A New Revelation Coming From His Names {Psalm 91}

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “It’s not supposed to be this way.”? Godly friends, family members, even those on the front line of our faith are being hit with huge battles. Cancer. Debilitating illnesses. Drug addiction. Suicide…

Perhaps it’s our perspective that’s all wrong.

The Psalms are where I always seem to head when I’m blindsided by another trial and Psalms 91 is my favorite go-to Psalm that I pray often. I wrote on the seven promises found in just the last few verses of Psalm 91 if you’d like to read more on this awesome Psalm, but today I want to share a new revelation that has come to me recently found in the very first two verses,

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!” Ps 91:1-2

The revelation comes from the names of God listed here. When you understand the meaning behind each name, I think then you too may want to head here to meet with God when trials come and linger a while.

His first name, The Most High, is the Hebrew word Elyon. It suggests a Supreme Being, one who is elevated above all things. The name speaks of God's majesty, sovereignty, and pre-eminence.

It was first used in Abraham's encounter with the priest/king Melchizedek, "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High." Melchizedek gives us a picture of Christ in several ways, and it is fitting that this story contains the first use of this name of God in Scripture.
’Elyōn is in other places is firmly identified with Yahweh, as in 2 Samuel 22.14:The Lord (yhwh) thundered from heaven, and the Most High (ʿelyōn) uttered his voice.  ’Elyōn is in other places is firmly identified with Yahweh, as in 2 Samuel 22.14:The Lord (yhwh) thundered from heaven, and the Most High (ʿelyōn) uttered his voice. (wikipedia) 

Therefore verse 1 speaks of the protection for the one who 'dwells in the shelter of the Most High,' and should cause us to wonder where do we dwell when trials come? Do we find ourselves dwelling in doubts? Anger? Discouragement? In thinking of what could have been? Or do we dwell in the shelter of the Most High God, and His promises to protect and keep us?

The second name, the Almighty, is translated Shaddai. 

Shaddai has many meanings, but it as you may imagine, it primarily suggests a mighty, powerful God who is strong beyond our imagination and is more than capable to supply our every need. The term "El Shaddai" may mean "God of the mountains" or ‘God of the wilderness.” The perfect one to run to run to during those wilderness times or the mountains sit before us! The root word "shadad" (שדד) means to plunder, overpower, or make desolate. This would give Shaddai the meaning of "destroyer". (Wikipedia)

He is the God who parted the sea and controls all of creation. His name tells us that there is no need that can't be met, that He is the God of the impossible.

The third name, the LORD, is a personal name for God, which was revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 6:2). This personal name for God was considered so sacred in Judaism, that the original pronunciation is uncertain, only that it contained the letters YHWH, (JHVH in Latin).  It has been translated as Yahweh, Jehovah, and more often as the LORD (in all caps).  

What is so neat about this name is that it depicts a God who longs for us to know Him on a deep, personal level!  Imagine for a moment a God, who is the all-powerful, knows the number of hairs on our heads, longs for us to know Him as intimately as a Friend.  Isn’t that amazing? I still struggle to comprehend that at times.

 Finally, the fourth name, my God, is Elohim. This name first appears at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." It means the One who is first, or the Creator, and the name is actually plural. Therefore, God is referenced in Genesis 1:1 as a creator who is one, yet plural (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

Now, combining these four names for God, used here in just the first two verses, we can see that the Psalmist who wrote this Psalm is proclaiming that the God in whom he places His faith in is Supreme, the same God who created all things; the Triune God, who is the God of the mountains and seas and all that's within them! Who always was and always will be, yet longs for us to know Him so intimately in order to speak to Him as our Friend. 
His ways are unsearchable, yet He’s right here waiting for us to run to Him for shelter and protection, for in His shadow we’ll find strength, comfort, peace and rest.

Blessings!

sue