The ninety-first Psalm is a powerful comfort to the believer. This is one place where the King James Version has no rival. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High" is indeed the Sabbath Rest, mentioned in Hebrews three and four. Paul stated that the gospel was a mystery, a mystery that had been held tight until the time of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This mystery was revealed in its fullness to Paul. He shared it with the believers of his day, but it was prophesied in the ninety-first Psalm. In fact, the only way to abide under the protection of the Almighty God is to REST in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's secret place, God's place of seclusion is found in resting in Jesus. With this in mind, let us take a fresh look at the ninety-first Psalm.
We know that it is prophetic of the life and work of Jesus. It pertains to Jesus as the first-born, but then it pertains to all believers. It is also the prophetic promise of God's keeping of "his own." Jesus as the first born is "his own," but we, united with Christ in faith are "his own" also. Psa 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." This verse is descriptive of the Sabbath Rest. One only need be reminded of the promise that in Christ, through Christ, we are the very righteousness of God.
Psa 91:5-8 "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; (6) Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked." This is a wonderful precious promise that the one resting in Jesus can take to the bank. We can rely on God and his promises and declarations. In fact, when we rely on, trust in, and cling too the promises in verses 5-8 we do enter the Sabbath Rest. We realize that we need not work at it. God has taken control of it for us!
Psa 91:9 "Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;" Listen to the words of the Psalmist here: By entering in to the Sabbath Rest, making the most High your dwelling place, you bring the promises to fruition. It is not by the good one does. It is by making the promises of the Lord a resting place that all of the promises come to you. That is, the promises that are above in verses 5-8 and the promises that follow in verses 10-13.
Psa 91:10-13 "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Entering into the Sabbath Rest affords so many rich benefits. The angels are watching over the one resting in Jesus. Snakes, roaring lions, and dragons shall be under your feet. Isn't it interesting that Satan has been referred to as a snake/serpent, a dragon, and a roaring lion?
Now, here's what God says: Psa 91:14-16 "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. (15) He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." These promises are there for the believing. Believing in these promises is in fact entering into HIS REST.
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