08-24-2025 The Secret Place

Text: Psalm 91

                   This morning we are going to look at Psalm 91 to see what it has to teach us about how God protects and watches over us.  While the author of this Psalm is listed as anonymous, many scholars believe it was written by Moses.  Here’s what it says:  “ (1) He who dwells 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 you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  (4) He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings shall You trust:  His truth shall be  your shield and buckler.  (5) You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor the arrow that flies by day; (6) nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noon day.  (7) A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.  (8) Only with Your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked.  (9) Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation; (10) there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.  (11) For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.  (12) They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.  (13) You shall tread upon the lion and adder:  the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet.  (14) Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him:  I will set him on high because he has 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 honor him.  (16) With long life will I satisfy Him and show him My salvation.”

                   This is a psalm for all those who make the personal choice to walk with God.  This choice is more than a religious profession; it’s a way of life where one will keep their faith fixed on God and their purpose in life becomes knowing and serving Him.  Notice that the last three verses of Psalm 91 are the words of God Himself telling those who choose to walk with Him and love Him just how He will take care of and protect them.  This morning is a good time to look within our hearts to see if we are part of the favored ones to whom this psalm is written.

                   Verse 1 speaks of those who dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.  Many times you have heard me quote the words of the English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon.  Even though he died in 1982, his teachings continue to be highly influential among Christians of all denominations to this day.  He was once nicknamed the ‘Prince of Preachers’ and his preaching was always centered on the Cross.  Mr. Spurgeon defined those who are favored by God as those who know the love of God in Christ Jesus and are brought into the secret place of the Most High.  For those who dwell there, ‘to live is Christ, and to die is gain,’ as is written in Philippians 1:21.  

                   We find three words in verse 2 that show us what it means to be in the Shadow of the Almighty.  Those words are refuge, fortress, and trust.  First, we’re told He is our Refuge.  A refuge is a place of shelter, protection, safety, or anywhere that provides aid, relief, or escape.  The psalmist is telling believers that they will always find that God is a place to hide and find protection when the storms of life are surging all around or when others may fail us.  There are many times in the book of Psalms where the writers turn to God for His refuge from danger or trouble.  A few examples include  Psalm 46:1 says ‘God is our refuge and strength,’  Psalm 46:7:  ‘The God of Jacob is our refuge.’  Psalm 62:8:  ‘God is a refuge for us,’ and Psalm 71:7 ‘Thou are my strong refuge.’  When we choose to trust God He will always provide a place to hide and protect us. 

                   Next we’re told that God is our Fortress.  This means He provides a place of safety during times of battle.  Just because we’re saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t mean there will be an end to the end of conflict with Satan in our lives.  In fact, the conflict will likely grow as Satan tries to pull us away from God.  During these attacks by this enemy, God is always our fortress.  1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that the tempter is limited to do only what God allows him to and during his attacks our safest retreat is the secret place of the Most High.  Spurgeon said of the fortress:  “Our omnipotent Lord will shield all those who dwell with Him; they will remain in His care as guests under the protection of their host.”

                   Verse 2 also encourages us to trust in God.  Trust is simply another word for faith.  Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8-9 that because of our faith, we have salvation through the grace of God.  Then in Romans 5:1 he shows that our faith justifies us before God and gives us peace because of what Jesus endured on the Cross.  As our text tells us, we have a place in God’s fortress and are under His protection when we trust Him in every aspect of our life.

                   Verse 11 reminds us that one of the functions of angels is to watch over believers.  Many think there is a guardian angel assigned to each of us.  There is no indication in the scriptures that God assigns one angel to each believer,  but there are many examples of guardian angels throughout the Bible.  They’re also God’s messengers and while they typically aren’t visible, there are occasions when they make themselves known as found in Number 22:31, Matthew 4:6, Luke 2:9, and Luke 4:10-11 as well as several other places throughout the Bible.  Satan quoted portions of Psalm 91 when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.  As believers, we can take comfort knowing that God and His servant angels always are watching over us but especially in times of great stress and fear because He loves us.

                   We can always turn to this psalm for reassurance when we face the sickness or death of a loved one, or some other great loss.  It reminds us that God shelters and protects us when we’re afraid, sick, or in deep trouble if we have faith.  Psalm 91 presents a picture of how we can always trust God by faith no matter how intense or uncertain our circumstances may be.  When we ‘dwell’ and ‘rest’ with God we are entrusting ourselves to His care and protection, pledging our daily devotion to Him, and acknowledging that He will keep us safe.  If you don’t feel the protection of God in your life then reexamine the strength of your faith.  If it’s weak, the best ways to strengthen it is to study your Bible and learn how faith carried others through the difficulties and stresses of life.  If you haven’t trusted Jesus as your Savior and allow Him to come into your heart, don’t wait any longer.  It’s a necessary first step to a personal relationship with God.  When you do these things, I assure you that you will soon find the peace and comfort you need in this often-turbulent life.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.