In the Shelter of the Most High

Ps 91:1-16

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague.

4 He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day,

6 nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

8 But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,

10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling.

11 For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.

13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.

16 I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation." (NLT)

This message was preached May 4, 2003, at FBC Toulon, by Albert Harmon. See it at ToulonBaptist.com  

This Psalm is a wonderful passage to all those who will acquire it. If you will take this passage and seek it and know it and abide by it, it will be a strength to you all the days of your life.

On the other hand, if these words sound too good to be true, if you do not seek to know the Lord in the ways the Psalmist describes then this is but sawdust to you. God is not one who stands on the street corner dispensing His great treasures. No He is in His Holy habitation and those that approach Him know Him and honor Him. They worship Him and love Him.

  1. The Lord is our shelter;
    1. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
      1. It is not every man who dwells there; no, not even every Christian man. There are some who come to God's house; but the man mentioned here dwells with the God of the house. There are some who worship in the outer court of the temple; but "he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High" <Ps 91:1> lives in the Holy of Holies; he draws near to the mercyseat, and keeps there; he walks in the light, as God is in the light; he is not one who is sometimes on and sometimes off, a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home, he dwells in the secret place of the most High. Oh, labour to get to that blessed position! You who know the Lord, pray that you may attain to this high condition of dwelling in the inner shrine, always near to God, always overshadowed by those cherubic wings which indicate the presence of God. If this is your position, you "shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." You are not safe in the outer courts; you are not protected from all danger anywhere but within the veil. Let us come boldly there; and, when we once enter, let us dwell there. (from Spurgeon's Encyclopedia of Sermons)
    2. This I declare of the LORD:
      1. He alone is my refuge,
      2. my place of safety;
      3. he is my God,
      4. I am trusting him.
  2. He will save us:
    1. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague.
    2. He will shield you with his wings.
    3. He will shelter you with his feathers.
    4. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
  3. Therefore we are not afraid:
    1. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    2. nor fear the dangers of the day,
    3. nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness,
    4. nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
    5. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
  4. He reminds us that this is conditional and relational.
    1. If you make the LORD your refuge,
    2. If you make the Most High your shelter,
      1. No evil will conquer you;
      2. No plague will come near your dwelling.
  5. We have protecting angels
    1. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.
    2. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.
    3. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes;
    4. You will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
  6. It is built on a Love relationship
    1. The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me.
    2. I will protect those who trust in my name.
    3. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.
    4. I will rescue them and honor them.
    5. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."