God is willing to guard his people as the hen is to guard the chickens, and as able as a man of war in armour. The word deber means plague or pestilence. What royal protection we have, a guard of angels, who count it their delight and their honour to wait upon the seed-royal of the universe, for such are all the saints of God! They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. We will do well to avoid such dangers, but the promise is that Yahweh will enable us to tread on and trample them without fear. In our experience, most hunting is done with guns instead of traps. Such a message is timeless. The secret place of the Most High could be: The temple. 5. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot (v. 13). Does The Bible Provide an Adequate Answer to Suffering? and the Most High your dwelling place, With his wing shall fence thy head; And his truth around thee wield, Strong as targe or bossy shield! You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense (Hebrew: sillumahpunishment) of the wicked (v. 8b). Strength and mastery may be united. Take a look at another study and commentary: Psalm 27. 14 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. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. We arent certain of the time and circumstances of its writing. God by his grace will keep thee from disquieting distrustful fear (that fear which hath torment) in the midst of the greatest dangers. {"lang_button_processing":"Please Wait..","lang_button_notify":"Subscribe","lang_heading_notify":"Notifications","lang_text_notify_info":"Notify me of new comments\u003Cspan class=\"cmtx_info_extra\"\u003E via email\u003C\/span\u003E","lang_title_cancel_notify":"Cancel this notification","lang_link_cancel":"[Cancel]"}, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","page_id":948015,"is_permalink":false,"lang_text_view":"View","lang_text_reply":"reply","lang_text_replies":"replies","lang_text_replying_to":"You are replying to","lang_title_cancel_reply":"Cancel this reply","lang_link_cancel":"[Cancel]","lang_text_privacy":"Privacy","lang_text_terms":"Terms","lang_text_agree":"[1] \/ [2]","lang_text_not_replying":"You are not replying to anyone","lang_button_loading":"Loading..","lang_button_more":"More Comments","lang_button_edit":"Edit Comment","lang_button_reply":"Add Reply","lang_link_reply":"Switch to full reply","lang_link_refresh":"[Refresh]","date_auto":false,"show_pagination":true,"quick_reply":false,"pagination_type":"button","timeago_suffixAgo":"ago","timeago_inPast":"a moment","timeago_seconds":"less than a minute","timeago_minute":"a minute","timeago_minutes":"%d minutes","timeago_hour":"an hour","timeago_hours":"%d hours","timeago_day":"a day","timeago_days":"%d days","timeago_month":"a month","timeago_months":"%d months","timeago_year":"a year","timeago_years":"%d years"}, JavaScript must be enabled for certain features to work, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","page_id":948015,"enabled_country":false,"country_id":0,"enabled_state":false,"state_id":0,"enabled_upload":false,"maximum_upload_amount":3,"maximum_upload_size":5,"maximum_upload_total":5,"captcha":true,"captcha_url":"https:\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/frontend\/index.php?route=main\/form\/captcha&page_id=948015","cmtx_wait_for_comment":"cmtx_wait_for_comment","lang_error_file_num":"A maximum of %d files are allowed to be uploaded","lang_error_file_size":"Please upload files no bigger than %.1f MB in size","lang_error_file_total":"The total size of all files must be less than %.1f MB","lang_error_file_type":"Only image file types are allowed to be uploaded","lang_text_loading":"Loading ..","lang_placeholder_country":"Country","lang_placeholder_state":"State","lang_text_country_first":"Please select a country first","lang_button_submit":"Add Comment","lang_button_preview":"Preview","lang_button_remove":"Remove","lang_button_processing":"Please Wait.."}, {"commentics_url":"\/\/www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com\/comments\/","auto_detect":false}, Pop-up verses - "Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. A man may die young, and yet die full of days, satur dierumsatisfied with living. Old Testament Prophecy Fulfilled in Christ. Psalms 91:14. God hides not his people in a casing of iron; their shelter is stronger than iron, yet it is soft as the downy wings of a bird for ease and comfort. They are mighty (Psalm 78:25), and serve by doing Gods will (Psalm 103:1). Psalms 91:2. Those of us who live in first world countries have almost forgotten the dangers of deadly diseases that spread rapidly and kill large numbers of people. The psalmist wrote it to assure Israel that Yahweh would keep them safe through all trials IF they put their trust in him and tried to live faithfully in accord with Yahwehs will. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. The end of this psalm recaps any calamity that can happen and when His children are placed in harms way He promises to deliver them, to protect them, to rescue them, and to answer them in their time of trouble. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Oh, yes, he values the love of his people, for he knows where it came from; it is a part of his own love; the creation of his grace! His books are include: Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children, Do Babies Go To Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?, "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible.". Cobras and serpents serve as a metaphor for smaller but equally deadly forces that appear suddenly, seemingly from nowhere. Verse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."In this psalm, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly are contrasted. It comes creeping in, and fills the air with death before you perceive its approach; but He shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence. There is a pestilence of dangerous and accursed error abroad at this time; but if we dwell in the secret place of the most High, it cannot affect us; we shall be beyond its power. It is also nimble enough to deflect blows from unexpected directions. Psalms 91:15. That famous old Puritan, holy Mr. Dodd, having to cross a river, had to change from one boat into another, and being little used to the water, he fell in, and, when he was pulled out, in his simplicity and wisdom he said, I hope that I am in my way. That was the only question that seemed to trouble him. The charge given to the angels concerning the saints. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), Again, it is written, You shall not test the Lord, your God. Whatever the case, these verses assure us that God will deliver us. Talk of St. George and the dragon! Commentaries for Psalm Chapter 91 The safety of those who have God for their refuge. That is a message that we need to hear in good times so that it will bring us strength during bad times. That he will, in the mean time, be with them in trouble, v. 15. Psalm 119:90 Psalm 119:91 Psalm 119:92 Psalm 119:93 Psalm 119:94 Psalm 119:95 Psalm 119:96 Psalm 119:97 . Here is, (1.) A soldier can move the smaller round shield quickly to counter threats from unexpected quarters. (2.) Wherever the saints go the angels are charged with them, as the servants are with the children. Psalms 91:1. But the psalmist assures us that, with God at our side, we have nothing to fear. Wings and feathers, though spread with the greatest tenderness, are yet weak, and easily broken through, and therefore it is added, His truth shall be thy shield and buckler, a strong defence. The important thing is not the place but that we meet the Most High there. will rest (Heb. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007), Freedman, David Noel (Ed. A good read. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. 10 no evil shall happen to you, Or be unhurt by such savage and poisonous creatures; as the Israelites, when they travelled through the wilderness, in which were serpents and scorpions; and many of the servants of God have been delivered from them, or have slain them, as Samson, David, and Daniel; and so Christ was among the wild beasts in the wilderness, and yet not touched or Nay, it is promised to God's people that they shall have the satisfaction of seeing, not only God's promises fulfilled to them, but his threatenings fulfilled upon those that hate them (v. 8): Only with thy eyes shalt thou behold and see the just reward of the wicked, which perhaps refers to the destruction of the first-born of Egypt by the pestilence, which was both the punishment of the oppressors and the enlargement of the oppressed; this Israel saw when they saw themselves unhurt, untouched. 3. The Hebrew word seter means a secret place or hiding place. - Richard A. Wiedenheft, Immortality - The Gift Of God Through Faith In Jesus The Christ, Immortality or Resurrection of the Dead? They will bear you up in their hands, so that you wont dash your foot against a stone (vv. Protokrator appears several times in the New Testament in passages that emphasize Gods almighty power (2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22). See the comments on verse 3b (above) for an explanation of deber (pestilence). With long life I will satisfy himand show him my salvation.. 2. It would have served them well during the Babylonian Exile, when only the eyes of faith could see the possibility that they would ever again see Jerusalem. Yahweh is his mesudah (hiding place, stronghold, fortress). Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. The "Clergy/Laity" Distinction: A Hindrance to the Church? An integrated digital Bible study library - including complete notes from the NIV Study Bible and the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible - is just a step away! I am old, and expect to die within a few years. It may be applied to that care of the divine Providence by which we are preserved from ravenous noxious creatures (the wild beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee, Job 5 23); nay, and have ways and means of taming them, Jam 3 7. The Life-Giving Shepherd (John 10:1-11) Pastor John MacArthur. They are such as call upon him, as by prayer keep up a constant correspondence with him, and in every difficult case refer themselves to him. Proud member Psalms 91:8-10. To whom these promises do belong; they are described by three characters:(1.) How could any arrows, how could any pestilence, ever be able to reach that secure abode of God? The Unholy Trinity: The World, The Flesh, The Devil Psalms--BASICS Psalm 91 OUTLINE vs. 1-2: Assurance of God's Protection vs. 3-8, 11-13: The Ways God Protects vs. 9-10: An Invitation to Receive God's Protection vs. 14-16: Promises from the Lord for His Protection SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. 14b (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1973), Limburg, James, Westminster Bible Companion: Psalms (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000, Mays, James Luther, Interpretation: Psalms (Louisville: John Knox, 1994), McCann, J. Clinton, Jr., The New Interpreters Bible: The Book of Psalms, Vol. In verses 1-2, the psalmist uses four names for God: The Most High (Hebrew: elyon). We havent had to watch carefully for fowlers traps as we walk along sidewalks or drive along roadsor even when we hike through woods. The first of those meanings (deliver) has God pulling the person out of the troubled situation, a scenario where the troubled person plays only a passive role. What does the phrase "gnashing of teeth" mean? Dec. 18, 2022. He is my refuge and my fortress: The one who lives intimately with God knows the greatness of His protection. They shall triumph over their enemies, ver 13. Bible Verses, Quotes, Christian Answers, Songs and More. There has even been protection from the wild predators, snakes, spiders, and a multitude of various other dangerous insects and animals that many have experienced receiving protection from, like Paul when he was bitten by a poisonous snake and should have died (Acts 28:3-5). They shall be the charge of the holy angels, ver 10-12. - F. F. Bruce. What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. Observe, I. I believe in God and depend on him for deliverance, but I nevertheless find myself afraid. 91:10 There shall no [nothing comes our way God has either not decreed or not allowed] evil [that which is the opposite of good; any misfortune] befall thee, neither shall any plague [refers to some physical blow; general term for plague] come nigh thy dwelling. 91:9. Psalms 91:4. Does God value such feeble and imperfect knowledge of his name as we possess? It goes beyond head-knowledge to heart-knowledge. He is a refuge that will not fail me; for he is my fortress and strong-hold." Aye, that is true, you will say, who makes any doubt of it? Psalm 91 continues to be a source of strength, hope, promise and encouragement for every generation. In Vietnam, our soldiers had to watch for punji sticks and trip wires. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. and see the recompense of the wicked. I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation (v. 16). B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2014), Gower, Ralph, The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times (Chicago: Moody Press, 1987), Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 73-150, Vol. (2.) That they shall have an eternal life in the other world. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: Notice, that it is, He shall, and I will. The mighty grace of God shall make us pray, and the Almighty God of grace will answer our prayer: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. How I love these glorious shalls and wills! We ought to think more of the saint and the dragon. At the time that the psalmist wrote this psalm, the Israelite people had not yet developed a strong belief in eternal life, as we know it in the New Testamentso the salvation mentioned here probably meant to the psalmist only deliverance from trouble. Scriptural Evidence for the Necessity of Obedience in Salvation, The Doctrine of Immortality in the Early Church - John H. Roller, Luther's views on soul sleep and the after life, Make Good Use of Your Servitude - Observations on Biblical Slavery, The Consensus of Current Scholarship: The Soul is Not Immortal, Killing the Canaanites - A Response to the New Atheism's "Divine Genocide" Claims. To this the great God is pleased to compare his care of his people, who are helpless as the chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are invited to trust under the shadow of the wings of the divine promise and providence, which is the periphrasis of a proselyte to the true religion, that he has come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Ruth 2 12. The charge is to keep thee in all thy ways; here is a limitation of the promise: They shall keep thee in thy ways, that is, "as long as thou keepest in the way of thy duty;" those that go out of that way put themselves out of God's protection. We are all, by nature, God's enemies, and we deserve His wrath. - Oscar Cullmann, Immortality or Resurrection? and Kahane, Ahuvia, The Oxford English-Hebrew Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 1998), Fohrer, Georg, Hebrew & Aramaic Dictionary of the Old Testament (SCM Press, 2012), Freedman, David Noel (ed. 16 I will satisfy him with long life, Yahweh is promising to exalt the person who knows his name. God dispatched angels to help Isaac find a wife (Genesis 24:7)and to protect Israel in the Exodus (Exodus 23:20-23; 32:34; 33:2)and to sustain Elijah in his flight from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:5-8)and to carry people to heaven (Luke 16:22)and to release apostles from prison (Acts 5:19). 8 You will only look with your eyes, There is need to fear the night filled with terror or the arrows that are visibly seen flying during the day. The word elyon is usually translated Most High, and is usually used for God. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (4.) Psalm 91 appears to be a psalm in the setting of warfare with threats of an imminent battle that is about to, has or is currently taking place between solders that may be facing impossible odds. Not only does He deliver His own from trouble, He honors them and satisfies them, promises them long life and how long is the life that comes when He shows us His salvation? (2.) We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Viewing things from God's vantage point--that is true comfort. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . And from the noisome pestilence. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. 91:2 ), from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others, Ps. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. And the great majority of evangelicals accept that without question. With the greatest tenderness and affection, which is intimated in that, He shall cover thee with his feathers, under his wings, which alludes to the hen gathering her chickens under wings, Matt 23 37. This psalm is a powerful chapter when a believer is in a time of crisis. Counterfeit Cross updated- Sanctification and Growing in Righteousness, Errors of the Invitation System or Alter Call, Counterfeit Cross - The Lordship of Christ in Salvation - Part II, A Historical Overview of The Lord's Supper, Set Your Mind on Things Above - Matthew Henry, Prophecies of the Destruction of Jerusalem which have remarkably been fulfilled - Thomas Newton. Am I really moving today and acting today as divine providence leads me, and as duty calls me? He who travels on the kings business, by daylight, along the kings highway, may be sure of the kings protection. We have heard of people who have attributed their recovery from serious illness to the prayers said in their behalf. Growing Up With Two Moms: The Untold Childrens View. Some churches today cite Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19; and Acts 28:1-6 to justify the handling of deadly snakes as part of their worshipand some people die while doing that. The word sagab (set him on high) means to raise, exalt, or defend. Popular media today portray angels as lovely, delicate, and feminine, but Biblical writers either cite masculine names for angels or give no clue to their gender. In the light of the Lord you will see light; and you will discover the limed twigs and the nets and the traps that are set to catch you: He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. Psalms 91 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. houses for sale hervey bay $250,000 to; gwinnett county gun show 2021; eagle point elementary school staff; super shuttle sanford airport I will say of the Lord, He is my then come three mys, as if the psalmist could grasp the Triune Jehovah, my refuge, my fortress, my God; in him will I trust. What a grand word that is, My God! What Is The Evidence For/Against The Existence Of God? i. I will be with him: So, no man need add solitude to sadness, but may have God sitting with him, like Jobs friends, waiting to comfort him with true comfort. (Maclaren), ii. It is not an evil, an only evil, but there is a mixture of good in it and a product of good by it. The large shield offers protection over a larger areaand a line of soldiers can put their rectangular shields together to form a nearly impenetrable wall against enemy arrows. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. The Immortality of the Soul:
The promises that are sure to all those who have thus made the Most High their habitation. [2.] (5.) Yahweh was Gods personal name for the Israelites. We, dear friends, may have secret enemies, who shoot at us, but we shall not be afraid of the arrow. This, however, is not a book that helps in grappling with problem verses; it simply helps a preacher or teacher come down to earth. His faithfulness (emettruth) is your shield (Hebrew: sinnah) and rampart (Hebrew: soherahbuckler) (v. 4c). O death! Children and the Rod of Correction - Dave Miller, Ph.D. Christian Practice - Evidence of Grace - Edwards, Meditating On The Future Life - John Calvin w/ audio, Others May, You Cannot - by G. D. Watson w/audio, The Bible Doctrine of the Separated Life - by Johannes G. Vos, The Christian and Entertainment - Rev. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.. Idolaters called their idols Mahuzzim, their most strong-hold (Dan 11 39), but therein they deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that make the Lord their God, their fortress. They who fear God are delivered from the vices which would deprive them of the vigor of life; and the joy and contentment they have in God help them to live longer than others. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. We read of fear in the night, Cant 3 8. Those that preserve their purity in times of general corruption may trust God with their safety in times of general desolation. Thy God will not leave thee in the glare of the sun, nor will he forsake thee when the damps of night-dews would put thee in peril. We know whom we have trusted. 3 (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2016), Tate, Marvin E., Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100 (Dallas: Word Books, 1990), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006), Baker, Warren (ed. Eternal Torment or Complete Annihilation? The Nature of Man - Dualistic or Holistic? Dec. 25, 2022. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? When multitudes die round about us, though thereby we must be awakened to prepare for our own death, yet we must not be afraid with any amazement, nor make ourselves subject to bondage, as many do all their life-time, through fear of death, Heb 2 15. Let us come boldly there; and, when we once enter, let us dwell there. It is more probably that the word refers to the better country, that is, the heavenly, which the patriarchs desired and sought: he will show him that, bring him to that blessed state, the felicity of which consists so much in seeing that face to face which we here see through a glass darkly; and, in the mean time, he will give him a prospect of it. To encourage us to make the Lord our habitation, and to hope for safety and satisfaction in him, the psalmist intimates the comfort he had had in doing so: "He whom thou makest thy habitation is my refuge; and I have found him firm and faithful, and in him there is room enough, and shelter enough, both for thee and me." (2.) 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Here is great security promised to believers in the midst of this danger: "Thou shalt not be afraid. When we are retired into our chambers, our beds, and have made all as safe as we can about us, yet there is terror by night, from thieves and robbers, winds and storms, besides those things that are the creatures of fancy and imagination, which are often most frightful of all. Sadday often appears with the Hebrew word el, which is a generic word for a godany god. The spiritual life, which is protected by divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is the noisome pestilence. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Why I Don't Have a Television - John Piper, Why People Find the Bible Difficult - A. W. Tozer, Your Life is Like the Morning Fog - James P. Shelly, A Challenge to Unscriptural Traditions and Practice - Video, Are Seminaries Legitimate? (6.) He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. What are things that we can learn from it for today? Why is the church losing its young people? You can check these in your browser security settings. Nihil accidere bono viro mali potestNo evil can befal a good man. If God proportions the degree and continuance of our troubles to our strength, if he keeps us from offending him in our troubles, and makes our death our discharge, at length, from all our troubles, then this promise is fulfilled. However, now we begin to hear from Yahweh directly. PSALM 91:1-2. Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow, as knowing that though it may hit thee it cannot hurt thee; if it take away the natural life, yet it shall be so far from doing any prejudice to the spiritual life that it shall be its perfection." Being under His wings and in His fortress and Him as the refuge, the fear evaporates during the terror at night,noon, or any part of the day. and from the deadly pestilence. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. The promises which are here made, in God's name, to all those that do so in sincerity. The buckler is also part of the protection and this device is a defensive piece of armor used in ancient times when close range attacks occurred. The wonderful thing is that God is love (1 John 4:16). Many people have told me that only the supernatural intervention by angels commanded by God could explain certain miraculous situations that they were involved with, some having their lives being spared. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). 2 TIMOTHY 2:15. 4. The MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture. Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is my refuge: any other is a refuge of lies. The word emet is usually translated truth. - Darryl M. Erkel, Church Leaders and the Use of Honorific Titles, Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats - Charles Spurgeon, House-Churches? In this study, Dr. MacArthur examines the book of Psalms and reveals how the hymns it contains points to an all-powerful God who is to be respected, worshiped, and praised for his loving care of his peopleand to whom we can turn to help in times of need. Psalm 91:1-3 God the Deliverer "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. God puts honour upon us, poor dishonourable worms that we are. As you may be aware, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into full effect on 25th May 2018. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. The one who abides in the shelter or under the protection of the Most High God has a shadow over him or her, much like Gods providing the cloud of glory that protected Israel in her wanderings in the wilderness from the scorching sun and like a fortress, He will deliver those who face the snare or trap or the threat of a deadly pestilence or disease.