UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY
Among the many passages in sacred Scripture that are given to inspire
our faith, there is not one of them that speaks with more confidence and trust
in God, than that of the ninety-first Psalm. Since these encouraging words were
written, thousands have been strengthened by them in times of distress and
danger. The mere reading of this Psalm brings to the heart and mind a sense of
peace and security amid the storms of life. Those who have lived in the spirit
of its words have found that its great and sweeping promises have been fulfilled
in their everyday experiences.
There is one condition that is necessary,
however, before we can obtain the full blessing of its promises in our lives, and
that is contained in the words of the first verse. We must dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the
shadow of the Almighty. We are apt to regard this secret place under God’s
shadow as the special privilege of only the most advanced, mature Christian,
and that to be able…to dwell in the very presence of God, can only be attained
by a long and arduous life spent in His service.
This is not so, however, for the secret
place is for all who are seeking shelter because of their susceptibility to worry, uncertainty and timidity. These words are meant for
the weak and failing heart of the fearful believer. They were written for the
purpose of helping the young and immature, as much as for the developed and
ripened Christian; the secret place being just as vital and necessary to one as
to the other, and just as available to either of them.
How then can we abide under the shadow, of
the Almighty? This is not some difficult and complicated matter that needs
searching out with understanding; it is
the simple and effective result of doing something. We are invited to
come boldly to the throne of grace, and this is open to all alike who believe;
it is the need of the soul and not its learning, that brings it into the
secret place of the most High.
It is there, under the shadow of the Almighty, that we find the peace, joy, and
supreme confidence that comes with the consciousness
of the divine presence.
Abiding under the shadow of the Almighty
does not mean that because we are waiting upon God, we cease to take any
further active part in our affairs. It
does mean that in the face of difficulties and
troubles greater
than we have ever known before, we
perseveringly seek the secret place of the most High. With
the strength and with the confidence that follows, we can then go calmly forward
to meet whatever may lie before us; and we shall find that the promises of this
Psalm become living realities in our life; difficulties
melt away, obstacles vanish, unexpected things happened, and we find ourselves
delivered triumphantly over every trouble and through all adversity.
When our
minds are in a state of turmoil through distress and worry, it may seem utterly
impossible for us to enter the silence and calm of the secret place. But, if we
are to be delivered from being helpless victims of fear and apprehension, we
must bring our minds under the control of God’s Spirit. Let us then read slowly
and prayerfully the ninety-first Psalm, and as we continue to read, its spirit
of confident assurance will gradually enter our hearts and a state of peace and
tranquility will follow, which is not of earth but of heaven. Then, filled with
the spirit of faith and harmony with God, we shall be able to fulfill our part
in the practical and necessary things of life, with the confident assurance
that all our affairs will work
together for good, because we have set
our love upon God.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto
you,” and Paul exhorts, “Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,
and the peace of God, which passes
all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
From Bible Student
Magazine
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High ~ shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty. I will say
of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare
of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take
refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of
the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day…A thousand may fall at
your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you…Because
you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling
place, no evil shall befall you…for He shall give His angels charge over you to
keep you in all your ways…Because he has set his love upon Me, I will deliver
him; I will set him on high, because he has known My Name. He shall call upon Me and I shall answer him; I will be with him and honor him,
with long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:1-5, 7, 9, 11, 14-16