Secure In 'God's Secret Place'

The psalmist stings: "Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most High will procure himself lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty One. I will say to Jehovah: 'You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God, in whom I will trust.' " (Psalm 91:1, 2) "The secret place of the Most High" is a figurative place of protection for us, and particularly for anointed ones, who are special targets of the Devil. (Revelation 12:15-17) He would destroy all of us were it not for the protection we enjoy as those who lodge with God as spiritual guests. By "lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty One," we experience God's protective shade, or shadow. (Psalm 15:1, 2; 121:5) There is no safer refuge or more formidable stronghold than our Sovereign Lord, Jehovah. - Proverbs 18:10.

The psalmist adds: " He himself [Jehovah] will deliver you from the trap of the birdcatcher, from the pestilence causing adversaries." (Psalm 91:3) A birdcatcher in ancient Israel often captured birds by using snares or traps. Among the snares of the "birdcatcher," Satan, are his evil organization and "crafty acts." (Ephesians 6:11) Hidden traps are placed in our path to draw us into wickedness and cause our spiritual ruin. (Psalm 142:3) Because we have renounced unrighteousness, however, 'our soul is like a bird that escapes from the trap.' (Psalm 124:7, 8) How grateful we are that Jehovah delivers us from the wicked "birdcatcher"!- Matthew 6:13.

The psalmist cites "the pestilence causing adversities." Like a contagious epidemic disease, there is something that causes "adversities " for the human family and for upholders of Jehovah's sovereignty. In this regard, historian Arnold Toynbee wrote: " Since the end of World War II nationalism has doubled the number of local sovereign independent states...Mankind's present mood is increasingly divisive."

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