524_Safe under the shadow of the Almighty

Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who, along with her family, hid Jews during World War II. Eventually, they were arrested and sent to a series of concentration camps, where Betsie died. In the horror of those camps, surrounded by evil and death surrounded them daily, Betsie reminded Corrie, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” In the heart of the storm, she found peace in the presence of the God of love whom she trusted. That was Psalm 91 lived out.

We are safe only in the shadow of the Almighty. This psalm is one of the most beloved portions of Scripture, often read in times of danger, sickness, or uncertainty. Yet, its message goes far deeper than offering a comforting word.

Interestingly, this psalm bears no author’s name or title. It may have been written by Moses or David. Regardless, the message is timeless: those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High find all they need in God.

The psalm opens: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” When God is our dwelling place, we neither want nor need any other refuge, but wholly trust and lean upon God. This is the only source of true security.

The book of Ruth exemplifies this trust. A Moabite widow, she had every reason to stay in her own land, with her own people and their gods, after her Israelite husband died. But when Naomi, her mother-in-law, decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth clung to her and said, “Where you go I will go. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Naomi’s kinsman, who would later marry Ruth and redeem her property for her, recognized the depth of her faith at their first meeting, saying, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12). Ruth came to dwell under the shadow of the Almighty, and she discovered that it was the safest place in the world.

Verse 4 says, “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” The warmth and protection of the mother bird’s wings shield her young ones from predators, extreme weather, and all that could harm them. So is God’s love our shield, an unshakable defense against the foes of our spirit.

Those who abide under His shadow find freedom from the terrors of the night or the attacks of the day. For the presence of the Almighty dispels the paralysis of fear. Even when destruction and danger surround us, we are assured that it is not directed against us, and will not even come near us. Though the hardships of this world may leave us sore and aching, these words tell us that for those who love God, those whom he calls, there is nothing that can harm us. For all things come to us only through his sovereign care.

Verses 9 and 10 carry incredible promises: “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” These words are incredibly reassuring, but they cannot be twisted, as Satan once tried to do in the wilderness with the Lord. For the enemy of our souls tempted the Lord to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, quoting these words: “For he will command his angels concerning you… On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

But the Lord knew the motive behind this apparently faith-filled suggestion, responding with the command of God: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Angels are indeed commanded to guard those who belong to God when they are beset by danger – but that does not mean they should presumptuously or carelessly put themselves at risk. The promises here are not permission to test God, but strength to those who trust Him and walk in His will.

What a cluster of promises God gives to those who love Him! He himself speaks to his beloved one: “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation” (verses 14–16).

What is promised here includes deliverance, protection, answered prayer, God’s presence in trouble, rescue, honor, long life, and ultimately salvation. These are not vague assurances, but deeply personal commitments from God Himself to the one who loves Him, knows His name, and calls upon Him. Though God’s beloved may not – indeed, will not – be spared from all trouble, He guarantees His presence with them, and that is their confidence and salvation. For in Christ, death itself is but the doorway into the eternal dwelling place of God.

Christ our Savior is the One who dwelt in the secret place of God, yet came from the bosom of the Father to lead many sons to glory through his suffering, death, and resurrection. He exemplified for us the safety and security that comes with being in the shadow of the Almighty, even in the midst of unbearable suffering and fierce enemies. His triumph over every enemy, including death, makes him our eternal refuge. In him we are safe—not because of our circumstances, but because of our Savior.

Let us forsake all else, and dwell under his wings. Let us eschew our trust in our health, our wealth, human strength, or anything that promises us safety and prosperity. Let us leave behind our idols and rest in his shadow. And when we do, we find what the world cannot give: peace in the storm, courage in the face of fear, and hope in the shadow of death.

Let us not just visit the presence of God; let us make it our dwelling place. Let us be at home with him, by making our hearts a realm where he can be at home with us. Let us hold fast to Him in love and call upon Him in faith, trusting completely in his faithfulness and loyalty as to a shield. For he said, “I will be with you in trouble,” and he will never fail. God bless.