Psalm 91 is an interesting Psalm. First, it’s rare because it has no title. Some scholars contend that it’s actually a continuation of Psalm 90. Second, Jewish tradition holds that it is actually a three-way conversation between David, his son Solomon, and the Lord. David starts out in verse 1, Solomon answers in verse 2, and David speaks more to Solomon in verses 3-13. Then the Lord talks to them from verse 14 to the end.
Anyway, there are some great principles in this chapter.
Psalms 91:1
1 He who dwells in
the shelter of the Most High
Will
abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
If we hold to the tradition, this is David to his son, Solomon. The words David uses are important. The word dwell is the Hebrew word YASHAB, and it means to sit in repose, or to sit in a restful position. It’s the principle of relaxed confidence in your relationship with God. The word we really want to look at is the word shelter. It’s the Hebrew word CETHER, and it means a private place or a secret place. The King James actually translates it as secret place.
We, as believers, have a secret place where no one can invade, that’s just between you and God. It’s the place that defines who you are spiritually. David knew this place:
Psalms 27:4-5
4 One thing I have
asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in
the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty
of the LORD
And
to meditate in His temple.
5 For in the day of
trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret
place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on
a rock.
This was the place where David found strength in adversity.
Psalms 31:19-20
19 How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of
men!
20 You hide them
in the secret place of Your presence from the
conspiracies of man;
You keep them
secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
Psalms 32:6-7
6 Therefore, let
everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when
You may be found;
Surely in a flood of
great waters they will not reach him.
7 You are my
hiding place; You preserve me from
trouble;
You surround me with
songs of deliverance.
The key to understanding this hiding place, or secret place, is to realize that we must prepare for the adversity before it comes our way. You have to build that secret place when He may be found, and then the adversity will not reach you in that hiding place.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written by Ezra’s father, during the
death march from
Psalms 119:114
114 You are my hiding
place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.
Ezra saw terrible things when he was writing this Psalm. He knew how dependent we all are on God’s word. Only His Word can provide us that place of hiding and protection, where we can rest comfortably, sure of our protection in the Lord. That way when the difficulties come, we have what we need to survive them.
Where do you go when the problems hit? If you don’t have a secret place, built in the Word of God, then you are going to the wrong place!
More on this Psalm tomorrow.