TN: TEMPLE NEWS
He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty.
Oh how beautiful the promise from God to the human race; a
promise of consequences. If you abide, dwell, live, remain, stay in
that place where only you maintain that special relationship with
God, the Almighty One then makes our secret place to be under His
shadow. Not only the place appointed for our rendezvous with
God, but even our physical homes, places of employment, places of
worship, places of education. This text makes reference to “the
secret place of the Most High.” I do not believe that our ability to
“abide under the shadow of the Almighty” is dependent upon our
stumbling onto this “secret” place by accident. Webster’s dictionary
defines secret as “kept from public knowledge; a mystery; a
method, plan, etc., known only to the initiated, e.g. a trade secret”.
Things are secret because they are not made public knowledge.
However, I believe secret in this context more refers to an oasis of
peace and tranquility provided by the most High God. (Matthew 6:
6) “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have
shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and
your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”.
(Deuteronomy 29:29) “The secret things belong to the LORD our
God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our
children forever, that we may do all the words of this law”. Once
we develop the relation ship with God, His secret things or plans for
our lives are now revealed. (Psalm 25:14) “The secret of the
LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His
covenant”. This secret place is open to the public but for each
individual, the secret place differs, simply because from the time we
agree to have a personal relationship with God, He meets us
wherever we are and makes our lives hidden in Him. Hidden from
the attacks of the enemy. It is also a trade secret, known only to
those initiated into fellowship with God. Thus, the dwelling place is
also “hidden” because so few seek it out, that it inevitably becomes
secret.
“Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. For a shadow to
exist, there must be an object (a physical presence), and a source
of light behind it. The shadow of the Almighty is comfort to the
weary, because it gives the hope of a present Almighty God, and
the reality of a physical God. “,,,The shadow of the Almighty…”
gives three attributes of God: Omnipresent, present in all believers’
secret places; Omniscient, knowing the location of all believers’
secret places; and Omnipotent, Almighty, all powerful, bigger,
faster, stronger, mightier than any other being. (Psalm 46:1 – 3)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though
its waters roar and be troubled. Thought the mountains shake with
its swelling”. (Psalm 27:1) “The LORD is my light and my salvation:
whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom
shall I be afraid?”
