He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (Psalm 91:1-3)
The secret place does not mean it is a clandestine location hidden from you. Some people think the secret place is a place they must strive to seek after and is difficult to find. However, that’s not the case. Secret place in Hebrew is seter and means a place of covering protection. It’s not a secret held from you; it’s a secret from your enemy. He doesn’t know where to find you or how to attack you when you are under the shadow of God’s presence.
Next, the Psalmist talked about his declaration. Psalm 91 says, “I will say of the Lord.” What comes out of your mouth when difficulties surround you? The Psalmist made it a point to declare that God is a refuge and fortress.
The word refuge is the Hebrew word machseh, which signifies a place of safety and shelter. When bombarded with negative thoughts, difficult moments, or even attacks from the enemy, the refuge was where danger was taken away. We must run to God when difficulties surround us and declare out loud that He is our refuge.
Fortress is a different Hebrew word: migdol. Slightly different, this word refers to a stronghold or a fortified place or structure. It’s a place ready to defend from any enemy that tries to come against the fortress's inhabitants; it also serves as the combat outpost from which offensive moves are made. Where the refuge is a place of safety and protection, the fortress is a place of power and might.
With this understanding, the psalmist said that God would deliver us from the snares of the fowler and the noisome pestilence. The snare of the fowler refers to the enemy's hidden traps that you didn’t see coming. Noisome pestilence is a disease or plague attacking and destroying many people. God says, “No matter what, I will deliver you.”
Practical Application
Say of the Lord that He is your refuge when you feel bombarded by life. Declare that He is your fortress when you feel like your finances, or your health is attacked. Don’t just take it – attack back by declaring the Word.