1<\/sup> He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High This is one of those Psalms that people keep quoting to me when<\/strong><\/p>\n troubles appear. It is a psalm of comfort and promise- and makes for<\/strong><\/p>\n good reading. But I don\u2019t read it the same way people quote it to me.<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t<\/strong> see the promise made to believers.<\/strong><\/p>\n My husband and I discuss Scripture, and this is one that we are in agreement<\/strong><\/p>\n upon. This psalm is speaking more of Jesus Christ and His position and <\/strong><\/p>\n placement in God\u2019s care during His earthly ministry.<\/strong><\/p>\n Because \u2013 although I do trust in God\u2019s providence and protection-<\/strong><\/p>\n although I bow to His authority and throw myself upon His grace and <\/strong><\/p>\n mercy- although I have been grafted into His family through the agency <\/strong><\/p>\n of Christ\u2019s substitutionary sacrifice- I have to seriously consider the <\/strong><\/p>\n question- \u201cWhere do I dwell?\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the verse I am looking at today. Verse one sets up the premise for the <\/em><\/p>\n rest of the psalm. \u201c He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High\u201d\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n WHO <\/strong>is that? It is Jesus Christ \u2013 and He alone who dwells there.<\/em><\/p>\n This is not about me. It is not about us.<\/em><\/p>\n We dwell here on Earth. We can keep our mind set on Jesus. We can pray<\/em><\/p>\n unceasingly- rejoice in His presence in our lives and seek to do His will.<\/em><\/p>\n But- <\/strong>we dwell here. <\/em><\/p>\n We can\u2019t move into the Father\u2019s house and expect Him to provide for our needs<\/em><\/p>\n and protect us from the consequences of our decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n He does protect believers who are fulfilling His will- sometimes.<\/p>\n And sometimes, believers who are in dangerous places- following <\/p>\n God\u2019s plans- spreading the Gospel- sometimes they are killed.<\/p>\n Or imprisoned- or tortured for the sake of their belief in God.<\/p>\n We dwell here. And God loves us. <\/strong><\/p>\n And sometimes, we are attacked by disease, and terror, and evil.<\/strong><\/p>\n And sometimes, we die.<\/strong><\/p>\n This psalm is not filled with promises of protection for believers.<\/strong><\/p>\n It is about the relationship between God and His Son.<\/strong><\/p>\n And it is beautiful and real and comforting.<\/strong><\/p>\n Because we are part of that relationship-<\/strong><\/p>\n and we are not alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Psalm 91 Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God 1 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, \u201cHe … Continue reading
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2<\/sup> I will say of the LORD, \u201cHe is<\/i> my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.\u201d
3<\/sup> Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And<\/i> from the perilous pestilence.
4<\/sup> He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your<\/i> shield and buckler.
5<\/sup> You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor<\/i> of the arrow that<\/i> flies by day,
6<\/sup> Nor<\/i> of the pestilence that<\/i> walks in darkness,
Nor<\/i> of the destruction that<\/i> lays waste at noonday.
7<\/sup> A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But<\/i> it shall not come near you.
8<\/sup> Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9<\/sup> Because you have made the LORD, who is<\/i> my refuge,
Even<\/i> the Most High, your dwelling place,
10<\/sup> No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11<\/sup> For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12<\/sup> In their<\/i> hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13<\/sup> You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14<\/sup> \u201cBecause 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<\/sup> He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be<\/i> with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16<\/sup> With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.\u201d <\/p>\n