled at my question, she said she wasn’t sure how it ended up inside. Even more amazing was the fact that the note was written in 2008, but I found it inside the book many years later in 2017.

More than ever, I realized that God answers prayers in amazing ways! I took the Psalm 91 note and put it in a frame. It sits on my desk so I can remember to pray as often as possible.

My oldest son is a pilot in the Air Force and my husband is a firefighter so I find myself interceding with this psalm quite often. As I pray, I imagine my son’s plane being surrounded by angels, even lifting it up. For my husband, I picture angels pushing the fire away from him. As intercessors praying for the crisis in Ukraine, we can certainly visualize Psalm 91:11 (also known as the 911 of scripture) which says, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” We can boldly ask Jesus to dispatch his heavenly warriors to go into battle with us.

So, how can we pray the promises of Psalm 91 over our military, as well as those who are in perilous situations? For myself, I often insert the names of specific people into the psalm. I might say, “Lord Jesus, give your angels charge over____________.” Or, “Lord please protect ________ from the traps of the enemy.”

We can also use specific prayer points from Psalm 91 such as:

Lord Jesus, please give your angels charge over our military and their families. Help them dwell in your divine shelter. Place your mighty wings around them as they face the attacks of their enemies. Give them courage so they will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day. Even if a thousand fall at their side, do not let any disaster overtake them. Help them trample the lions and cobras in their path. You are mighty to save Lord.

There is a supernatural name that’s set apart at the end of Psalm 91. In fact, this name is THE LAST WORD OF THE ENTIRE PSALM. Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” The word for salvation being used in this verse is Yeshua and this is Jesus’ name in Hebrew. The psalm ends with this word because the overall idea is that JESUS IS OUR SALVATION. HE IS OUR PSALM 91. HE IS READY TO HEAR OUR 911 PRAYERS. In a world of war and chaos, this is good news indeed.

What is your favorite verse in Psalm 91? Do you have a special prayer to share for our military service members, or for those who are experiencing the devastation of war? The IFA download advertised above is a prayer guide for military based on Psalm 91.

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and homeschooling Mom who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. Her latest book, Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus, was released in June 2021. Photo by Joel Rivera-Camacho on Unsplash.