“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” (Psalm 91:1,2).

Let us look at the four separate names of God used here:

Most High—the first time this name (Hebrew, elyon) is used is in Genesis 14:18, where it is combined with the Hebrew word El, emphasizing God’s strength and sovereignty. In this passage, Melchizedek is identified as “the priest of the most high God. And He blessed him, and said, blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand” (Genesis 14:18–20). Deep dwelling in the “secret place” or inner sanctum of the most high will surely bring security.

Almighty—this is the majestic Hebrew word Shaddai, meaning “all powerful.” God introduces this name of Himself (again coupled with El) to elderly Abraham, while announcing his soon-coming son. “I am the almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly” (Genesis 17:1,2). This almighty God can even do the impossible. What a comfort to walk in His shadow.

LORD—we know this name as Jehovah. The active self-existent one, the holy, self-revealing redeemer. Nothing could be so foolish as to attempt to find refuge apart from Him and in opposition to Him. It is first used in Genesis 2:4 as the Creator declares His work of creation complete.

God—Elohim, a proper name for the supreme God. Beginning with its first use in Genesis 1:1, we see that God is the uni-plural Godhead, Creator, sovereign of the universe. With the psalmist in our text, let us affirm: “In Him will I trust.” JDM