His Shadow My Shelter

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.’

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday…

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

‘Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.’” Psalm 91:1-6,9-16

Shelters protect, and shadows are on the safe side of light. The Lord stands tall and hovers close in this song, guarding not against, but within, the troubles. He goes before, surrounds, delivers. He bears up, protects, and rescues. The bigness of God is fixed against every foe, and His shadow covers all who take refuge in Him. Any taunting terror, any invading pestilence of body or soul, any pesky doubts or suffocating darkness, is small against the fortress that is God Almighty.

We face daily enemies of temptation, irritation, or despair, yet the Lord sees and is concerned with all our ways. We fear the unknown, or the threats and prognoses we do know, yet the Lord is trustworthy. He commands His angels to guard mind and emotion. They bear us up to keep us from falling. The promises of protection are for all who abide in the Lord.

Where do we run for shelter? We might say God’s our chap, skirt around His word, and skim by in wishful prayer, but never take entry into His riven side and dwell in His salvation. What keeps us resisting, fretting, trying our own defenses? When will we choose the incomparable comfort, security, and hope of putting our trust in God?

“A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.” ~Martin Luther (1529)

Most High, help me hold fast to you in love and live under Your shadow so I can know better and make known Your mighty name.