This psalm is a collection of promises which we
may expect are fulfilled by the compassionate, protecting and saving presence of God.
Before each promise can be fulfilled, something is required. We may consider this psalm as
a re-affirmation of the eternal covenant between each of us and the Lord of our Being
similar to one between God and Abraham. "And I will establish my covenant between me
and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting
covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you." (Genesis 17:7)
The first requirement and the promise which follows:
He who dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. (V. 1)
The "secret place
of the most High" is the meeting point in consciousness between God and man. When we
establish a consciousness which is God-centered, we find that wherever we are, God is
there as a protecting presence. Jesus reminded us, "...In the world you have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) In life,
things happen and challenges come. But when they come they cannot touch us if we remain
God-centered. Greater is the power of God’s presence as the Christ in you than
anything that comes from the world. When we maintain an awareness of God’s protecting
presence, we "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17) as Paul directed.
The next requirement is:
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in
Him will I trust. (V. 2)
The nature of God is
absolute good. We must have faith in God as good. Habakkuk tells us that God is
"...of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on wrong ..." (Hab
1:13). Whenever something which appears to be less than good comes into our lives, it is
important for us to look beyond what seems to be and remember that God is only good.
Whenever we are confronted with the appearance of evil, we can remember that absolute good
cannot create anything less than good. Therefore, evil is not an opposing force to good.
It has no independent existence. The only power it has is the power we invest in it
through belief or any negative emotion. It is no different with the appearance of
darkness. Dark is not a power opposite to light. It is caused by the frustration or
blocking of the flow of light. As soon as the block is removed, light flows. Remember
God’s nature. Right where something else seems to make its presence known, there is
only God. The promise that follows is freedom from the snares of appearances and negative
human thought. You will not be thrown by the limits of human perception, but will know
that everything is working for your highest good.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from
the noisome pestilence. (V. 3)
The third requirement:
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust; his Truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (V. 4)
Truth is the Reality of the
universe. Jesus said, "... you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free." (John 8:32) It is not our opinions, thoughts or beliefs that make us free. We
have a number of opinions, thoughts and beliefs which are not Truth. Knowing the real from
the unreal frees us from human limitation. Truth is also spiritual law. Knowing and using
spiritual law turns us from victims to victors. Charles Fillmore said that the Truth we
know is the Truth we use; all else is theory. Whenever there is a situation or condition
to heal, someone must know the Truth. By affirmation of Truth we are able to dispel any
negative influence of race consciousness or imbalance in mind or the physical body.
Apparent dangers and difficulties dissolve by the word of Truth even before they become
evident. Your awareness of Truth makes you able to see and avoid the results of error
thinking and the belief in a power in opposition to God. Truth-based thinking makes you a
beneficial presence in this world.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow
that flieth by day; (V. 5)
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the
destruction that wasteth at noonday. (V. 6)
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right
hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (V. 7)
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the
wicked. (V. 8)
(Continued next month)