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endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning". The believer dwells, as in a
permanent habitation, "in the secret place of the most High"; he lodges as though
tarrying for a night "under the shadow of the Almighty". The first word speaks of the
believer's eternal security, the second of the protection afforded day by day as he
journeys homeward through the wilderness.
"The secret place."--Jonathan advices David in I Sam. 19: to "abide in a secret
place" because of Saul's anger (I Sam. 19: 2), while Job speaks of Behemoth as lying "in
the covert of the reeds and fens" (Job 40: 21). Isaiah, also uses the word when he speaks
of Moab as "a covert . . . . . from the face of the spoiler" (Isa. 16: 4), while in
chapter 32: he speaks of another "covert", infinitely greater than Moab:
"Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest"
(Isa. 32: 1, 2).
When the Lord came forth to deliver David when he was fleeing from the hand of
Saul, we read that "He made darkness His secret place" (Psa. 18: 11). And again, in
Psalm 27::
"In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His
tabernacle shall He hide me" (Psa. 27: 5).
Again, in Psalm 139: we read:
"My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret and curiously
wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being
imperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were
fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Psa. 139: 15, 16).
The "secret place" here is somewhat analogous with the believer's position in the
Church of "the Mystery", as "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world".
For every member of the One Body there is food for reflection in Psalm 91: 1. We
too can go back, as did Moses, to the Lord our dwelling-place, "before the mountains
were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world". We can rest in
the unalterable truth of our election before the foundation of the world, and we can also
know what it is day by day to tarry, as it were, "under the shadow of the Almighty". Not
only is He our eternal home, but His presence is also our "lodging-place" throughout
life's pilgrimage.
"The shadow of the Almighty."--How unsubstantial a thing is a shadow, and yet the
very shadow of the Almighty provides full protection for the weary pilgrim. The
following are four ways in which this figure of a protecting shadow is used:
(1)
The shadow of the outstretched wings--"Hide me under the shadow of Thy
wings" (Psa. 17: 8).
(2)
The shadow of a cloud from the heat (Isa. 25: 4, 5).
(3)
The shadow of a great rock in a weary land (Isa. 32: 2).
(4)
The shadow of the Lord's hand (Isa. 51: 16).