“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
All who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may have peace and security of mind at all times. They that by faith choose God, shall find in Him everything they need or desire. When abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, they will be sheltered from anything that would take their peace away. They are under God’s umbrella… surrounded by His fortress. They will not only have bold access to the Father, but He will be their rest and refuge forever. Others make idols their refuge, but He is a refuge that will not fail.
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Believers shall be kept from imminent danger and of things that would be fatal to them… from the snare of the fowler – a trap laid unseen and suddenly catches the unaware prey, and from the perilous pestilence – a plague or deadly disease, which seizes men unexpectantly. 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 His divine promise and providence. His truth shall be your shield and buckler, a strong defense. God is willing to guard his people as the hen is to guard the chickens, and as able as a man of war in armor.
He will not only keep them from evil, but from the fear of evil. A believer needs not fear, and therefore should not fear, any arrow, because the point is off, the poison is out. O death, where is thy sting? It is also under divine direction, and will hit where God appoints and not otherwise. Every bullet has its commission. Whatever is done is God’s will; and we have no reason to be afraid of that.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
When death rides in triumph and diseases rage, so that thousands and ten thousands fall by sickness or the sword… it shall not come near you. Their fall is enough to frighten you, just know that it shall not come near you – the death shall not, and the fear of death shall not. 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 Him: Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Two more promises that are sure to all those who’ve made the Most High their refuge and dwelling place… 1. That whatever happens to them, nothing shall hurt them: though trouble or affliction occur, there shall be no real evil in it. 2. God’s angels shall be working for and helping them. This is a precious promise, and speaks a great deal both of honor and comfort to the saints. This speaks of the great care God takes of the saints, in that the angels themselves shall be charged with them, and employed for them. They are able to bear up the saints out of the reach of danger, and they do it with all the tenderness and affection similar to how the nurse carries the little child about in her arms; it speaks us helpless and them helpful. The powers of darkness shall be triumphed over by them. They keep the feet of the saints, Lest you dash your foot against a stone, lest they stumble and fall into sin and into trouble.
The devil is called a roaring lion, the old serpent, the red dragon. The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet. Christ has broken the serpent’s head, ruined our spiritual enemies, and through him we are more than conquerors.
14 “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.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
He will, in due time, deliver them out of trouble: I will deliver him (v. 14 and again v. 15)! He will answer their prayers: He shall call upon Me; I will pour upon him the spirit of prayer, and then I will answer. He will exalt and dignify them: I will set him on high, out of the reach of trouble, above the stormy region, on a rock above waters and above the waves. They shall be enabled, by the grace of God, to look down upon the things of this world with a holy contempt and indifference, to look up to the things of the other world with a holy ambition and concern; and then they are set on high. I will honor him; He puts honor upon them by taking them into covenant and communion with himself and designing them for his kingdom and glory.
They shall live long enough: they shall be continued in this world till they have done the work they were sent into this world for and are ready for heaven, and that is long enough; for God by his grace shall wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. “ For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
Psalm 91