The Overcomer Trust

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  • Wiltshire


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10. THE LIFE IN THE SANCTUARY Ps. 91.

 

1. The abiding in the Sanctuary.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under [His] shadow” (v1).

 

2. The attitude of abiding faith.

“I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress . . . in whom I trust” (v2).

We abide in Him by an attitude of continual faith saying trustfully “He is my refuge just now”.

 

3. The blessed shelter in the Presence.

a) From the snares of the evil one.

“He shall deliver thee . . . from the snare of the fowler” (v3).

b) From the noisome atmosphere of sin.

“He shall deliver . . . from the noisome pestilence” (v3).

Conditions on our part:

“Take refuge.”

“His truth is a shield.”(v4.)

God will shelter if we will hide in Him, remembering that we can only take refuge in Him whilst we keep in line with His truth. His word is our safeguard and buckler.

 

4. The blessed life of the Sanctuary.

a. A life of fearless trust.

“Thou shalt not be afraid” of:

(1) The terror at night (the path of darkness and testing) (v5).

(2) The arrow by day (the fiery darts of the devil) (v5).

(3) The pestilence in darkness (the subtle things that the enemy brings around in times of testing) (v6).

(4) The destruction at noonday (v6). (Spiritually may be taken as no fear of the loss of all when the soul may be walking in the noonday of maturity of experience, which always brings maturity for trial)

b. A life of quiet security.

“A thousand shall fall at thy side . . . but it shall not come nigh thee” (v7).

The soul, hiding in God as a refuge, must be safe so long as it abides trustfully, and humbly dependent upon Him to keep it in Him as its Home. A moment of self-confidence would break the abiding, and it would then quickly know that it was out of the keeping power.

c. A life of clear vision.

“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the wicked” (v8).

Abiding in the Sanctuary the soul becomes keen of vision to see around it the terrible consequences of sin, and understands more and more that the Righteous Lord must deal severely with sin, not only in the sinner but in His redeemed ones. It is impossible really to dwell in the light of God and minimise sin in any degree under the name of ‘infirmity’ or ‘temptation’.

 

5. The safety of the habitation.

“Thou art my Refuge . . . The Most High (is) thy habitation” (v9).

No wonder the Psalmist writes of the soul in such a Refuge; “There shall no evil befall thee. No “ plague come nigh thy tent” (v10).

 

6. The practical result of abiding.

a) “His angels . . . (shall) keep thee in all thy ways” (v11).

The angels are here said to be the instruments of the keeping, and it is written in Heb. 1 v14, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for . . . them . . . that shall inherit salvation?” But it is well that the kept ones should be occupied with Him Who is the Lord of the Angels, rather than those who are content to be lost sight of for Him. See the Angel’s reply to John in Revelation 19 v10.

b) Walking in victory above the devil.

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion . . . the serpent shalt thou trample under foot” (v13).

It is certain that we must be above the devil or he will be above us! In Christ he is under our feet (Eph. 1 v20-23), and with the decision of the faith that links us to the Victor, we must tread him under foot. As we take the attitude of victory, God will conquer him for us. (See Rom. 16 v20. “He stood . . . and the Lord wrought a great victory” 2 Sam. 23 v12.)

c) Steadfast in love and loyalty to God.

“Because he hath set his love upon Me . . . will I deliver him” (v14).

It is touching to read this as written of our Father God. That we should rejoice that His love is set upon us is not to be wondered at, but that He should delight in our love set upon Him is marvelous indeed.

d) Knowing God in increasing reality.

“I will set him on high because he hath known My Name” (v14).

See 2 Peter 1 v3-4 where we are told that the knowledge of God through His word makes us partakers of His Divine nature. In proportion as we are vitally joined to Christ, we must be brought increasingly into the life that dwells on high, even whilst in mortal body we walk the earth.

e) Power in Prayer.

“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him” (v15).

Prevailing prayer depends far more upon our spintual condition than we have thought. We must be walking in very dose communion, and abiding very really in God as our Sanctuary ere there can be the quick response our God has promised.

 

7. The earthward life.

a) God’s Presence in time of trouble.

“I will be with him in trouble” (v15).

We are never promised aught but tribulation in the world, but we are assured of peace in Christ our Refuge and Home (John 16 v33).

b) God’s deliverance and seal in trouble.

“I will deliver him and honour him” (v15).

Continual deliverance in time of trial, and the seal of the Father’s favour and love.

c) Renewal of life for service.

“With long life will I satisfy him” (v16).

It has generally been thought the mark of a very heavenly mind to desire to “depart and to be with Christ”, but we must remember that the one who wrote these words was “Paul the aged”, with a long life of honourable service behind him. It is not a healthy attitude of soul to wish to shirk the battlefield, and “enter into rest”, before we have done any service requiring rest. With the deep need of the church and the world before them, God’s “kept ones” must desire to live, even as Paul the aged, worn and spent, said, “The business in regard to you, urges upon me to remain in the body, and this I confidently know, that I shall . . . remain . . . for the furtherance of your faith” (Phil 2 v24-25, Syriac).

d) Continuous unfolding of God’s salvation.

“And show him My salvation” (v16).

 

“This God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our Guide even unto death” (Ps. 48 v14).

“Let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord” (Ps. 106 v48).