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People love to read Psalms 91, but it starts with a powerful statement that describes whom this psalm applies to. If you want to enjoy God’s protection like it was described in Psalms 91, then you must understand the deeper meaning of this powerful chapter!
Psalms 91 is among the most popular chapters in the book of Psalms. It starts with these words:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High” (Psalms 91:1).
Most people are familiar with this verse. However, not all know the deep meaning behind it.
What does it really mean to dwell in the secret place of the Most High? What is its implication and how does it apply to our lives as Christians?
In this post, let us take a deeper look at the meaning of Psalms 91:1 and see what it really means to dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
Who will God protect?
Psalms 91 starts with the statement, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High.”
With this statement, Psalms 91 makes it clear right from the start whom God will protect.
God protects His people. He will protect those who choose to live with Him and act upon that decision.
While it is true that God can protect anyone whom He wishes, those who constantly live a life close to God will receive special treatment. They can live in peace, serenity, and security because of God’s assurance that they will be protected.
Now, notice, the text says, “He who dwells.” It didn’t say, “He who dwelt” or “He who will dwell.” It is in the present tense. God won’t protect those who stopped dwelling with Him or those who didn’t make the decision yet to be with Him.
It means that the one whom God will protect is someone who actively lives a godly life. The one who decided to be with Him and continues to be with Him.
The word “dwells” came from the Hebrew word yashab, which means to “sit down, settle, remain, and inhabit.”
As you can see, dwelling in God’s presence is a conscious choice. It is something that we decide to do, not out of necessity or grudge, but out of a willing heart.
Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High means that we constantly seek His love, comfort, and protection. God will protect those who want to know Him better and on a deeper level.
Compare that to those people who don’t live a godly life. They expose their lives to many dangers and unnecessary pain and suffering. People who live apart from God may prosper and earn wealth, but they will ultimately experience tragedy in a physical, emotional, and spiritual manner.
The secret place
Where should the righteous dwell? He will dwell in the secret place.
Have you thought why?
God will not just shelter His people in the open court or to the part of the house where people can easily come and go. But God will shelter His people in the secret place – in a private and reserved place.
It would be a place where God, Himself, withdraws to be alone. God is willing to share with His people even the most private and exclusive part of His dwelling area.
Now, a “secret” place can also mean a difficult place to find. It is something that is not known to most people. The place is so hidden that it takes a lot of effort, energy, and sacrifice for a person to find it.
The secret place isn’t reserved for lazy, wicked, and apathetic people. It isn’t for the people who don’t see the value of being with their Creator. After all, would God allow someone to be part of His dwelling place if that person doesn’t even respect its Owner?
Thus, the righteous should exert every effort to find the place of refuge. While searching for this secret place can be difficult, you and I can be assured that once we found it, we can look back and tell ourselves, “It was all worth it.”
Sometimes, God wants to see how bad we wanted to be with Him.
God does not test us because He wants us to suffer or prevent us from obtaining eternal life, but He does that to help us develop the godly character needed to stay with Him through thick and thin.
In short: the secret place is reserved for those people who love God and do His commandments.
The owner of the secret place
Now, who owns the secret place?
The Most High!
This secret place is guarded by the most powerful, supreme, and almighty Being. No one can breach its defenses. Absolutely no one!
There’s no doubt; God’s secret place is the safest place in the universe!
Can you now see how God protects His people and how His people can live their lives with the incredible confidence in the fact that God shields them from harm? Indeed, if you want someone to protect you, then let it be God.
Bible References
91 He that dwelleth 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 will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath 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 honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
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