The Hiding Place

 

The Hiding Place

 Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (NIV)

                Moses built and dedicated an altar to Jehovah Nissi, which means the Lord is my Banner. The Lord helped the Israelites to defeat their enemies, the Amalekites, after they had been freed from bondage. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, the Israelites were winning the battle, which was a sign that it was the Lord who was working on their behalf and not by their own power. Jehovah Nissi was their banner of protection just as He is ours today. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (NIV)

               The psalmist in Psalm 91 lets us know that those who live in the shelter of the Most High can rest in His shadow. We do not have to worry or be afraid of whatever comes our way from the enemy because Jehovah Nissi is our Banner and will lift up a standard against him. Psalm 91:1-3 ⁽¹⁾He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ⁽²⁾I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ⁽³⁾Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. (NIV) How do we dwell in the shelter of the Most High? We must constantly be in the presence of the Lord through prayer, fasting, and daily reading the Word of God.

 

a.)    Prayer is our best weapon against the enemy. If we are not in constant communication with God, it is easy for the enemy to come in because prayer is to the Christian as a battery is to a car. Without it, the vehicle will not run. Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on prayer for all the saints. (NIV)

 

b.)    Fasting in combination with prayer gives the Christian more power to combat the enemy. Prior to Jesus starting His ministry here on earth, He was led by the Spirit, where He would be tempted by the enemy. He fasted for forty days and nights. The devil thought that it would be a prime time to tempt Jesus due to Him being without food. However, what the devil didn’t know was that prayer and fasting was what prepared Jesus for his attacks. After several attempts to manipulate Jesus into sinning, Jesus finally rebuked him and the enemy had to leave. Matthew 4:10-11 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (NIV) Many times, Christians pray for things, but do not see results because some things only come through both prayer and fasting tag-teamed together. Jesus let the disciples know this when they tried to cast a demon out of a young boy, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Matthew 17:19-21 ⁽¹⁹⁾Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ⁽²⁰⁾He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ⁽²¹⁾But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. (NIV)

 

 

 

c.)    Studying the Word of God is important in order to be in the shelter of the Most High. We should read the Word of God daily, so that we will be able to stand against the enemy, and know that Jehovah Nissi is our Banner of protection. God’s word helps to keep us encouraged and is the manual to righteous and holy living. Without it, we will fall prey to every deception manifested through the enemy and will therefore fall into the judgments of the wicked. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

               The psalmist lets us know that Jehovah Nissi will protect His people from deadly disease. We see that Jehovah Nissi did this when He sent plagues upon the Egyptians. God did not allow the Israelites to suffer the judgments He sent upon Pharaoh because they were His chosen people. Jehovah Nissi was showing them that they could trust Him and it was also a sign to the Egyptians that He was Jehovah Nissi…the Children of Israel’s Banner. Exodus 8:22 But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. (NIV) Jehovah Nissi’s promises is our armor and protection. We can be sure that what He says…He will  do for His word never returns void. Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)

               The Bible lets us know that even when there are those around us falling down due to the judgments of God that He will not allow it to touch His people. We will be observers and not recipients. Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come new you. (NIV) Jehovah Nissi promises to be a Banner of protection for His people through the judgments of the wicked. Now does this mean that Christians will not be persecuted at the hands of the wicked? No! But is does mean that when Jehovah Nissi judges them, those who are in the shelter of the Most High will not receive the wrath of God. Revelation 16:1-2 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels,, “Go pour out the seven  owls of God’s wrath on the earth.” The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.

               Jehovah Nissi sends this ministering angels to help cover His children because the devil is constantly looking for ways to go up against the children of God. Those angels help to protect and uplift the Banner of God over His saints. Psalm 91:11-13 ⁽¹¹⁾For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ⁽¹²⁾they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ⁽¹³⁾You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. (NIV) Paul, while shipwrecked, had encountered a bite from a venomous snake, but did not die from the bite. Jehovah Nissi…Lord our Banner protected him from death. Acts 28:3-5 ⁽³⁾Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and,  as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁽⁴⁾When the islanders saw the snake hanging from is hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live. ⁽⁵⁾But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. (NIV)

               Jehovah Nissi is faithful to those who are true to Him. His name, Jehovah Nissi…Lord our Banner, lets us know that He is our constant Banner of protection. There is no one mightier, stronger, and more faithful than the Lord, Most High. He is our Shelter and with whom I faith must lie in. We are not to have faith in the things of this world, which can be destroyed at any moment, but our confidence should be in the Lord. Jehovah Nissi loves us and we can place all our cares upon Him and should reciprocate that love back to Him. Psalm 91:14-16 ⁽¹⁴⁾“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ⁽¹⁵⁾He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. ⁽¹⁶⁾With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (NIV)