"Abide in the Shadow"

Abide in the Shadow

“He who dwells 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 I will trust.’”

Psalm 91:1-2

 

I remember watching a funny video of a toddler trying to run from her shadow.  No matter where she ran, or how fast, the shadow still followed her.  The toddler ultimately burst into tears.  Unlike the toddler, we should take comfort in knowing that God is like the toddler’s shadow.  Ever present, providing His divine protection.  I don’t want to be like the toddler, trying to run from God’s shadow of protection.  In fact, I need God’s protection.  His word says, ‘He will never leave you nor forsake you.’ (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Friends may promise they’ll always be there, even family.  However, sometimes they fail at keeping their word.  God never fails at keeping His Word.

So, what can you expect to find abiding in the shadow of God?  The remainder of Psalm 91 tells us . . .

[Protection]

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

[Victory]
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

[Refuge]

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, ¹⁰ no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

[Power and authority]
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

[Grace and mercy]

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  ¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

[Love]
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Margaret Slaughter