DWELLING IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH
Psa. 91:1-2
Morning Meditation 2/7/17
Verse 1-2 says, “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.”
One of the missionaries in my e-mail family asked me for my thoughts on the meaning of dwelling in the secret place of the most high. He said that he has read some good commentaries on this verse and they don’t get quite to the meaning that he believes is in the verse. I feel the same way at times. The only problem is that there are times I live with the feeling that there is more to the meaning of the text than I am seeing. Well, I thought that I might share my response to this dear brother in the form of today’s meditation so that what I have gotten out of this text might help others as well.
This is one of the Psalms that is labeled “orphan” because it is not known who wrote it. That really doesn’t make any difference. The Holy Spirit is the Author of all Scripture. Amen. But the Holy Spirit works through the mind and personality of the human instrument. The one who wrote this had something special in mind when he said, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High . . .” It also had to be understood by those who read it in that day. The Scriptures were NEVER WRITTEN to hide truth. The Scripture was given to unveil hidden and spiritual things for the people of God. Moses says this in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” One does not need to hide truth from the unsaved because the Bible says, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM because they are spiritually discerned”(Caps mine for emphasis) (1 Cor. 2:14). What I am saying is that God can declare truth in a simple way for His people to understand and that simple truth is automatically hidden from the unsaved one because of his spiritual death.
As we look at this text let’s notice,
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS A SECRET PLACE
This means only certain can find it. The first qualification to find this place is salvation. No one who is unsaved can enter this place. He is not welcome. The unsaved are enemies of God. They may respond and say, “I do not believe I am an enemy of God. I am neutral and have just never believed in Him.” God says in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son . . .” This is God’s analysis. This is what He says. One that is not saved is an enemy of God. What God says is what counts here. The word “reconciled” as stated here represents Jesus as the Reconciler of the believer by paying for the sins that stood between him and God. He did this by His death. The way to go from being an enemy of God to being a child of God is by being saved. So the first qualification for finding and entering the secret place of the most High is being saved.
Next, it is obvious that there are saved people who never enter the “secret place of the most High.” It is a secret place for the carnal Christian. He knows it is there. He longs to enter at times but he has a problem. When he comes to church, he wants to enter that secret place during worship without dealing the baggage that he drug into that service that he has been accumulating since he last repented! You can’t get into the secret place with baggage. It must be dealt with. It could be any number of things that I will not mention in this article. Read for yourself the lists of sins and stumbling blocks that are possible for believers. God wants a holy people and when the believer refused to allow God to work holiness in his life, he is classified as carnal and is under the chastening of the Lord. He cannot enter the “secret place of the most High” until he is willing to deal with the baggage.
It is a secret place but is available to all. The first condition is salvation and the second is surrender unconditionally to the Lordship of Christ. Not only is it a secret place, but next,
IT IS THE PLACE WHERE GOD IS FOUR THINGS TO THOSE DWELLING THERE
The Psalmist gives four names for God in this text: Elyon, Shaddai, Jehovah, Elohim. The name Elyon “the Most High” means that He is “the possessor of Heaven and earth.” The idea of God as owner is in this name. Our hiding place is inhabited by the God who owns everything! How about that for a hiding place?
The next is Shaddai, “the Almighty.” This name pictures God as the provider. You see what God owns (everything) can be used by Him to provide everything we need.
The next is Jehovah, “the LORD.” This is the greatest name for God among the Jews. On my recent trip to the Holy Land our guide said something about Jesus that stuck with me. The Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. They believe He was a great prophet. This man said that he believed that Jesus had discovered the secret of the right pronunciation of the name of Jehovah.. Many of the Jews believe that if you could find the right pronunciation of the Hebrew name for Jehovah you could get anything you want from God. I have the right pronunciation, Jesus! Amen, praise God, Hallelujah! This name speaks of the self existent, immutable and never changing One. He does not need man, angels or the material universe to exist. He is self-existent.
The next is Elohim, “God the Creator.” This speaks of His power. He speaks and the heavens and earth appear instantly. No evolutionary process. The whole thing stood perfect the moment He spoke the Word (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 33:6,9; Isa. 45:18). Any chaos in this world or the universe came as a result of Satan’s rebellion. God is all powerful. God does not work through processes except in redemption. He takes the mess Satan made and starts working back toward the original purpose and intent, and He will get there!
This is what the believer finds God to be to him when he enters the secret place of the Most High. Then next,
IT IS THE PLACE TO ABIDE NOT JUST VISIT
The word “dwelleth” translates “yashab” and means, “to dwell, to remain, to abide.” The idea is that one lives there. The word “abide” translates “luwn” and means, “to lodge, stop over, pass the night.” The words “under the shadow” translates “tsel” and means “shadow or shade.” May I suggest that this means that the one who enters is the one who confesses his sins and gets rid of things that are interfering with his walk with God. When He does this he not only enters the secret place of the Most High but he is close enough to Him to “pass the night” under His shadow. That is as close as you will ever get to God in this life. We won’t see the ONE who casts the shadow until we are made like Him in the rapture or resurrection. Have you ever had God’s shadow upon you? Glory to God what a thought! God wants us to make this place our permanent residence and He wants us close enough to enjoy His shadow on a regular basis. I believe one can live in the “Secret place of the Most High” but I do not believe that you can live under the shadow all the time. If you did, someone would be wiping you off the wall. You would blow up! Then next,
IT IS BY FAITH WE ENTER
Verse two says, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS (Caps mine for emphasis), and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
I believe the secret place of the Most High is described in Hebrews 10:19-22. We are invited to “enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” The blood must be applied by confession (1 John 1:9). You cannot be more right with God than the blood makes you. So, it is not a matter of straightening up, it is a matter of confessing up! Next after forgiveness, we must allow the Word of God wash us which amounts to external cleansing, i.e., “our bodies washed with pure water.” Next, we must respond to the invitation by faith. When we bow before God in prayer, we must believe He is there, that He is there for fellowship and blessing, and that He is responding to us. He is a “Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Don’t wait for a feeling. Enjoy His presence and fellowship by faith. Know for certain that He cannot and will not break His word. Our faith is all the evidence that we need to enjoy Him (Heb. 11:1). I know. That is foolish to the world. But they just CANNOT understand!
I hope this helps my missionary brother and the others who read it. Remember, when you read this, you may see me just like you see the other commentators. “I enjoy what Bro. White says, but he just did not get to what I sense in that passage. There is still something that is untouched here.” Amen, I understand. God bless you.
In Christ
Bro. White
