This was the verse the Lord sent me on 9/11. Those great Towers, those skyscrapers that line the streets of New York, Chicago, Atlanta even--they are the symbols of man's prosperity. Business, high finance, great decisions of men, take place in these modern fortresses. Their shadows are long, and people stand in those shadows amazed and secure in the works of man and machine. But we witnessed on that day in September how quickly that refuge can fall, and their influence, their "shadow" with them. There can be no security in the shadow of man.
But "he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'" (Psalm 91:1-2). My desire is to stay in the shadow of my Lord. Even at high noon, when the shadow is short, I want to be close enough that the heat can't scorch me. "The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night" (Psalm 121:5-6).
This "dwelling in the shadow" is a very poetic concept. In fact, many of its references come from the book of Psalms: "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies that surround me" (Psalm 17:8-9); "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until disaster has passed" (Psalm 57:1); "Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings" (Psalm 63:7). Jesus used the same idea to express His heartbreak over the rejection of His people: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate" (Matt. 23:37-38). It is possible to choose the "valley of the shadow of death" over the shadow of life that He offers. Isaiah warned, "Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace" (30:3). And don't we often feel drawn toward the shade of our Egypts, our idols of wealth, drugs, jobs, possessions, spouses, children, friends, etc. and their false power? God has offered us protection, refuge, rest and peace in the shadow of His All-Powerful Wings, and He will not be brought down like a man-made tower.
91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
91:2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;
91:6 [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday.
91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;
91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
91:12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
91:14 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.
91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Lord, I want to dwell in Your shadow. Gather me in and keep me close. You are the only refuge, the only fortress, the only tower I trust. Your promises are true, and in You are peace, love, deliverance, rest, and all good things. Keep me in Your shadow forever. Amen
91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
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