In the Shadow of the Almighty

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most Highwill rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The psalm opens with a place rather than a request. The one who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Living there is the condition, and rest is the result.

Also read Isaiah 32:2, Psalm 27:5, Judges 9:15, 1 John 4:15-16

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;my God, in whom I trust.”

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

The speaker makes it personal: I will say of the LORD, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. The rest of the psalm grows out of this statement.

Also read Psalm 46:1, Deuteronomy 33:27-29, Genesis 17:7, Hebrews 11:16

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,and from the deadly pestilence.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

The first promise names two dangers: the snare of the fowler and the deadly pestilence. A fowler is someone who traps birds, so the snare is a hidden trap, while pestilence is disease. The KJV reads surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Also read 1 Kings 8:37, Numbers 16:46-48, Psalm 91:6, Ecclesiastes 9:12

He will cover you with his feathers.Under his wings you will take refuge.His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

God's protection is pictured with feathers and wings, the image of a bird sheltering what is under it. The same verse switches to military words, calling his faithfulness a shield and rampart. Tenderness and strength sit side by side.

Also read Matthew 23:37, Isaiah 43:1-2, Psalm 138:2, Psalm 61:4

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,nor of the arrow that flies by day,

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

The dangers are listed by time of day. The reader need not be afraid of the terror by night or the arrow that flies by day. Verse 6 continues with pestilence in darkness and destruction at noon.

Also read Luke 12:20, Job 5:19-27, Psalm 27:1-3, Hebrews 13:6

nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

This verse finishes the list of fears begun in verse 5. The pestilence walks in darkness and the destruction wastes at noonday, so danger is pictured at night and at midday alike. Verse 5 has already told the reader not to be afraid of any of them.

Also read Exodus 12:29-30, 2 Samuel 24:15, Numbers 16:48, Psalm 121:5-6

A thousand may fall at your side,and ten thousand at your right hand;but it will not come near you.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. The verse sets the reader apart from what is happening all around.

Also read Exodus 12:12-13, Genesis 7:23, Psalm 32:6, Numbers 14:37-38

You will only look with your eyes,and see the recompense of the wicked.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

The reader will only look on and see the recompense of the wicked. The protected person is a witness to judgment, not its target.

Also read Psalm 37:34, Hebrews 2:2, Malachi 1:5, Psalm 92:11

Because you have made the LORD your refuge,and the Most High your dwelling place,

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

This verse gives the reason for the promises: you have made the LORD your refuge and the Most High your dwelling place. It echoes the dwelling and refuge language of verses 1 and 2.

Also read Psalm 91:1-2, Psalm 90:1, Psalm 142:4-5, Psalm 71:3

no evil shall happen to you,neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

No evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. The promise follows from verse 9, where the LORD is made the reader's dwelling place, so the home is pictured as kept. The KJV reads there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Also read Psalm 121:7, Romans 8:25, Proverbs 12:21, Job 5:24

For he will put his angels in charge of you,to guard you in all your ways.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

God will put his angels in charge of the reader to guard them in all their ways. The protection is described as constant, covering every path the person takes.

Also read Psalm 34:7, Luke 4:10-11, Matthew 4:6, Hebrews 1:14

They will bear you up in their hands,so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The angels will bear the reader up in their hands so that their foot does not strike a stone. The picture is small and ordinary: a stumble on a road.

Also read Matthew 4:6, Psalm 37:24, Job 5:23, Isaiah 46:3

You will tread on the lion and cobra.You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

You will tread on the lion and cobra, and trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. After the dangers the reader is kept from, this verse pictures the reader walking over them. The KJV names the lion, the adder, the young lion and the dragon.

Also read 2 Timothy 4:17, 1 Samuel 17:37, Daniel 6:22, Job 5:23

“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him.I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

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.

God speaks in his own voice from here to the end. Because this person has set his love on God and known his name, God says he will deliver him and set him on high.

Also read Psalm 9:10, Psalm 59:1, Philippians 2:9-11, Isaiah 33:16

He will call on me, and I will answer him.I will be with him in trouble.I will deliver him, and honor him.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Four promises follow in a row: he will call and I will answer, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and I will honor him. Trouble is not ruled out. God promises to be with him in it.

Also read Isaiah 43:1-2, Isaiah 65:24, Revelation 3:21, 1 Peter 5:4

I will satisfy him with long life,and show him my salvation.”

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The psalm ends with long life and salvation. God will satisfy him with long life and show him his salvation, the last word of the psalm.

Also read Luke 2:30, Proverbs 3:16, Isaiah 45:17, Proverbs 3:2