Let’s read Psalm 91:1-2: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Before we consider a few thoughts on these verses, it’s good to point out that this Psalm is what we call a “Messianic Psalm,” which simply means that the Spirit of God had the Lord Jesus in view as He inspired this precious Psalm. But it can also be APPLIED to believers of all ages, and thus many have turned to this Psalm to find comfort, assurance and strength during the trials of life.

We read of the Lord Jesus in John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (NKJV). Every believer marvels that the Son of God, the eternal Word, was willing to become a man and dwell among us. 1st Timothy 3:16 agrees with this, for it says, “God was manifest in the flesh.” For approximately 33 years the Lord Jesus dwelled among us, revealing God the Father to us and seeking to draw sinners to put their trust in Him. But in our portion today we learn that He also dwelled “in the secret place of the most High.” Think of the many times He would go off on His own to pray to the Father and to enjoy His presence. In doing so He was abiding “under the shadow of the Almighty.” As a humble and obedient Man the Lord Jesus trusted in His God and in communion with Him He experienced His Almighty protection. From the manger to the cross He never deviated from this path of humble dependence and every step of the way He could say, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.”

If the reader has put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, you too can take these words to heart and apply them personally. Like the Lord Jesus we have a testimony to bear before the world, but in order to live a righteous life BEFORE MEN, there must be a life of communion BEFORE GOD. In other words, we too must “dwell in the secret place of the most High.” One has called this the “hidden life of communion and worship.”  It is in God’s presence that we will learn God’s power and protection. When it speaks of abiding “under the shadow of the Almighty,” it reminds us of a mother hen sheltering her young under her wings. In Psalm 17:8 David prayed to God saying, “Keep me as the apple of eye, HIDE ME UNDER THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS.” The Lord Jesus presents the same picture to us in Matthew 23:37 when He prayed for His people in Jerusalem, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as A HEN GATHERETH HER CHICKENS UNDER HER WINGS, and ye would not!” This is the SHELTER that God offers His children as we go through the difficulties of life and many suffering saints have found this blessed shelter through prayer and communion.  If this is our experience, we will also learn to say, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress.” The metaphors “refuge” and “fortress” give us the same thought of PROTECTION, but here it is not just against the “difficulties of life,” but against the “assaults of the enemy.” Satan knows he can’t rob us of our salvation, but he employs every strategy possible to rob us of the joy of our salvation and of our testimony before the world. But if we abide in communion with our God, He will be to us a strong fortress, a tower of defense that will keep us safe from every attack of our enemy. The apostle Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Praise God for the truth in Psalm 91!  (198.5)  (DO)