Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High

Sharon and I went shopping for food on Thursday, and it was interesting. Everywhere we went people were wearing masks. We live in a time now where some people won’t leave their homes and where police arrested a father and daughter playing catch in a park. The world seems to be filled with fear and oppression everywhere you look.

In light of current goings on, God’s Word has some interesting things to say. Our adversary, the devil, has a temporary lease on the earth and is currently the god of this world. The devil has his people in many positions of power all over the earth.

We as God’s children live in this world, but we are no longer of this world. God is our Father and our citizenship is in the kingdom of God. As our Father, God has given us great understanding through His Word and has made many promises available to us.

One of the most revealing sections of scripture about current events is in Ephesians 6:10 and following:

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We are in a spiritual battle of which the ultimate goal is to stop the movement of God’s Word and to afflict God’s children. The way we fight in this battle is to pray for each other and for the leadership of the church.

Ephesians 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me (Paul), that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Many ministers are being told not to hold services in their churches on Sunday under penalty of arrest. WOW! So, we pray. Even when Judah was carried away into captivity into Babylon, God told them to pray for the city, even though it was ruled by pagans.

Jeremiah 29:7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Good advice for us today. Pray for our cities, our country and our leadership.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Could you pray for people not born again that run your cities and states? God says to. Note that there are many different types of prayers in the Bible.
But as we live here and are at times put under much pressure, God has much to say about His protection that He offers His children. The following is like an expansion of the 23rd Psalm where it says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.”

Isaiah 41:10-13 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

In the context we are talking of here;

They that are incensed against you shall be as nothing.
They that strive with you shall perish.
They that contend with you shall be as nothing.

These are they that are of this world.

We live in this world, but we are not of this world.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:15-16 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Our Father, knowing the pressure and persecutions we are subjected to while we are in the world, tells us where to put our thoughts, our trust and our hope.
Therefore, I have asked my fellowship to read the 91st Psalm every day through these times as it offers some great reminders of our Father’s love for us, how He fights for us and the protections He offers us.

Psalm 91:1-16 He that dwelleth 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 will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 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. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Dake’s Annotated Bible makes some interesting observations about parts of this Psalm.

For the person that dwells in the secret place of the most High, God shows His great ability to protect.

He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler (traps set for the righteous by the wicked).
He shall deliver you from the noisome pestilence (a rushing calamity that sweeps everything before it).
Cover you with his feathers (used here figuratively to indicate God’s protection and care).
There is protection under His wings.
His truth will be your shield and buckler.

God also gives us illustrations of what we do not need to fear:

Not afraid of night terrors (treasons, robbery, murders, disease)
Not afraid of day arrows (figuratively, dangers that come by day)
Not afraid of pestilence that come in the dark (plague)
Not afraid of noonday destructions

Then God says that a thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. This reminds one of the night the destroyer flew over the land of the Egyptians known as Passover, none of Israel’s firstborn died.

God also says you will see the reward of the wicked. I don’t know when that will be, but for sure we will be there when the books are opened at the Great White Throne. After the Great White Throne, you will seek for them and will not find them. Perished forever.

God promises to be with us in trouble, to answer us when we call upon Him for help and to deliver us.

God’s Word is filled with records of His great ability to deliver even in the worst of times. What He asks us to do is to pray — pray for each other, pray for our leadership in the church, pray for all men and pray for our city, state and country leaders. God asks us to put our trust in Him and set our love upon Him.

Stand with your loins girt about with truth. Put on the whole armor of God. Then having done all STAND.