In the Secret Place God covers us, He protects us. He makes the promise that, “he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps 91:1, NKJV).
The Hebrew for “secret place” is sether, from sathar. It means a covering, a secret place, to be in hiding, or to be hidden and kept safe under a cover or a shelter.
The Hebrew for “shadow” is tsel, from tsalal, and means protection, shadow, to be under the shade of a cloud, a protective or defensive cloud that hides/disguises.
The implication of these two words is if we hide ourselves in God, we come under His divine and impenetrable shadow that no enemy can approach. No circumstance can knock us off our feet, or out of His care. No fear, no anxiety, and no worry can reach us because we are in the secret hiding place of God where we are kept safe and secure away from all harm; unreachable and untouched by any enemy plan.
To come under the shadow of something, we have to move close and position ourselves under whatever is casting the shadow. It requires close proximity.
Imagine being outside on a very hot Summer’s day and wanting shade. We look for a tree, an awning, a vernada, a beach umbrella. We have to move close to the object and position ourselves under it, to be in its shade.
Our choosing to move close to God positions us under His shadow, under His covering. This is what dwelling with God means. We do this by prioritizing time with Him, in the secret place away from all other noises and distractions. The secret place is wherever we go to be alone Him. Then God promises that in times of trouble “He will hide [us] in His shelter; in the secret place of His tabernacle He will hide [us]; He will set [us] high upon a ROCK” (Ps 27:5).
The Rock is Jesus! We are hidden in Jesus, high and far away from all harm because our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). And Jesus says, “Come to Me… and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28). Here again, it is close proximity. Resting in Jesus is choosing to position ourselves in the secret place…
The secret place is the quiet alone time we spend with Jesus. No other person around, no other distraction, not running errands or doing chores, but setting life aside, to just be with Him. Simply being with Him, at rest, in peace and quiet. “Come, My people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while…” (Isa 26:40). It is here, close to Him, that we can have great confidence that He hides us in the secret place of His presence far from the schemes of men, His shadow conceals us, and He becomes our very great protection (Ps 31:20).
