Psalm 91:1-4 - "In the Secret Place"

Psalm 91 is about the “secret place” of fellowship, worship and communion with the LORD. Interestingly, it is written by an anonymous writer. Remember when Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray that He told them in Matthew 6:6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”   The most important part of a believer's life is the part that only God sees. The "hidden life" of communion and worship is symbolized in the Old Testament by the Holy of Holies in the Jewish sanctuary (Ex. 25:18-22; Heb. 10:19-25). Only the High Priest was allowed to go into this “Most Holy Place” once a year with the blood of the proper sacrifice to make atonement for the sins of the people. In the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant that was covered by the Mercy Seat. Over the Mercy Seat were two cherubim angels facing each other with their wings almost touching in the middle. This was the dwelling place of the God in the midst of His people.   Over and over again, Scripture reminds us that God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). He hides us that He might help us and then send us back to serve Him in the struggles of life. (See Psalms 27:5; 31:19-20; 32:7; 73:27-28; 94:22; 142:5; Deut. 32:37.) The author of this Psalm made sure that his dwelling place was his Lord (vv. 1, 9, 10). The safest place in the world is a shadow, if it is the shadow of the Almighty.   Through Jesus Christ we find safety and satisfaction under the wings of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies (Psalms 36:7-8; 57:1; 61:4; 63:2, 6-7). Jesus pictured salvation by describing chicks hiding under the wings of the mother hen (Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34), and the psalmist pictured communion as believers resting under the wings of the cherubim in the tabernacle.   Four different names of God are used in the first two verses that encourage us to trust Him. He is the Most High God (Elyon; vv. 1, 9), a name found first in Genesis 14:18-20. He is higher than the kings of the earth and the false gods of the nations. He is also the Almighty (Shaddai), the all-sufficient God who is adequate for every situation (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11). He is LORD (vv. 2, 9, 14), Jehovah, the Great I AM, the personal and the covenant-making God who is faithful to His promises. He is God (Elohim, v. 2), the powerful creator God whose greatness and glory surpass anything we can imagine.   Remember Psalm 9:10, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”  God’s many names reflect His character and His attributes and when you intimately acquainted with them you will have no problem with putting your trust in Him.   This is the God who invites us to fellowship with Him in the Holy of Holies! This hidden life of worship and communion makes possible the public life of obedience and service. This God shelters us beneath the wings of the cherubim, but He also gives us the spiritual armor we need (v. 4; Eph. 6:10-18). His truth and faithfulness protect us as we claim His promises and obey Him.   In verse 4, “His truth is our shield and buckler”. The shield is the large shield that covers the whole person. (See Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; 2 Sam. 22:3.) Some translations give "bulwark" or "rampart" instead of "buckler." The Hebrew word means "to go around" and would describe a mound of earth around a fortress. But the message is clear: those who abide in the Lord are safe when they are doing His will. God's servants are immortal until their work is done (Romans 8:28-39).   My friend, do you have a “secret place” where you worship, commune, and fellowship with your LORD in His Word and prayer?   God bless!