God’s shadow is the best place to be.
Why?
Because under the shadow of God, we find protection, safety, and security.
Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. But what does it mean to “dwell?” Where is the “secret place” of the Most High? What does it mean to “abide under the shadow” of God Almighty?
The secret place of God is where the presence of God is; it is the holy of holies, also called the most holy place, which is a place of refuge from all the storms of the world.
To dwell in the secret place of God is to stay quietly and securely in the most holy place where the presence of God is (Psalm 46:10a).
The Promises of God in Psalm 91:1
The Promise of His Presence
When we learn to dwell in the secret place of the Most High God, we are assured of His presence in our lives. But how exactly are we going to do that? King David has set the best example for us. What do we know about David? The name David in Hebrew means “beloved.” He was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:10-11) and he was anointed to replace Saul as king of Israel by the prophet Samuel when he was probably only 16 years old.
David is the only biblical character who is remembered as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts 13:22). He was given this epitaph because of his strong and constant desire to know and understand the heart of God and to experience the glory of His very presence. David loved (and still loves) God’s habitation because he knew it to be a place of glory, joy, and peace (Psalm 26:8).
So how did David learn how to dwell in the presence of God? He did it through the art of devotion. David learned the value of actively engaging with God and enjoying His presence.
David desired to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life so he could behold the beauty of the Lord and inquire in His holy temple (Psalm 27:4). Although David had a close and intimate relationship with God, he was not spared from trials and difficulties.
David had to run for his life and hide from King Saul for 8 years but through all those times he experienced God’s love and intervention; through all those times of distress, David experienced the Lord’s peace.
And over the process of time, David experienced God’s justice. Despite his trials and failures, David still maintained a heart-to-heart relationship with God; he feared God and his heart was completely yielded to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. David knew God not only as a shepherd, provider, and Lord but also as a friend.
As children of God, I believe that we are all looking towards the inner sanctuary of God and the mercy seat, yet not all of us dwell in the most holy place where the very presence of God is. Yes, we run to it at times and find comfort and solace there but we do not habitually reside in there. We only want the experience and after that, we quickly turn around and forget about it.
When was the last time you came face-to-face with God during worship? When was the last time you experienced the glorious presence of God and did not want it to end? Was it only when you were first born again and converted?
Like David, let us be encouraged to establish a strong, personal relationship with God by maintaining an active life of worship and a healthy prayer life. Let us learn the habit of constantly and continuously dwelling in the presence of God.
The Promise of Protection under the Shadow of God Almighty
Daniel and his friends were four of the young men taken to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and ransacked Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to strengthen his kingdom by training young men to serve in the Babylonian government.
There were three instances wherein Daniel and his friends were protected and preserved by God. First was when the king ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be executed because no one could tell nor interpret his dream.
In chapter 2 of the book of Daniel, we read that King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he could not understand; neither could his counselors and wise men reveal or interpret the dream. The king got angry and ordered that all wise men in Babylon be executed immediately including Daniel and his friends (Daniel 2:12-13).
When the Commander of the king’s guard started putting to death all the wise men in Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact and asked what’s with the decree. Upon learning about the matter, Daniel went to speak with the king and asked that he be given time so that he might interpret the dream for him (Daniel 2:14-16).
After that, Daniel went to see his three friends and urged them to plead for mercy from God concerning the king’s dream so that they will not be executed. The mystery of the dream was then revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night (Daniel 2:17-19).
We learn from Daniel the importance of inquiring of the Lord first before doing anything else. Often times we do things out of impulse. We make plans and decisions without first consulting God.
Do you want assurance of protection from God? The assurance of God’s presence and protection is found under His shadow and only when we live in close fellowship with Him that we receive and enjoy these benefits.
Article by Biblical-Christianity.com
https://biblical-christianity.com/under-the-shadow-of-god
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