“If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the LORD, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.”
The first half of Psalm 91 has clearly shown us the blessed and perfect security of the people of God. But what kind of person will have this sweet comfort? It is those who “make the Most High [their] dwelling.” It is expected that they will rest in Him, making the Lord their home. They will make His name the strong tower that they run to and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). They will live in Him, making His word their delight and meditation (Psalm 1), rejoicing in worship before Him “in the council of the upright and in the assembly” (Psalm 111:1). They will come to Him with confidence, knowing that He is their home, and no one can take that away or prevent them from calling to Him with certainty that He will answer them. See Jeremiah 33:3.
Now, it may seem that the Psalmist is repeating himself. Yet it must be remembered how hard of head and heart we can be. As soon as we hear that there is perfect safety and security in the Lord, we turn again to idols. We are quick to seek safety and security in other things. Whether it is family, friends, money, education or the myriad of other things of this world that we imagine can save us, we are prone to turn first to them instead of the Lord. So the Psalmist presses the issue with us, calling us to be at home with the Lord alone. He does this by way of reminder, testimony, and promise.
First, he gives us a reminder. He calls God “the LORD”, using the name God gave Moses when asked what His name was. From the burning bush God said, “I AM,” a word translated as LORD. This name is used to remind the people of God that He is the eternally existent, covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. He is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6). His name points out the saving power of God who delivered His people out of slavery in Egypt. Even better, we know Him as the Savior from a much greater slavery. In Christ, He has delivered all who trust in Him from our slavery to sin. He is faithful, and if He has saved us with “so great a salvation,” how will he not also save us to the uttermost? See Ro. 8:31-39.
Second, the Psalmist offers us his own testimony. He says, “even the Lord, who is my refuge.” He himself has experienced the reality of the truths he expounds. He has made the Most High his dwelling, and has found perfect safety and security there. In all that he has been through—strife, poverty, illness, sin and repentance—the Lord has carried him through it all so that none of it has been to his hurt. Rather, it has all been to his benefit. He has learned that, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Now, as an example to all believers, he encourages others by his testimony. See Psalm 66 (especially v. 16).
Third, the Psalmist points us to an incredible promise—“no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” This promise is breathtaking in its extent: “no harm…no disaster.” It is wise to never make a promise you cannot keep, and this would be a ridiculous promise unless the one making the promise is the Almighty and sovereign Creator God who made and holds all things together by the power of His word. He is all that and more, and, as Calvin put it, “God stands between [the believer] and the violence of every assault.” Everything that comes into the life of the believer comes through nail-scarred hands, and those same hands will work it all out for the good. See Romans 8:28. We who have made the Most High our dwelling can be confident in every circumstance that it will only work for our good. When all the dust has settled we may truthfully say, “No harm befell me, no disaster came near my dwelling. It has all worked for my good and my Father’s glory!”
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