"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1 In the Temple, the mercy seat sits in the innermost chamber called the Holy of Holies, deep into the Temple where only the high priest may enter. The ark of the covenant is in there, which is a chest containing the ten commandments. On top of that chest sits the mercy seat, the mercy one finds in the Lord. In the Holy Place in the Temple, there was placed above the mercy seat two angels made of gold, one on each side of the chest, their wings, or their feathers, covering over the mercy seat and touching each other. This is a picture of the secret place, the place of mercy, under the shadow of the wings.There was a huge veil at the door of that innermost chamber, preventing anyone but the high priest from entering. But when Jesus was crucified, that veil was torn in two, signifying that those covered with the Blood of Jesus may now enter that inner chamber, that holy place, and have direct access to God himself, and from that day on this redeemed person will abide in the secret place of the Most High, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;
and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split...
Matthew 27:51
Psalm 91 is a favorite psalm for many believers. Psalm 91 promises protection for those who abide in the secret place of the Lord. But it's speaking only of those who know the Lord intimately, because those whose trust is wholly in the Lord will run to him FIRST in any trial, in any threat, in any fear that may come upon them, and there in the secret place of the Most High they will find refuge.
The reason this is called the secret place, is that only those who truly know the Lord and belong to him, will know how to enter. A stranger will not even know about it, let alone enter it. Jesus was speaking of this place of refuge when he said:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets,
and stones those who are sent to you,
how often would I have gathered your children together,
even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
but you would not!"
Matthew 23:7
All are invited to this secret place, but few find it. The disciples asked Jesus if many would be saved. Listen to his answer and look at it closely; it's a hard truth, one that should make one tremble, it's the MANY versus the FEW:
"Enter by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction,
and there are MANY who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are FEW who find it."
Matthew 7:13-14
The one who will find it will find in the Lord that secret place where he may hide from danger, the secret place that will be a refuge for him because he will learn to place all his trust in the Lord. Nothing can touch him without going through his Lord's hand. The Lord said the way is difficult, but those who abide in him will never go through anything alone, the very presence of the Lord God will be with them in every circumstance in life. They will find comfort there, they will receive direction there.
"I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in him I will trust.'”
Psalm 91:2
Those who find him will trust him because they know him. Once they have EXPERIENCED the presence of the Lord and his care for them, their trust will become firmly established in him.
vs 4:
"He shall cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you shall take refuge;"
People who don't want to take the Word of God literally miss out on many of the precious truths revealed only in that secret place. What are those "feathers?" They are the feathers hovering over the Mercy seat.
Many are called, but few accept that call. For those who do, all the provision of God becomes theirs as they are invited into the secret place of the Lord, to abide there with him, in his presence, forever.
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse;
for it is written, 'CURSED is everyone who does not continue
IN ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'”
Galatians 3:10
This passage has not been preached on sufficiently from the pulpits. There is a very deep and profound statement made here: Those who place themselves under the law must keep the law fully, he must never break it, otherwise he/she is under a CURSE. Read the Scripture above again.
In other words, if you look to keeping the laws of God for your justification, then you must FULLY observe the laws of God. Otherwise you are under a curse.
This is pretty shocking when you realize the import of it. Most people judge themselves according to their perceived success or failure in keeping the laws of God. They need to be made to realize that if this is the basis for their justification, they must keep the law fully and completely. "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law, to do them." If you live under the law, be sure to bring all the required blood sacrifices and keep all the ordinances of the Temple. Friends, consider this carefully. It is vitally important to understand this, lest you be under a curse.
How then are we justified?
vs 11:
"But that NO ONE is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident,
for 'the just shall live by faith.'”
By faith? Faith in what?
We need to understand just exactly why Jesus Christ was crucified. He came into the world as the only human being who was sinless. So if he was sinless, why did the Father allow him to be tortured and crucified? He let him be tortured and crucified to bear the JUDGMENT on OUR sins.
If I sin, I incur guilt and guilt MUST be judged to satisfy justice. I cannot die as the atonement for my sin, because a sinner cannot do that, only a sinless one can. And he did. The guilt I incurred when I sinned - has been judged. Christ bore that judgment in his death on that Cross. He bore the judgment for every sin I have ever committed, or will commit. And because of that, I can receive the righteousness IMPUTED to me through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished on my behalf.
vs 13:
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us,
for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'"
Because Christ is my savior, I have been made clean - in him.
"Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me."
Does that mean then, that I can just sin knowing my sin is judged in Christ? Of course not. What it means is that when Jesus becomes my Lord and Savior, when I am born again, he fills me with his Holy Spirit who will CHANGE me so that I don't WANT to sin. If indeed I DO sin yes, it has been judged already. But the only way to walk by faith is to avail oneself of the provision God has made for us, receiving the Holy Spirit which one receives upon being born again. Then the Holy Spirit makes me a new creation. This creates a radical change in the believer, and that complete change is the work of the Holy Spirit changing the believer from within.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
HE IS A NEW CREATION;"
2nd Corinthians 5:17
Surrender yourself and your life to the One who created you. ASK him to become your Savior and your Lord. He knows every detail there is to know about you - he ordered your very DNA. He alone can enable you to walk by faith, when he becomes your Savior, and your Lord.
Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." In other words, there is no other way. He spoke those words to a religious man, a teacher, someone who studiously tried to keep the laws of God. He told this man that his religion cannot save him, he MUST be born again. Read John 3:1-8
Come to Jesus Christ and ask him for the born-again transformation, to receive that new life ...that changes everything. And sets you free.
MORE:
Born Again - What Does That Mean?
"Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
that I might come to his seat!
I would present my case before him,
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words which he would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me."
Job 23:4-5
Have you ever been in the middle of a trial and the heavens seemed like brass? Your whole soul is desperate to hear from God, but it's as though he is not there. Such was the case in the life of Job as he cried out to God and received no answer.
vs 8:
“Look, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I cannot perceive him;"
Job was severely afflicted. He lost everything, and to make matters worse, he was suffering from boils all over his body. He maintained throughout the story that he was a faithful believer who had done nothing to deserve the terrible loss and afflictions which came upon him and which were beyond his ability to understand. He searches for God but "he is not there." He descends into despair, brought low and helpless.
Yet throughout this story, Job remained faithful no matter how severe the suffering. Friends came and suggested that he must have done something so terrible that it would bring on such suffering to him. Rather than comfort him, they accused him of pride, so that Job found no encouragement or comfort ...anywhere, from anyone.
Brothers and sisters, this is the normal life of the believer. We will all experience this. God allows us to be tested by severe trials and at that time he seems far away. We're left staggering in the dark. We find no recourse, no comfort, no encouragement and we are brought low. Every true believer has experienced this and is shocked by it, and it often comes at a time when we were living rightly before God and serving him. It just comes out of the blue. Yet our appeals seem to vanish into thin air and we're left helpless.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember during such times is that God IS there although it appears that he isn't. He IS paying close attention, VERY close attention, to his son or daughter who is suffering, although it appears as though he doesn't care. Oh he cares! He cares very much. And his perceived absence does NOT mean his disapproval, nor does it mean that the ordeal is judgment. Job was a righteous man, a totally faithful believer, a man of prayer, and that made his trial seem beyond understanding. When we're in sin and judgment comes, we know it's to bring us to repentance. But when we're NOT in sin and trials come, that's when the confusion and resentment is the greatest and that's exactly what Job kept saying:
vs 12:
"I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth
more than my necessary food."
The thing to remember is that there is a purpose for our suffering, and that it is appointed for a certain time and after that it will come to an end. Later when we look back upon it, we will gain some understanding and see what fruit was obtained through it all, what maturity, what change within.
Most often, the terrible trial will precede a great blessing. Before Jesus began his ministry, he went out into the desert and experienced great trials, harassment, and temptation from Satan himself. Read about it in Matthew chapter 4. Immediately upon returning from the desert his tremendous ministry began. Someone once said, "the greater the blessing, the greater the call, the greater the trial before it."
The suffering saint is dear to the heart of God. Our trials produce such tremendous growth in us that the end result is pure gold in the eyes of God.
vs 10:
"But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."
In the end, God restored to Job double of all he had lost. Also ...he was vindicated in the eyes of his "friends."
Brothers and sisters, hang in there, the trial will come to an end and in the meantime KNOW that God IS with you and has everything under his control. You will come forth as gold and the tremendous blessing of God will come upon you. And you will be restored.
" ...that the genuineness of your faith,
being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire,
may be found to praise, honor, and glory
at the revelation of Jesus Christ..."
1st Peter 1:7
