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The He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most
High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 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 snare of the fowler, and from the
noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings
shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that
flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the
destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten
thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine
eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 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. For he shall give his angels charge
over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in
their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the
lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set
him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall
call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will
deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him,
and shew him my salvation. The secret place is not a cave, physical fortress, or city
of refuge somewhere that the Lord has set apart for us as some caring ruler may
dedicate for that purpose. It is not even His palace but the secret place is
none other than His Own Presence. He Himself is
my refuge and fortress! Under His shadow - in His Bosom as it were, because it is written also that, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust." Why would God choose to use these particular picture words to describe His care? Can one find any more endearing terms of jealous, parental protection than this? How inestimably great and glorious is my Father's Love! How closely intimate and affectionate the King of kings and Lord of lords is! How tender is the concern of the Almighty Creator for the His Blood-bought children! His Nature is such that He always wants to lavish His Love and Gifts throughout all eternity upon His children including, as it is written in this wonderful and oft-quoted psalm, His marvelous protection of His saints. Let us trust Him today to be to us all that He reveals Himself to be in His Holy Word, our shield and buckler. The special protection and deliverance declared by God in this psalm is our unparalleled privilege and glorious inheritance, if we draw near to Him in humble obedience and whole-hearted faith. There is no greater protection in all the universe than this! O, Lord our Father we thank
You for Your rich mercy and loving kindness to us who do not deserve the least
of Your tender mercies but who, nevertheless are awed with holy joy and
gratitude to You for Your exceeding great and precious promises to us and for
making us the objects of Your Eternal love and grace! |