“Rest in the Shelter of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1-2

COVID-19 has certainly upended our lives and put us all a little (or a lot) on edge. In the midst of it all, I have seen many people share quotes from Psalm 91. That is understandable since it celebrates the safety and security of the child of God. Over the next couple of weeks, we will look together at this wonderful Psalm and see what encouragement the Lord has for us in the face of all that is going on.

 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2.

We see here that believers are at home with the Lord. He is their dwelling place. They live “in the shelter of the Most High.” We who are Christians live our lives coram Deo, in the presence of God. Whether well or sick, whether “sheltering in place” or out and about, we are in the presence of the One who said, “I am with you always.”

We also see that this is a secure dwelling place. It is a “shelter” that gives protection from storms and attacks. Elsewhere this word is translated as a place of hiding. Psalm 32:7 says, “You are a hiding place for me: you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” It is impossible for the enemies of God, or anything in all creation, to harm His people if He shelters them in a secret place!

This is due to the One who shelters the believer. He is the “Most High.” He is above all, and since He is above all, He sees all. He also has authority, as the Most High, over all things. Who better to protect children of God than the One who sees and rules everything? But that is not all He is. He is the Almighty. He has all power “in heaven and on earth.” Nothing and no one can overpower the Lord who is our shelter.

Thus we see the completeness and extent of our security. Believers are so secure in the shelter of God that they can rest. The presence of God is a place where no troubling influences enter. Believers can both “lie down and sleep.” Psalm 4:8 says, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” This peace extends to every place we could be, every place that is under “the shadow of the Almighty.” Since He casts His shadow over all, there is no place where we can be out of His presence. See Psalm 139.

The Psalmist now shows that this is not mere theoretical knowledge for him. He has personally committed himself to the truth he uttered in verse 1. The Psalmist both knows and practices Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

He says of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” There are many false refuges, many straw fortresses, many man-made gods to which we may run in time of trouble. There are many things that would presume to offer us protection in time of trouble, even perfectly good things like hand washing and avoiding crowds. There is, however, only One who stands the test of time and eternity—Who will protect us from all enemies temporal and eternal—and He is the Lord. He is the one who has bound us to Himself by a covenant, and He will always be faithful. See Romans 8:31-39.

How, then, do we avail ourselves of such a wonderful place of safety and security? We trust in Him. This is a shelter we can have wherever we go. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, no matter what is happening in your life or around you, you can put the full weight of your life upon the Lord and know that you will be completely safe. Trust in Him and you will find Him to be a refuge like nothing this world can ever offer.