Live in the Shelter, Rest in the Shadow || Psalm 91:1 || Manna for the Mind #72

Welcome to Day 72 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional series! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Today’s verse is Psalm 91:1, which talks about God as the ultimate place of refuge and rest.

Psalm 91:1

1             Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Living in the shelter to rest in the shadow. This is a unique perspective on Psalm 91 that I’ve never considered before. Often, we focus on God’s role as our almighty hedge of protection, but the concept of finding rest in His shadow is equally profound. Let’s delve into this intriguing aspect.

First, let’s define shelter and shadow. The shelter is often called the secret place; the Hebrew noun cether (say’-ther) refers to a covering or hiding place. I’ve never heard of this shelter being called a hiding place, yet it makes sense simultaneously. Living in this hiding place is the protection from the world’s chaos. It keeps us out of sight of sin, who’s in the shadows crouching behind the door. God watches over what comes in or near this place that protects us. While in this place, we find rest in the shadow of God.

Shadow is the Hebrew noun tsel (tsale), which means…a shadow. Nothing too special there, right? This shadow, again, refers to the protection and defense of a city. In my mind, I keep thinking of the “valley of the SHADOW of death” from Psalm 23. My brain wants to bridge the two together. However, I can’t. Out of the 49 occurrences of this Hebrew word, none of them come from Psalm 23. The word shadow from Psalm 23 is tsalmaveth (tsal-maw’-veth), which means a death-like shadow or deep shadow. It comes from the word we see for shadow, but it’s a compound word. It adds to the Hebrew word maveth (maw’-veth), which means death. In Psalm 23, it refers to extreme danger. This interests me because there’s a dichotomy between the shadows here. Something simple that provides us rest and protection and something sinister that showcases death and extreme danger. God’s shadow leads to rest. Death’s shadow leads to danger.

Live in the place of hidden protection and rest in the ultimate defense that comes from God. Let’s talk more about that through Isaiah 25:4.

Isaiah 25:4

4             But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall.

People experiencing poverty have suffered because ruthless people oppressed them. God has a concern for the poor and is a refuge to them. We see time and time again in scripture about the importance of taking care of people experiencing poverty in our community. We can do so in many ways: helping them with a meal or a bill, helping them down at a food kitchen or homeless shelter, supporting causes that provide equitable opportunities for those in poverty, and more. We need to be the source of shelter and protection that God calls us to be and help out our neighbors to the best of our ability.

We can turn to God for comfort and help when we’re disadvantaged and oppressed. In Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” he states that the Kingdom of God belongs to the poor. Christians need to respond to the cries for help from the people our society has ignored. That list feels like it’s growing larger and larger as each year goes on. Some people that come to mind are African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ+ communities, single-parent families, low-wage families, people experiencing homelessness, and more. We must not remain passive but do whatever is in our power to aid those in need. What does that look like? The first thing is to educate ourselves. Educate ourselves on the struggles those suffering around us have been going through, both systemic and societal. Learn about the responses and resources that would benefit them above everything else. Learn how we can respond in a godly and Christ-like way that doesn’t continue the cycle of abuse that they have faced. Then, we must work, and support causes that help provide a loving and compassionate life for all. The Bible discusses the lack of gatekeeping of God’s love, grace, and mercy. God is for all people. No label is excluded.

Father God, thank you for the protection and rest in your almighty goodness and strength. Society beats our brothers and sisters and often overlooks their screams for help. May they seek and find rest in you and seek us out to help meet their needs, hear their pleas, and work for equal compassion and community. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.