Psalms 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 secret place of the Most High is our secret place of prayer where we have uninterrupted communion with our Creator. The secret place of prayer is not family worship, or general meetings for prayer. It is the time and place where we get intimately personal with God on a one on one basis. There are certain issues in our lives that we can only discuss with God alone, and because of the sensitive and private nature of these issues, it may not be advisable to pray about them in public. For instance if a married person is secretly struggling with the sin of adultery, it would be best to take the issue to The Lord in the secret place of the Most High, rather than "spill the beans" in a general prayer meeting.
The reason for this is because only God can accurately read the heart and motives, and very often, He gives us the victory over sins without anyone else knowing, so that the process of confession, repentance, and cleansing can take place without the additional pressure of public embarrassment.
However, in the case of David, who was being hunted by king Saul, supplication often had to be made in the secret place of The Most High for protection from his foes. Night and day, David had to be on high alert lest Saul and his men of war discovered his hiding place. David feared constantly for his life because of the malice of Saul, and those experiences often drove Him to the Throne of God, who alone could protect, guide and sustain him. The terrors he endured are echoed in the words of Psalms chapter three. Let's read:
Psalms 3:1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
And so, from his secret place of prayer, David went forth from day to day, trusting in God to guide, sustain and deliver him from the many snares that were set for his feet. A very notable example of this occurred when he was being hunted by Saul with three thousand soldiers. Saul and his men had retired for the night, when David, by the all seeing eye of God, was able to discover where they lay sleeping. What took place next represents a direct interposition of God on behalf of David and his men. Let's read:
1st Samuel 26:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. 12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.
It was obviously the power of God engaged why David and his men were able to carry on a conversation in the immediate presence of their enemies without not one of the three thousand soldiers hearing a single word. Thus God was able to deliver David from the snares that were set for his feet, all because David had formed the habit of dwelling in the secret place of The Most High.
There are many snares that are set for our own feet by the enemy of souls and his agents, of which we know nothing. Sudden temptations and assaults are now being put in place by the devil, of which we are not currently cognizant, and our only defense will be Dwelling in the secret place of Prayer, just as David did. We should never believe for one moment that we can avert danger, or escape the wiles of the devil by using only common sense and intelligence, for these assets fade into oblivion in the face of the evil one who has been manufacturing and implementing snares and temptations for thousands of years.
God and God alone is our refuge and strength, and to Him we should often turn for grace to help in time of need. May God enable us to see the necessity of secret prayer, for without Him we can do nothing to avert the assaults that come our way ever so often. We therefore end with a promise that should strengthen our faith and trust in the Eternal God.
Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. 26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
God help everyone of us to live by this mighty promise. "Good night" and God bless!