God’s Inner Circle
Psalm 91:1. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
The theme of this Psalm is in the 2nd verse, “God is my refuge and my fortress.” It will help you conquer your fears, and help you have courage to meet life’s every circumstances.
The central thought which David is projecting is that of God’s response to man. For every advance on man’s part, there is an immediate and greater advance on God’s part. When man goes out to seek God, God meets him more that half way. When man calls upon God, God will answer him. Loving faith on man’s part will be met by faithful love on God’s part.
If man dwells, “In the secret place of the most high, he shall abide (dwell) under the shadow of the Almighty.” Here we have the condition and the promise.“The secret place.” The Hebrew word which is translated “secret place” occurs several times in the Book of Psalm.
“Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence, Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion (private room)” Psalm 31:20. “Thy hidden ones” Psalm 83:3.
We get the Idea of a fugitive hiding from his pursuers. A man running from enemies, tired, weary, panting, he knows not where to hide. In his despair he runs to some friend and seeks protection. His friend hides him in a secret place.
The fugitive gives his all, his life, into his friend’s care. He falls upon, he surrenders himself completely, and he places his life into his friend’s hands.
So is the man who surrenders himself to God with simple, but unwavering faith—gives his all, himself into God’s keeping. He is put in “The secret place of the Most High.” He becomes one of “God’s hidden ones.”
Paul describes it, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
“The secret place,” where is it? Think of the arraignments of the Temple.
1. There was the vast outside world, stretching everywhere outside the Temple wall.
2. There were the outer courts of the temple where most everyone could come.
3. Then the inner chamber where the brazen altar and laver for washing were.
4. Then there was the Holy Place, with the golden candlestick, table of showbread, and the altar of incense.
5. Last of all The Holy Of Holies… the Ark of The Covenant, and the Mercy seat, the secret place, the abiding presence of the Eternal God.
Every Jew knew something about that “Secret Place” where God dwelt. He turned toward it, he worshipped toward it, he prayed toward it. His desire always drew toward it. It was the center of his adoration, his worship and his service.
Life could be all on the outside where the masses (the common people) were, or maybe the outer courts, the mere fringe area, not really partaking of the service.
Let us come into the Inner Court, by the way of the Brazen Altar, wash in the Laver (baptism).
Let us enter the Holy Place (receiving the Holy Ghost), by the light of the Golden Candlestick (the Light of the Gospel), Partake of the Table of Shewbread (communion and fellowship), to the Altar of Incense (praise and worship).
Let us steal away into the Holy Of Holies (The Secret Place), with the Ark of The Covenant, and fall upon the Mercy Seat. The “Ark” was a covered box which contained the Stones upon which the Ten Commandments were stored. These Stones were precious because they contained words written by the finger of God.
It is a dwelling, an abiding place, a place to live: “He that dwelleth (resides) in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The “Secret Place” is not to be limited to a particular locality. But the “Secret Place” means nearness to God, close fellowship, the Inner Circle of communion with God where we realize vividly the divine Presence of God.
We need to maintain in our Churches an atmosphere conducive to worship, our singing should be worshipful, our music should be favorable to worship, and our preaching should bring us the cross of Jesus Christ. Everything that transpires should promote a nearness to Jesus.
In 2 Kings 4:8-11 a Shunammite woman had a small room constructed for Elisha. “A Little Chamber” built upon the wall. In it she had a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick. Such meager accommodations by our standards, but a great service to Elisha who didn’t need much, and was to bring great joy to her also.
It was a place where he could sit, or kneel, or lay his head. She put a light to drive away the darkness. Such prayers arose from this “Little Chamber,” prayers that would awake the dead. It was his “Secret Place.”
We also should have, and maintain, a Secret Place where we can go and have our fellowship and communion with God. It could be in your bedroom, your study, your office, or if possible a place in your yard. It should be a place where you can be alone with God, where you can read your Bible and pray, not necessarily in private. I have a small picnic house in my backyard, a sort of “get away” with God.
Three Questions Arises;
1. How are we to maintain our life of fellowship with God?
2. How to seek fellowship in the Secret Place:
3. How are we to dwell in the Secret Place?
First: We must always maintain the spirit of reverence. There are to be no trampling in the Sacred Courts. We should remember the purpose that we enter the Secret Place for. We have come to meet with God, the creator, the sustainer, the one who can answer our prayers, and heal our wounds, so treat Him reverently. If we come arrogantly we shall go away empty.
When we come to meet with God, come with the spirit of humility, humbly, respectfully, and lowly, no just striding into His presence, otherwise we come insulting His honor. Come prepared to meet the King. No higher authority exists.
Irreverence May find an empty shell, but never find the pearl of great price. Irreverence can never open the gate into the Secret Place
.
Second: Anyone who seeks fellowship in the Secret Place must possess the spirit of sacrifice. No man was permitted to come empty-handed towards the Secret Place “bring an offering, and come before him:” 1 Chronicles 16:29.
“Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee” Deuteronomy 16:16-17.
The strait gate which leads to the Secrt Place is too narrow for the man who brings nothing. But it is abundantly wide for the person who brings all (Luke 21:4). Life’s crown demands life’s all, so give all.
Third: We shall only dwell (abide, live) in the Secret Place By prayer and praise, not by empty phrases and loud voices, but hallowed and greatful appreciation of God’s goodness.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” Psalms 19:14.
We maintain our life of fellowship with God by loving one another.
1 John 4:7. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
So let us love one another so that we may “dwell under the shadow of the Almighty.” Let us have reverence and humility when we approach God. Let us maintain a spirit of praise and worship in the Secret Place. Let us not come empty-handed, presenting our all to the Almighty. Let us prepare ourselves before we come (Genesis 35:2-3). Be clean and dressed right.
Psalm 91:1. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
