David is talking about the secret place of the Most High. This secret place is under the shadow of the Almighty. It is a place of security, protection, and provision. Those people who abide in the presence of God, dwell in a habitation that, even when it is dark, it is a testimony of His nearness. He invites us to come and dwell in that secret place. Think about all of the dark times you have faced in your life. In every dark and difficult moment, God is a very present help. If you are in thick darkness, make your soul be still and pay attention.
You will notice that you are not alone. God is with you. He walks with you through the darkness waiting for the moment when you will speak, when you will reach out, when you will ask for His help. You can find the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV He who dwells 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 I will trust.”
Psalm 91:3-4 NKJV Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:5-6 NKJV You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Psalm 91:7-8 NKJV A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
Psalm 91:9-10 NKJV Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
Psalm 91:11-12 NKJV For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:13-14 NKJV You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
Psalm 91:15-16 NKJV He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV He who dwells 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 I will trust.”
Look at those first three words: “He who dwells…”
This is the abiding life. In John 15, Jesus gave detailed instruction about abiding in Him. In that lesson, He spoke of specific benefits, protections, and provisions that are for those who abide in Him and His word. “He who dwells” refers to the person who remains in contact with God. This is the life that God has called us into in Christ. Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and My words abide in you..” This life is strengthened when Christ says, “the Spirit of truth… dwells with you and will be in you,” (John 14:16-17). Those who dwell are gleaning the benefit of El Shaddai, the Almighty God.
In His presence there is a “secret place.”
“He who dwells in the secret place” is a lifestyle of abiding in God’s presence. This is more than a theology or idea, it is an experience of the presence of God. This is more than a verse you have read in the Bible, it is an ongoing continuation of a conscious abiding in His presence. The Word is an invitation to come into a realization of God’s presence manifest in your life. The Word is good, but it is not an end in itself. God has given His Word so that we may know that we can go on to know Him and His power. God’s Word shows the possibility of entering into fellowship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God is giving the promise so that we may know there is a place where we may dwell with Him.
Those who find and dwell in the secret place of the Most High “shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
The “shadow of the Almighty” has many connotations that are important to consider. Shadow represents a dark place, a hiding place, a place of covering and protection. Under the shadow of the Almighty we have defense.
Psalm 121:5-7 NKJV The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
The right hand is a testimony of the place of your strength. On your right hand, God is your shade. He is the One Who preserves and protects.
When you abide under the shadow of the Almighty you will find His loving and powerful protection.
Throughout the remainder of Psalms 91 we see the blessed benefit of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. When you make the Most High your dwelling place you can expect His covering protection. Look in your Bible at the numbers of things God promised to do for those who abide under His shadow.
- Verse 2 — refuge and fortress
- Verse 3 — deliver from snare and pestilence
- Verse 4 — cover with feathers, refuge, shield and buckler
- Verse 5, 6 — not be afraid of terror, arrow, pestilence, destruction
- Verse 7 — trouble shall not come near you
- Verse 8 — you shall see the reward of the wicked but it will not touch you
- Verse 9, 10 — the Lord is your refuge and dwelling place, no evil or plague shall come near
- Verse 11 — you will be kept by His angels
- Verse 12 — they will bear you up
- Verse 13 — all kinds of evil might threaten but will be defeated
- Verse 14 — God will deliver because you know His name
- Verse 15 — When we call, God will answer, will be present in trouble and will deliver
- Verse 16 — God will show them His salvation
Song of Solomon 2:3 NKJV Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods… I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.
When you sit down (dwell) under the shadow of the Almighty you will find great delight.
God is always a shield for us and the lifter of our head. Under the shadow of the Almighty is a place of delight and refreshing.
Psalm 16:11 NKJV You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
This is why we can say that even when everything is dark around us, God is near. When God is near, we are renewed and refreshed. There is a great controversy here. All some can see is the plague, the lion, serpent, and the trouble.
God has made a promise that He is with you.
When we begin seeing all of these things, we need to speak to our soul.
Psalm 46:10-11 NKJV Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
If your life is being challenged with all of these things, be still and know that God is still God. He has not forsaken His people. If you are in thick darkness, make your soul be still and pay attention. You will notice that you are not alone. God is with you.
