“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” - Psalm 91:1
We see in the Old Testament that there are many names for God. In Psalm 91:1, we see God addressed in two ways: the Most High and the Almighty. The Most High (El Elyon) referred to “the highest, above all other rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes.” Almighty (El Shaddai) means “the most powerful.” (Definitions taken from The Strong’s Concordance). The Lord is addressed this way in situations where His people were being asked to trust Him in extremely tough circumstances: Abraham was told by the Almighty that at the age of 100, he would have a son; Abraham was instructed that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed; Jacob asked the Almighty to bring Benjamin and Judah back to him after he had already lost his son Joseph; Naomi and Job called God “Almighty” when they felt He brought upon them a difficult life of suffering; the Day of Judgement is from the Almighty; and in Ezekiel’s vision of heaven, he sees the Almighty in heaven. In all these cases, the speaker declared that God is powerful so we can trust Him, even in the midst of difficulties. He is the God of the impossible!
The King of kings, the One who rules OVER all nations, angels, powers of darkness, the universe, and everyone in it can exert His power at any moment to accomplish His purpose. In Psalm 91, the Almighty says that His purpose is to be a place of safety from the enemy, and rest from the “attackers” of life. We can rest in His shadow. My husband is prone to skin cancer, so every chance he has, he walks in the shadows of trees and buildings for protection from the rays of the sun. God says He is the shadow who protects us from danger. In Psalm 91:2, He says He is our refuge, our fortress, the God in whom we can trust.
Are you facing a difficult situation or person today? God wants to “cover you with His feathers” and hide you “under His wings.” “His faithfulness will be your shield.” (Psalm 91:4).
Perhaps you struggle with fear or insecurity. As I have said in earlier devotionals, this is common if you were not well protected as a child. But the Lord Most High, the Almighty God calls you to cry out to Him and in faith claim Him to be your fortress and refuge. He is the Almighty God in which “nothing is impossible for Him” (Luke 1:37).
Comments