He Who Dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Psalm 91:1
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Introductory questions:
What is a shelter for?
When do we need it?
Can you give me examples of shelters? (bus shelter, a shelter in the mountain, a house, under a tree when the sun is heating)

Definition:
According to thefreedictionary.com, a shelter is:
1. a. Something that provides cover or protection, as from the weather.
b. A refuge; a haven.
c. An establishment that provides temporary housing for homeless people.
2. The state of being covered or protected

Synonyms: a cover, a refuge, a retreat, safety, shadow, tower, haven, shield, defence.
Almost all these words are found in psalm 91.

Let us discover the promises of God for those who put their trust and refuge in Him.
Read Psalm 91.

Hebrew words:
‘shelter’ = cether = covering, shelter, hiding or secret place
The Most High = El Elyon
The Almighty = El Shaddai

Explanation

If we follow the conditions in verses 1, we get all the promises written in this psalm.
But what does it mean to dwell in the shelter of the Most High?
There are 3 answers which we find out in the psalm:
1. To call on God’s name (v. 15)
2. To make God our refuge = to be united to Him (v. 2 & 9)
3. To trust in Him & love Him (v. 2 & 14)
Imagine yourself under a shelter and this shelter is the Most High or the Almighty, what can you fear? What or who can withstand his power? If he is the one commanding disasters and plagues to happen, and if you are under his shadow or wings, then, nothing can happen to you.

1. Call on God’s name
It is important to cry out to God and call on His name when we are in trouble, because in this way we show God our dependence on Him, we show Him we need Him and we are weak, without Him, we cannot help or save ourselves (Psalm 107:4-7 The Israelites we hungry and thirsty in the desert, they cried out to God who delivered them from all their trouble).
Pr 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

2. Make God our refuge
That means to include Him in every area of our life, to dwell in Him at all times, to talk to Him regularly, as you talk to a friend. He wants to have a part in our life, He wants to walk with us and He offers us His refuge in His house, or under His wings, or under His shadow.
2 Sam 22: 3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.

Psalm 61:4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Ps 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

3. To trust God and love Him
To trust in God is very important, God requires us to trust in Him. Imagine a child, he trusts in his parents to give him every thing he needs, he goes to them when he needs help & he expects them to help him. It is the same with God, we have to trust and wait on Him more than we wait on human beings. God wants us to make Him our delight.

Ps 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart

4. The opposite of dwelling in his shelter or tent is to dwell outside his tent = to do everything on our own strength, or from our own will. There, the Lord will not be with us. It means not talking to Him, ignoring Him, putting Him aside, trying to find solutions to our problem ourselves. It is NOT the place God wants us to be. God wants us to DEPEND on Him; In every thing, to ask Him for Him, to praise Him and acknowledge His name. Take the example of a child; he feels secure with his parents, they are his protector, his provider, his helper. Well, it is the same between God and us.

Conclusion
So today you have a choice: you can choose to dwell under God’s wings, or shelter and be protected from plagues that happen in the world and from diseases or pestilence, or you can live your life on your own and put God aside. You can dwell in the desert, on a dry land, with no hope for your future, or you can dwell in the tent of the wicked, follow those who do evil, or you can say to God ‘You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust’ and receive all his blessings for your life. What do you choose today?