Psalm 91
Sermon on Psalm 91: He That Dwelleth in the Secret Place
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
— Psalm 91:1 (KJV)
Big Idea
The protection of Psalm 91 is not a magic promise but a covenant for those who actually dwell with God — and its ultimate fulfilment is the believer in Christ.
Context
Psalm 91 is one of the most quoted and most misread psalms. Satan himself quoted it to Jesus in the wilderness. Understanding it requires reading verses 1, 9, and 14 together.
Expository Outline (verse-by-verse)
1. The Condition: Dwelling in God (v. 1–2, 9)
- •'Dwelleth' — settled residence, not occasional visits.
- •Four names of God in two verses — Most High, Almighty, LORD, my God.
- •Protection follows location — 'because thou hast made the LORD… thy habitation.'
2. The Promises: Deliverance and Refuge (v. 3–13)
- •Snares, pestilence, terror, arrow, plague — every kind of danger named.
- •'Under his wings shalt thou trust' — the picture of a mother bird.
- •Angels charged concerning thee — but in His ways, not your ways.
3. The Reason: Because He Has Set His Love Upon Me (v. 14–16)
- •God speaks in the first person — this is His own commentary on the psalm.
- •'Because he hath set his love upon me' — covenant love, not casual affection.
- •Honor, long life, salvation — God Himself is the satisfaction.
Topical Outline (one big idea)
1. How Psalm 91 Is Often Misread
- •As a charm that prevents all suffering.
- •Without the condition of dwelling.
- •Apart from Christ, who alone perfectly fulfills it.
2. How Psalm 91 Is Rightly Read
- •A covenant promise to those who dwell with God.
- •A protection that may go through, not always around, the valley.
- •A psalm ultimately about the believer hidden in Christ.
Cross-references
- Matthew 4:5-7 — Satan misquotes Psalm 91 in the wilderness.
- Colossians 3:3 — Your life is hid with Christ in God.
- Psalm 27:5 — In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion.
- Romans 8:31 — If God be for us, who can be against us?
Illustrations
- "A child running into a stormy house can shelter from the rain — but the storm doesn't end. Psalm 91 promises shelter, not the cessation of storms."
- "Martyrs of every century have died with Psalm 91 on their lips — and they were not contradicted. Their protection was eternal, not temporal."
- "John Paton was a missionary to cannibals; he survived attacks because, he later learned, the natives saw 'men in shining garments' guarding his hut at night."
Application questions
- Are you dwelling in God, or just visiting Him on Sundays?
- Have you tried to claim Psalm 91 as a charm without surrendering to its King?
- When God says, 'I will be with him in trouble,' do you trust that as enough?
Closing prayer
Most High God, our refuge and fortress, teach us to dwell — to settle in, to take up residence in You. We trust You under any sun, in any storm. Be our hiding place, our portion, and our eternal home. Amen.