He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty… Psalm 91:1
This text is the beginning of a passage that brings much comfort to God's people as we witness the long anticipated events signifying that the end of this world is imminent. However, how many of us have noticed that there are conditions that precede these promises? And if we have noticed them, are we fulfilling these conditions?
When we read the verse again we see that the care and protection of God, so beautifully portrayed in this passage, are promised to those who do two things — dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. What does it mean to do this?
In looking at the meaning of the principal words of this text in the Hebrew we can begin to understand a little more of what the Psalmist is saying.
Dwelleth — remain, to settle, continue, abide
Secret — a covering, hiding place, protection
Abide — stay permanently, continue, dwell, remain
Shadow — defence
(Strong’s Concordance)
We could therefore read this text as:
He that abides/remains/continues/settles in the hiding place/protection/under the cover of the most High shall stay permanently/continue/dwell/remain under the defence of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1
This verse now sounds very familiar, and when we use the proof-text method of Biblical interpretation we see the same words in it as those that Jesus spoke to His disciples just prior to His suffering in Gethsemane:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:4-11
The words of John 15 — abide, remain and continue — are all from the same Greek word.
Both of the two Hebrew words of Psalms 91, dwelleth and abide, also mean abide, continue and remain.
This similarity ties the two passages together, the one giving light on the other.
Could we say then that to dwell in the secret place of the most High, and to abide under the shadow of the Almighty means to abide in Jesus as closely as does the branch in the vine? When we do this we are under His protection, the protection and defence of the Almighty God.
In these troubled times, more than ever before, we need to be firmly attached to the Vine. If we desire to bear fruit to His glory and be prepared to meet Him very soon we must have the “sap” flowing through to us so that we can grow to be just like Him.
Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds. AA 284
“Abide in Me, and I in you.” Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character. DA 676
To dwell “in the secret place of the most High”, to “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” and to “Abide in Me” all denote a wonderful closeness with our God, our Vine — the Almighty. What a privilege the opportunity of such nearness is for each one of us, and in securing and maintaining this intimate union with Christ, we can then confidently claim the promises that follow and that are such a comfort in what would otherwise be very unsettling times.
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 noisome pestilence…Thou shalt not be afraid…for the pestilence that walketh in darkness…A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee…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. Psalms 91:2-10
