Will you please turn to Psalm 91.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God; in Him will I trust.
For He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover thee with His pinions,
And under His wings shalt thou take refuge:
His truth is a shield and a buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night,
Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
For the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side,
And ten thousand at thy right hand;
But it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold,
And see the reward of the wicked.
For thou, O Lord, art my refuge!
Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee,
Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.
For He will give His angels charge over thee,
To keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands,
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under foot.
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.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble:
I will deliver him, and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.
Lately, the Lord has exercised my heart on this matter of making home in God.
In Psalm 90, the prayer of Moses, he shows us how essential it is that we make our home in God. He used the children of Israel as an example. Because they did not make their home in God as they should, that whole generation fell in the wilderness.
But should they make God their home, they would find the lovingkindness of God. They would see the work of God in their lives, and the beauty of the Lord would be manifested in them. So Moses declared by faith, “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.” This is what it ought to be; this is what it could be.
Then we find in John 15 the secret of making home in God. Our Lord Jesus offered Himself to us as our home. But how can we make Him our home? How can we really dwell, abide, in Him? The Lord said, “Abide in Me, and I in you,” and, “Ye shall bear much fruit.”
The secret of abiding, number one, is by faith. We believe that we are in Him, and He is in us. The Lord said, “I am the true vine, and ye are the branches.” We are in Him.
By God, you are in Christ Jesus, and God has made Him unto us wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption. So first of all, we must believe this truth: that we are in Christ and Christ is in us. Because we believe, the Holy Spirit is able to make it real to us.
So the secret of abiding, number one, is faith: believing in what God has done for us in Christ Jesus; believing in union with Christ; believing that we are in Christ and Christ is in us.
Secondly, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will make this real to us. If there is anything contradictory to the character of that home, He will reveal it to us. If we yield to the Holy Spirit and listen to the teaching of the anointing, then we will find that indeed we are abiding in Him.
Number three, the instrument that He uses to bring about this abiding is the cross. The cross will deal with our self-life, with all its willing and working, and replace it with the life of Christ, with all His willing and His working. That is the secret of abiding.
Now this morning we would like to go into Psalm 91, which shows us one of the results of making home in God. There are many blessings if we make our home in God, and one of these blessings is found in Psalm 91.
We do not find any title to this psalm, as you find in Psalm 90. Jewish rabbis tell us that if you do not find, in the beginning, the mention of the writer, then you assign this psalm to the author of the preceding psalm.
In other words, if we do not find a title above Psalm 91, then we go back to Psalm 90 to find the author of that psalm. Now, this is not always true, but certainly in this case it seems to be true. Why? Because if you read Psalm 91, you find the same spirit as you find in Psalm 90.
In Psalm 91, you find much similarity with the book of Deuteronomy—the phrases and the expressions of Moses. So we believe that Psalm 91 was also composed by Moses.
When Moses wrote Psalm 90, he had especially the children of Israel before him as they journeyed through the wilderness. Because of their sin against God, they lived under the wrath of God, and they fell in the wilderness.
When he wrote Psalm 91, we believe he had Joshua and Caleb before him. Here you find two men who lived through the terrible experiences that the children of Israel experienced in the wilderness, and yet they lived. They literally lived among the dead, in the midst of graves.
So in Psalm 91, most probably Moses had Joshua and Caleb in view. Psalm 90 tells us of people who lived under the wrath of God because of their sin. Psalm 91 tells us of people who lived victoriously because they abided in God and were under the wing of the Almighty.
Psalm 90 seems to be a tragedy; Psalm 91 is victory. Yet, in a sense, these two psalms are continuous. They are contrasts, and yet they are continuous, because in Psalm 90 you find the declaration of faith: God has been our home in all generations. Then Psalm 91 tells us the result of making God your home.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
As in Psalm 90, this psalm begins with a statement. It is a statement of truth, of fact, of reality: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Now, brothers and sisters, this is a statement of truth. It is a fact. It is a reality. It is always true. If anyone should make the Most High his home, he will abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I wonder, when Moses wrote this, did he have the tabernacle before him? You know, when the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, God gave them not only the law to keep, but also the tabernacle. God said, “I will dwell among My people” in that tabernacle.
But the children of Israel, because of their sin against God when Moses was on the mount receiving the law, were not able to serve God as a nation of priests. They could only enter into the outer court. They could worship God only at a distance. They could offer their sacrifices on the altar, but that was all they could do.
Only the priests, the house of Aaron, were privileged to enter into the holy place. There they were able to minister unto God by burning incense—that is, offering prayers—by lighting the lampstand as a testimony, and by putting the showbread upon the table of showbread as communion.
That was as far as they could go. There was a veil before them, separating the holy place from the holiest of all. Only the high priest, once a year, was privileged to enter behind the veil, always with blood and with incense. The smoke covered him as he entered behind the veil to atone for the children of Israel.
But he was there only once a year, and for a very brief period. He had to retreat and come out. So the writer of Hebrews tells us that as long as the tabernacle existed, the way to the holiest of all was not open.
In other words, under the law, no matter how closely you may draw near to God, you cannot really abide in the secret place of the Most High. Moses realized that under the law no one could abide in the secret place of the Most High.
Where is the secret place of the Most High? The holiest of all. There you find the glory of God set upon the mercy seat, which was over the ark. There is the secret place of the Most High. But no one could dwell there. The high priest could go there for a short visit, but even he could not make his home in that secret place.
Under the law, this was impossible. But somehow Moses, by the grace of God, was able to go beyond the law, and he said something which is only possible under grace: “He who abides in the secret place of the Most High.”
By grace, we are able to abide in the secret place of the Most High. We are able to make our home in God Himself. As we mentioned in Colossians 3:3, our life is hid with Christ in God.
In Ephesians 2, we are told that He has not only quickened us; He has also raised us together with Christ. More than that, He has seated us together with Christ in the heavenly places. In other words, by the grace of God, today we are in the heavenly places.
We are abiding, we are living, we are making our home, in the secret place of the Most High. This is what grace can give us. Dear brothers and sisters, this is what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.
Today we can live in the secret place of the Most High. Today we can make the Most High our dwelling place. Because He is the Most High, nothing can reach us there.
Our God is not only the Most High; He is also the Almighty. There is no one higher than Him; therefore, He is above all. There is no one mightier than Him. He is the Almighty One.
Brothers and sisters, if we live in the secret place of the Most High, we are under the shadow of the Almighty. Now, what do you mean by “shadow”?
If you see a shadow, you know the substance is nearby. In other words, the shadow speaks of the influence of the substance. The shadow of the Almighty means that you are under the influence, the protection, the sheltering power of the Almighty One. That is what is meant by being under the shadow of the Almighty.
If we make God our home, then we are protected. We are safe. We are secure, because we are under the shadow of the Almighty.
I cannot forget my own experience. When my grandfather died, my father was in India at a conference. Because he loved my grandfather very much, he had delayed coming to this country until he saw that my grandfather was getting better. Then he went to India for the conference.
But while he was in India, my grandfather passed away. The family did not dare to notify him while he was there, so they sent a message to me in Hong Kong. My father’s boat, on its return journey, had to pass through Hong Kong. They asked me to let my father know about my grandfather’s passing, so that at least I would be with him at that time.
When the boat arrived at Hong Kong, I went to the pier to see my father. He was high up on the deck, and I was on the pier. As he looked down upon me, he saw that I had a black band around my arm. That was the Chinese custom when someone in your family had passed away.
When my father saw that black band, immediately he called down and said, “What happened? Has my father died?”
I took my father home, and we spent a few hours together. He said one thing to me that I could not appreciate or understand at that time. He told me, “Son, I have no more father. I do not have a father anymore.”
Of course, that was a fact, because my grandfather had passed away. But what was special about it? I could not understand, not until 1958, when my father passed away. I was in England, and they tried to send a message to me.
When I got that message, immediately the words my father had spoken to me when his father died came back to me. Could I say the same thing? “From now on, I have no father.”
Now, brothers and sisters, what does that mean? It means that from now on, you have to stand on your own. You have no shadow under which you can rest. There will be no one protecting you. You will have to fight for yourself.
You are no longer under the shadow of a big tree, as the Chinese proverb says. You know, if you live under the shadow of a big tree, you are well protected. But now that big tree is gone. You have to be on your own.
Is it not true that the people in this world are not under the shadow of the Almighty? Therefore, they have to fight for themselves. No wonder, as they think of the future, they are full of fear and trembling.
As you find in Luke, it is said that when people think of what is going to happen, they literally fear unto death. Why? Because they have no one to lean upon. They have no protection. They are not under the shadow of the Almighty.
Brothers and sisters, I think the most pressing problem in this world today is this matter of security and safety. Where is our safety? Where is our security? How people look to tomorrow with fear and trembling because they feel that they are not secure; they are not safe.
But how about us Christians? Are we also concerned and worried about security and safety? Do we forget that we are under the shadow of the Almighty?
Is it not strange that people are talking about the end of this age? We should, because the end of this age is approaching. We know that our Lord is coming soon. We know that there will be difficult days, and we are already in difficult days.
How do Christians try to meet these difficult days? Christians try to find a way of safety and security. Some people think the best thing is to leave the big cities, because these big cities are targets for bombs. If nuclear war should happen, these big cities are targets. So, they say, “Let us move to the desert.”
We find some Christians, in order to prepare themselves for the coming days, moving to the deserts. They build log cabins, farm, and try to be self-sufficient. Then, when difficult days come, when there is famine and no more food, they will have food to eat. They can be separated and untouched by anybody. They think that is the way to wait for the coming of the Lord. They are safe and secure.
Other people are not able to go to these desert places, so they try to build shelters underneath their houses and store dehydrated food that can keep for a year. But then they begin to think, “We have the food, but other people do not. What should we do? Buy guns, so that we can protect our food.”
Brothers and sisters, literally you will find true Christians doing this very thing. I have seen pictures of Christians sitting there with guns, guarding their dehydrated food. Now, brothers and sisters, is this the way to get security and safety?
Have we forgotten that the only way we can be safe and secure is to make our home in God? If you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, then you abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
He is the Almighty. There is nothing mightier than Him. If you are under the shadow of the Almighty, then you are the most secure and safe person in the whole world. Have we forgotten this? Are we so frightened?
The Lord Jesus said, when you see these things coming, “Lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.” Brothers and sisters, we are safe. We are secure in Christ Jesus, if we make our home in God.
This is a statement of truth. It is true. Not because it is too good that you cannot receive it; because it is so good, take it.
Then you find in the second verse the response of faith. After that truth is stated, you need to respond with faith. In other words, you need to appropriate the truth by faith and make it yours. Otherwise, the truth is truth, and you are you. The truth is forever true, but to you it is never real.
So, brothers and sisters, you find here in the second verse the response of faith:
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God; in Him will I trust.
If this is the truth—that he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty—then I say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress.” I will flee to Him and make Him my refuge.
In the Old Testament days, even before the children of Israel entered into the promised land, God commanded Moses that after they entered the land, they should set apart six cities of refuge: three on this side of Jordan and three on the other side of Jordan. You can find that in Numbers 35.
These cities of refuge were for people who killed others unintentionally. If anyone killed another intentionally, he was a murderer, and his blood should be shed. The avenger had the right to shed his blood.
But if anyone killed another unintentionally—suppose you were cutting wood, and suddenly the head of the axe flew off and killed a person nearby—you did not kill him intentionally. According to the law, it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But God, in His mercy, provided a city of refuge.
You could flee to the city of refuge. After you arrived in the city, the avenger of blood could not enter the city and kill you. You would stay there, and as long as you were in the city, nobody could touch you. You were not allowed to leave the city. If you were found outside its limits, then the avenger of blood could kill you.
But if you lived in the city while the high priest was living, then you were safe. After the high priest died, you could return home. The whole thing was over.
Now, brothers and sisters, we find that this is but a type, and the reality is our Christ, our God. God is our refuge. Christ is our city of refuge. We flee into Him.
Is that not the mercy of God? When our Lord Jesus died on the cross, the first word He said was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” In other words, it is as if the Lord said, “They do not do it intentionally. Therefore, forgive them. Let them flee to the city of refuge and be safe.”
Now, brothers and sisters, have we not fled into the city of refuge? Have we not fled into Christ? If we are in Christ, we are in the city of refuge. Then the avenger of blood cannot touch us.
But do not forget: stay in the city. As long as the high priest is living, stay there, because if you go out of the city, then the avenger of blood will catch up with you. Thank God, our High Priest never dies. He liveth forever. Therefore, we cannot leave the city at any time.
Brothers and sisters, is that clear? We have fled into the city of refuge, and it is meant for us to stay there—to make our home in that city of refuge. As long as we make our home in the city of refuge, we are secure and safe. No one can touch us.
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress.” He is not only my refuge; He is also my fortress. Even if the enemy should try to attack, that fortress is too strong for the enemy.
So the psalmist says, “My God, You are really my God. I will confide in Thee. I will trust in Thee.” Dear brothers and sisters, nothing honors the Lord more than putting our trust in Him.
If we believe in God, if we believe in God’s Word, if we believe that He is our refuge and our fortress, if we believe that we are under the shadow of the Almighty, then we honor God. He who honors God, God will honor him.
From verse 3 through verse 8, Moses shows us what happens if we are under the shadow of the Almighty:
For He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt and journeyed through the wilderness, they were literally surrounded with dangers. If you read Exodus and Numbers, you find that when they came out of Egypt and were travelling through the wilderness, tired and weary, the enemy came and attacked their rear.
The enemy spread a snare to catch the bird. Suppose you want to catch some birds. You put some grain on the ground—something attractive, some little food scattered there—and then you use a trap. You hide somewhere so that the bird will not see you.
The little birds see the grains and say, “Wow, good food.” They fly into your snare. While they are occupied with picking up the little grains, suddenly the trap falls upon them and they are caught.
This is what the enemy is always trying to do. He is trying to catch us. He uses a little grain, a little something attractive, to occupy our attention. As we are looking down upon these things and are not conscious, suddenly we are trapped. We are caught.
When the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, the enemy arranged many snares to trap them. When Israel came out of Egypt, a mixed multitude came out with them.
You may say, “Hallelujah! Is it not good that more people are coming out?” But these people who came out became a snare to the children of Israel. Why? Because they were not God’s chosen people. They came out because they thought perhaps they could find a better land and a better life.
As they journeyed through the wilderness, even though God in His generosity supplied manna to these people as well as to the children of Israel, they soon got tired of manna. “Oh, this manna is just flat.” They began to murmur.
The murmuring started with the mixed multitude. Read Numbers 11. These mixed multitudes did not know God. They did not come out because they knew God; they came out because they were seeking a better opportunity.
Now all they had was manna, and they became tired of it. They began to murmur and say, “When we were in Egypt, we had all these things to eat—garlic, onions, leeks, and fish. But here these things are flat and tasteless.”
Because they murmured, they were like snares. Soon they stirred up the lust of the children of Israel, and the whole camp began to murmur: “We are tired of this manna. We do not have meat. We want meat.”
God gave them meat, but while the meat was between their teeth, before it was consumed, a plague came upon them, and many died. So here you find the description: the snares of the fowler and destructive pestilence.
In the wilderness, you find this happening again and again. When they were near the southern border of the promised land, they sent spies into the land. The spies came back with an evil report. The land was good, but they said, “We find giants there. They look upon us as grasshoppers, and the walls reach unto heaven. This land will devour people. This land will be our graves.”
The children of Israel cried again, and you remember that God sent a plague. The ten spies died of the plague. Later, they rebelled again and again, and plague came upon them again and again, until that whole generation fell in the wilderness.
How the enemy spread the snares, how they were caught, and how they were destroyed under destructive pestilence. But surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the destructive pestilence.
Look at Joshua and Caleb. They were not caught. They did not die of the pestilence. They were delivered. They lived. Why? Because they were under the shadow of the Almighty. They had an excellent spirit. They dwelt in God.
He will cover thee with His pinions,
And under His wings shalt thou take refuge:
His truth is a shield and a buckler.
You remember our Lord Jesus when He approached the city of Jerusalem during the last week. As He saw the city of Jerusalem, He wept. He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate, until ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
You see a hen with a few little chicks. The little chicks are occupied with finding food to satisfy their hunger. They do not look up. They forget everything else. But the hen is watching.
Suddenly she sees an eagle soaring in the air. The hen knows what the eagle is after. So the hen calls out and says, “Now come under my wings.” She spreads her wings, and the chicks are called to come under them.
Some little chicks listen to the mother’s call and flee under her wings, but there may be one who does not listen. That little one says, “Oh, I see no danger. This grain, this food—how beautiful! I must have it.” So the little chick continues to pick up the grain, and suddenly the eagle comes down and takes it.
Brothers and sisters, this is what happened to Israel in the time of Christ. Our Lord wanted to put them under His wings. Then they would have been safe and secure, but they would not. So that nation was destroyed, and the people were scattered to the four corners of the world.
The Lord wanted to put them under His wings while they were in the wilderness, but they would not. So they died in the wilderness. But whoever makes his home in God, He shall cover him with His feathers, and under His wings shall he find refuge. His truth is a shield and buckler.
Brothers and sisters, it is true: we are journeying through a terrible wilderness. This world is a terrible wilderness. Do not think that this world is safe. It is not safe. There are dangers everywhere. The enemy sets snares upon snares, trying to catch us if he can.
There are pestilences, famines, wars, and earthquakes. Terrible things are going on all the time. As we journey through this wilderness, of course we will have to face these things.
There are not only physical dangers. Suppose there is a war and you happen to live in a war zone. Suppose there is an earthquake and you are living in that area. Suppose you are living in a place where there is famine and hunger. These are physical dangers.
But over and above these physical dangers, there are spiritual dangers. Oh, how the enemy tries to tempt us to sin, to stir up our lusts, to occupy our minds with the things of this world, and to destroy our souls if he can.
We are surrounded with dangers and terrors of all kinds: moral dangers, physical dangers, and spiritual dangers. We are journeying through a dangerous world.
But, dear brothers and sisters, need we be frightened? Need we be full of fear and trembling? Do we need to think all the time about security and safety, trying to find where we can find security and safety? Which city can we flee to? Which place can we go? How can we be prepared, so that when these things strike, we are ready?
I do not mean to say that we should be careless. The Lord never wants us to be careless. But certainly the Lord wants us to see that our safety and security are in Him, not in anything else.
You may try to prepare everything else, but you still will not feel safe. You will be like Jacob. Jacob prepared everything. He saw his brother coming with four hundred men, so he sent gift after gift to appease his brother’s mind. But he did not feel safe.
He divided his own family into two. If one should be attacked, then the other could flee. He sent them over the stream, but he could not go over himself. Why? He still did not feel safe. After all this planning, dear brothers and sisters, where is our security? Where is our safety?
He will cover thee with His pinions,
And under His wings shalt thou take refuge:
His truth is a shield and a buckler.
A shield protects the important organs of your body, but the buckler protects the whole body. You are well protected if you make God your home.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night,
Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
For the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
You shall not be afraid. Dear brothers and sisters, fear is not from God. How many Christians live under fear? That shows that you are not under the shadow of the Almighty, that you do not live in the secret place of the Most High.
If you live in the secret place of the Most High, why should you be afraid? You are under His wings. You are under refuge. These things cannot reach you; they cannot touch you.
A thousand shall fall at thy side,
And ten thousand at thy right hand;
But it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold,
And see the reward of the wicked.
To Joshua and Caleb, this was literally true. They saw thousands fall by their side and ten thousands by their right hand. The children of Israel died left and right throughout the wilderness. There were corpses everywhere and graves everywhere. That whole generation died in the wilderness.
But it did not come even near Joshua and Caleb. They only saw the reward of the wicked. We will see these things happening, but do you think they will not come near us? Why? Because we are under the shadow of the Almighty. Brothers and sisters, do we believe this?
But according to this psalm, this promise is not automatically applied to all believers. Is that a shock to you? Such security and safety are not automatically applied to all believers.
Why? From verse 9 to verse 16, you find there are two “becauses.” In verse 9: “Because thou hast made the Lord thy refuge, even the Most High, thy dwelling-place.” In verse 14: “Because he hath set his love upon Me.”
In other words, if you really want to be under the shadow of the Almighty, then you must make the Most High your dwelling place, your home. Not all believers make God their home.
It is true that God offers Himself to all believers as their home, but not all believers stay home. Many are prodigal sons. They leave their home and run to a far country. When you go to a far country, surely you will be in distress and famine, until you return home.
So here you find that it is conditional. It is true: he who lives in the secret place of the Most High abides under the shadow of the Almighty. But this truth is applicable only to people who make God their dwelling place.
In 1854, Charles H. Spurgeon moved to London. It was not a year after he moved there that Asiatic cholera began spreading in the city. Many people died from that cholera.
Being a pastor, he was called to many bedsides of the sick to pray for them. Almost daily, he visited the graveyard to bury people. After he had done that for some time, he was sick in heart and tired in body. He thought that he, too, would go under it.
One day he came back from the cemetery with sadness. He had just buried another one, and as he was going home he was very tired.
But as he walked along Dover Road, he saw a paper posted in the window of a shoemaker. Out of curiosity, he went there to see it. On that paper, some words were written in bold letters.
These were quotations from Psalm 91:
Because thou hast made the Lord thy refuge,
Even the Most High, thy dwelling-place;
There shall no evil befall thee,
Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.
When Spurgeon read it, immediately faith rose within him to appropriate that word. Immediately his spirit was lifted. He was able to attend to the sick and bury the dead until the plague was over, and it never touched him.
Dear brothers and sisters, that is the secret. I believe verse 9 was spoken by Moses: “Because thou hast made the Lord thy refuge, even the Most High, thy dwelling-place.”
Moses had made God his refuge. Moses knew the secret. He hid himself in God. But now he exhorted the children of Israel, “Make the Most High your dwelling place. Make the Most High your home.”
Perhaps you will ask this question: Does this mean that no evil will ever befall a Christian who makes his home in God? Does it mean that he will never be sick? Does it mean that plague or pestilence will never touch him?
Suppose there is a plague going on, and people are dying left and right. Does it mean that the plague will never come near your tent? Suppose there is a war. Does it mean that you will never be hurt, that the bomb will never fall through your roof? Suppose there is famine. Does it mean that there will always be food in your house?
You know, we are all doubting Thomases.
Well, brothers and sisters, number one: let us believe what God has said. First of all, do not doubt these things. Let us believe what God has said.
If we make God our home, we will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Then no evil will come upon us, and no pestilence will come near our tent. Let us believe it.
The problem with us today is that we doubt before we believe. Let us believe. Let us believe what God has said. I believe that if you believe what God has said, you will find that it is true.
I can give you many testimonies. If you believe what God has said and you really dwell in God, you do see that when all these things are happening, somehow you are delivered. No evil will befall you. That is number one.
All right, number two: suppose it pleases God that when the bomb falls, you die. Does that mean that God’s Word and promise are not true? No.
Because evil to you is no evil. It sends you more quickly to the Lord. Is that not good?
Spurgeon says:
Losses enrich you.
Sickness is your medicine.
To die is gain.
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Therefore, there can be no evil befall you.
Amen. Brothers and sisters, this is the attitude we should take. This is our faith.
For He will give His angels charge over thee,
To keep thee in all thy ways.
We often hear people talking about guardian angels. “Everyone has a guardian angel.” Now, if you drive your car too fast, probably you leave your guardian angel behind you, and then you will be in trouble.
But thank God, what you find here is not merely that you have a guardian angel. The Lord sends His angels in great number—not just one angel, but many angels. God’s angels are ministers to those who are redeemed.
Think of it: we are surrounded with angels of God, and God charges them to take care of us.
You remember in the Old Testament, when the enemy surrounded the city of Dothan. The servant of Elisha woke up and saw that the city was surrounded by the enemy. He was literally frightened.
Elisha prayed, “Lord, open the eyes of my servant.” When the eyes of the servant were opened, he saw that the angels of God surrounded the city and protected it.
Brothers and sisters, how true it is: when we make God our home, He will give His angels charge concerning us, to keep us in all our ways.
“All our ways” means that we are walking in the will of God. How do we know the will of God in our daily walk? Because we dwell in God. If we dwell in God, then God reveals His secret to us. So in all our ways, we are walking in His will. If we walk in His will, His angels take charge of us.
If you think back, there are many times when you were in real danger and somehow you were delivered. You do not know how. God sent His angels to deliver you.
There are many things of which you are not even conscious, but the angels have been ministering to you. If the angels had not ministered to you, probably something would already have happened. But God really gives His angels charge concerning you, to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands,
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
When the road is too rough, He will lift you up so that your foot will not be dashed against a stone. How good it is.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under foot.
Brothers and sisters, you are not only protected and kept, but you are able to overcome and be victorious.
When I was a young Christian in China, at one time it was very popular for everyone to have an album and ask people to write something in it. I had an album at that time—no more now.
I asked different people to write in it. I asked Brother Nee to write something for me, and he wrote something that I could never understand at that time. Do you know what he wrote? He wrote Romans 16:20:
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
He wrote that in my album. I did not understand it at that time, but more and more I appreciate it. How true it is that the enemy is not only under the feet of our Lord Jesus, but God shall put Satan under our feet too.
We shall tread upon the lion and the adder if we make our home in God. This is a promise. You want to live victoriously? There is only one way: live in God. If you abide in God, you live victoriously. The lion and the adder will be under your feet.
Then in verse 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.
I believe this is spoken by God Himself. God adds something to it: “Because he hath set his love upon Me.” Brothers and sisters, what is a home? What is the atmosphere of a home? Love.
In 1 John, you find that he who abides in love abides in God, because God is love. How do I know I am abiding in God? If I love Him. If I really love Him, we keep His commandments.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord said, “If you set your love upon Me.” It is just another way of saying, “If you make Me your home.” Then I will deliver him.
In these last few verses you have a sevenfold blessing:
The Lord will not only deliver us, but He will set us on high. He will answer our prayer. If we are in trouble, He will be with us. He will honor us. He will give us length of days, and He will give us His salvation.
All these are for people who make God their home.
Brothers and sisters, more and more I begin to feel that the most basic matter in our Christian life is to make God our home. If you make God your home, then all these things will come.
As a matter of fact, there is no technique, no formula, in spiritual things. It is just dwelling in God, communing with Him, listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning to obey Him.
As we make our home in God, we will find that we are under the shadow of the Almighty. May God help us. Shall we pray?
Our heavenly Father, how we praise and thank Thee that even though we live in a perilous world, a terrible wilderness, yet there is safety and security because we live in Thee. Thou art our home. We are under the shadow of the Almighty.
Therefore, we can proclaim with Paul, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” What can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus? We are more than conquerors because of Him.
May this be true to Thy people. In the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.