Whoever Dwells in the Shelter of the Most-High WILL REST in the shadow of the Almighty, I will say of the LORD. “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
A fast hard rule growing up in the Phillips household was upon arising, you made your bed — period. When this principle was challenged, it was met with a speech about how important good sleep is, and no one sleeps well in a wrinkled unmade bed. I did not appreciate this commitment to tidiness as a teenager, but as I grew older, it became one of the few embraceable housecleaning tasks. That I looked forward to. One of my favorite things to do before I leave on vacation is to make my bed with clean sheets and return home to a fresh bed despite a fun time away. I am always thankful for my own bed in my own home.
Quality rest is a highly coveted goal in our culture. Daily, we are bombarded with competitive ads about mattress quality and sleep aids. My new favorite is the advertisement for apps on our smartphones with names that indicate if we download, we will secure tranquility and calmness that will increase our chances of finding rest. But thankfully, the rest that God promises is more than good shut-eye and lasts longer than 40 winks. Just like God’s peace does not mean the absence of conflict; it means peace in the midst of it. God’s rest also promises refuge even in the middle of activity. By the way, He also instituted Sabbath to reinforce and celebrate that we serve a God who He himself sat back after creation and rested on the seventh day after declaring. “It is good.” God declares both work and rest as good!
Psalm 91 promises to those of us that dwell with the Most High will rest. It doesn’t say, might, can, or should! It states we will rest. My simple interpretation is that God has made my bed. He has built a nest of rest high above the troubles of this world. It is without the wrinkles of insecurity and fear that can interfere with true comfort. It is located in a cool place of shielding in His shadow where the limelight of self cannot blind me to His power, nor can the heat of the world’s strife overtake me. The glare of earthly existence sits below me from this vantage point. It doesn’t tower over me, overwhelming me with our collective view and the temptation to supply my seemingly unmet needs. Jesus issued a personal invitation in the book of Matthew (11:28-30) where He calls to us to “Come to me. Get away with me, and you will recover your life. I ‘ll show you how to take a real rest”. Recently, as I was meditating on this Psalm, God gave me a perspective through the Olympic marathon runners. The race was moved several hundred miles north due to the oppressive heat in Tokyo. Every opportunity that a runner saw to run in the shadows out of the scorching heat, they seized it. Some even slowed their pace to be refreshed by the coolness and then picked up their pace toward the finish line after their respite from the heat. I couldn’t help thinking of the race of life God has called me to run. Lovingly, He has placed my spot to press on in the spectacular shadow He has cast over me, blessing me with relief along the way and a joyous finish.
Furthermore, the place of rest I can experience if I dwell with Him is not just a place to take a spiritual nap but a refuge, a fortress. It offers a hiding place where hopelessness and fear of the future can’t find me unless I call out to them. And… should the enemy wage war at my spirit, the scripture reminds me, It is a fortress! It is a secured base of operation that is ruled by the Lord of Hosts and His armies, who, with a mere breath or word of command, can triumph over the strongest opponent I can face. Including death.
This providential nest of rest not only sets my life to both the music of a soothing lullaby but the testimonial song of victory. The Psalmist emphatically commits, “I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and fortress, My God in whom I trust” Sometimes, my testimony for God and His goodness is weakened by spiritual fatigue, burnout, church disillusionment, personal doubt, and just plain apathy and carnality. But…by resting with God, I am strengthened to speak for God and declare to a doubting cynical world that He is good. While this testimony is a blessing to God, it is for my benefit. Every time I speak for Him, it fosters my fellowship with Him. The scriptures promise that God inhabits the praise of His people. (Psalm 22:3)
Perhaps you are like me and sometimes have abandoned your place of rest God has made, and you have made your bed, and you are lying in it. Take comfort. The Nest of Rest never hangs out a no vacancy sign but welcomes all of us wanderlust folks back home with clean sheets and a place to dwell, recover and thrive. It is a safe place to be comforted, and while it doesn’t take us out of the race, it reminds us we are not alone and that we indeed find rest in the Shadow of the Almighty.
Lord, help me not be overtaken in this race of life by all the things like fear, disease, war, the rumor of war, politics. These realities threaten to nip at my heels. Remind me they follow after me but don’t have the power to chase me. Let me run with you at your side, maintaining a healthy, restful pace, always mercifully blessed by your refreshing shadow. Thank you, God, that you alone are trustworthy.
Thank you, Jesus, that you have rescued me from a bed of my own making, washed the sheets clean, white as snow, and spoke your soothing words of comfort, and offered me eternal refuge.
Join me next time where the 5 o’clock worker reflects on the promise that God’s power can be “Light as a Feather.”
5oclockworker.com 