The secret place, central to Psalm 91, represents the Holy of Holies, a sanctuary of God's protection and presence. Under the Old Covenant, access was limited to a few, but through Jesus Christ's blood in the New Covenant, all converted Christians can dwell there. Entering this secret place requires faith, total devotion by making God one's habitation, and loving Him fully by keeping His commandments. Dwelling in this sacred space ensures God's safeguarding from terrors, pestilence, and destruction, covering believers with His feathers and truth as a shield. This spiritual refuge, accessible at any time, offers solace and safety amidst fears and threats, promising God's constant presence and protection.

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Moses, Psalmist (Part 2)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The concept of the secret place in Psalm 91, attributed to Moses, is central to understanding the safety and protection God's people can expect from Him. This secret place, most likely referring to the Holy of Holies, represents the innermost sanctuary of the Tabernacle or Temple, accessible only to the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. Under the Old Covenant, dwelling in this secret place was nearly impossible, reserved for a select few like Moses and other prophets, kings, and patriarchs. However, under the New Covenant, the blood of Jesus Christ has opened the way into this sacred space, allowing converted Christians to dwell in God's secret place and rely on His protection. Moses provides three complementary observations on how one can enter this secret place. First, in Psalm 91:2, it is through faith, declaring trust in the Lord as a refuge and fortress, believing that what He says, He will do. Second, in verse 9, it involves making the Lord one's habitation, a total devotion to Him, living according to His laws and principles in all areas of life. Third, in verse 14, God Himself speaks of delivering those who set their love upon Him, emphasizing the importance of loving Him with all heart, soul, might, and mind, which includes keeping His commandments. Even though God's promises are sure, He sets conditions for dwelling in His secret place, and it is our part to meet them.

Zephaniah (Part Three): Quick Destruction, Eternal Restoration

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the midst of the tumultuous times foretold, there is a refuge for those who seek it. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The Lord is declared as a refuge and a fortress, a trustworthy God in whom to place trust. Surely, He shall deliver from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence, covering with His feathers and providing refuge under His wings, with His truth as a shield and buckler. There shall be no fear of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Though a thousand may fall at one side and ten thousand at the other, it shall not come near those in this secret place. Only with their eyes shall they look and see the reward of the wicked. This protection presupposes dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, having been granted His safeguarding due to faithfulness and a maintained relationship with Him. As it is written, there may be a hiding in the day of the Lord's anger, though without a rock-solid guarantee of complete shelter from surrounding terrors. Yet, with the remembrance that God is always present, available to call upon at any time, whatever happens can be faced with faith and hope.

Promised: Protection and Healing

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the midst of fears and threats like terrorism and disease, we find solace in God's promises of protection. Psalm 91:1-6 offers a profound assurance for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High, promising to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This secret place, understood as a shelter or refuge, signifies a close relationship with God, akin to dwelling in the Holy of Holies where He resides. As a refuge and fortress, He delivers from deceptive attacks, perilous pestilence, terror by night, arrows by day, and destruction at noonday. His protection envelops us like feathers and wings, with His truth serving as our shield and buckler, ensuring safety as long as we remain in this sacred communion with Him. This concept of the secret place extends beyond a physical location to a spiritual state accessible to us at any time through Jesus Christ. Unlike the Israelites, who faced barriers to God's presence, we have direct access to His throne, allowing us to seek refuge instantly in times of trouble. This intimate connection with God, where He is always with us, reinforces the promise that we need not fear, for He covers us and provides safety from the myriad dangers that surround us.

Private Religion

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the teachings of Jesus Christ, as presented in Matthew 6, the concept of the Secret Place emerges as a vital aspect of true piety and personal devotion to God. He instructs that when you pray, you should go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in the Secret Place. This emphasizes a private, intimate connection with God, hidden from the eyes of others, ensuring that your devotion is not for public display but for a genuine relationship with Him. Similarly, when fasting, Jesus advises to anoint your head and wash your face, so as not to appear to men as fasting, but to your Father who is in the Secret Place. This reinforces the importance of inconspicuousness in righteous acts, keeping them between you and God alone. Jesus assures that your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly. This promise underscores that God, being omniscient, notices every private act of righteousness, and His recognition is the only one that truly matters. The Secret Place, therefore, becomes a sanctuary of sincerity, where acts of charity, prayer, and fasting are performed without the intent of gaining human praise, aligning with the broader teaching against hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement. Echoing this, Psalm 91 speaks of dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High, where one abides under the shadow of the Almighty. It is a refuge and fortress, a place of trust in God, promising deliverance, honor, and salvation to those who set their love upon Him. Thus, the Secret Place represents the ultimate haven for the faithful, a space of profound spiritual connection and divine protection, where God's blessings are abundantly bestowed upon those who seek Him in sincerity.

Esther (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the narrative of Esther, the concept of the 'Secret Place' emerges as a profound theme of divine protection and concealment. God hides His people in times of trouble, placing them in a sanctuary that is inaccessible to their enemies. As expressed in Psalm 27:5, He shall hide them in His pavilion, in the secret place of His tabernacle, setting them high upon a rock. Similarly, Psalm 31:20 reveals that God hides them in the secret place of His presence, shielding them from the plots of man and the strife of tongues. This theme extends to Psalm 91:1, where those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High abide under the shadow of the Almighty, safeguarded from harm. This motif of hiddenness is vividly embodied in Esther herself, whose true identity as a Jewess remains concealed under Mordecai's guidance. Her Hebrew name, Hadassah, meaning myrtle, symbolizes peace and restoration, yet she operates under a Persian name, reflecting the necessary concealment of her heritage. As noted in Esther 2:10 and 2:20, she does not reveal her people or family, adhering to Mordecai's command, thus protecting herself in a foreign land fraught with danger. The root of her name, derived from S.T.R., meaning to hide or conceal, underscores this central theme of the book. Moreover, the 'Secret Place' also pertains to God's own hidden presence in the story. Although His name is absent from the text, His influence is invisible yet palpable to Mordecai and Esther. They act with the assurance of His guidance, as seen in their unwavering commitment to do what is right for their people. Deuteronomy 31:16-19 foretells this divine concealment as a response to Israel's unfaithfulness, where God hides His face due to their sins. Yet, in Esther's time, though He remains unseen to figures like Xerxes and Haman, Mordecai and Esther know He is there, maneuvering events behind the scenes for the deliverance of the Jews. This hiddenness mirrors the broader biblical pattern of God concealing His chosen ones, including Christ Himself, as depicted in Isaiah 49:1-2, where He is hidden in the shadow of God's hand until the appointed time for action.

Prophecy and Love in the Song of Songs

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Song of Songs, elevated by God as the best of all songs, holds a profound significance akin to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. Its title, a superlative form in Hebrew, underscores its supreme status among songs, placed by God as His number one, separate from even the Psalms. This book, often overlooked, carries vital importance for understanding deeper spiritual truths. Within its verses, the concept of the secret place emerges as a powerful symbol of divine protection and intimacy. In Song of Songs 2:14, the Beloved calls to the Shulamite, "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely." This imagery of the secret place, reminiscent of the stronghold of Petra or Selah, suggests a hidden refuge, a place of safety where God desires to behold the beauty and holiness of His chosen. This theme of a protective refuge is further echoed in Psalm 91:1-2, which speaks of dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, as a fortress and refuge. God promises deliverance and honor to those who set their love upon Him, as seen in Psalm 91:14-16, linking love with the security of this secret place. The determining factor for being in this place of safety is the love shown for God, reflecting the central theme of the Song of Songs—a passionate, intimate relationship between God and His people. The secret place, therefore, is not merely a physical location but a spiritual state of closeness with God, where His presence offers protection and where mutual love is expressed and nurtured. This profound connection, illustrated through the Song of Songs, reveals the depth of God's desire for an ardent, unyielding bond with His church, guiding us to respond with equal fervor and faithfulness.