A SHELTER and a SHADOW

Psalm 91:1 “One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge/abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

DWELL: "yaw-shab'" To sit down, remain, stay, inhabit.

SHELTER: “say'-ther” Secret place, hiding place, covering, a protection.

LODGE: “loon” To stop over, pass the night.

SHADOW: “tsel” As on a dial, also speaks of protection yet is always transient; moving.

We can follow this theme throughout the Scriptures. When we consider our natural parents in the Garden – all that they needed was provided. Intimacy with Creator was perfectly established. Had they remained there, in that condition, Paradise would have continued. Yet, as we know, they broke Father’s Instruction, went their own way and were banished from the SHELTER that Yahweh had placed them within. As we know, they chose to go their own way and suffered the consequence of doing so – separation from Yahweh. They willingly left His protection and provision via disobedience.

At Passover, all who entered the house and did as they were commanded were spared. They were protected and preserved. Judgment came for those who did not heed the Word of Elohim. Those who obeyed then prepared themselves (literally) to venture out and sojourn into the unknown – the Caster of the SHADOW was about to lead Them out. The Most High was about to show Himself mighty and go before Them, just as He had promised.

When the children of Israel ventured out and literally followed Yahweh - in the form of fire and cloud - protection, security and provision was always present. Endless patterns were instated in this span of time. When Yahweh’s People went their own way (exiting the sheltering qualities of Father), they were vulnerable, at risk, in danger.

We, of course, know that They were busy fashioning a golden calf at the exact same time that Yahweh was extending His Instruction to Them. Their unwillingness to reside in His SHELTER moved them outside of His covenantal protection. Father’s People are always wrestling with committing to follow His Ways and then abandoning Them entirely, due to doubt, fear or self-preservation (ourselves included).

Enter Yeshua. The human form – the physical manifestation - of the Caster of the shadow amongst humanity. He had nowhere to lay His head. He called men to leave all behind and follow Him. He was and is the Great Shepherd and His sheep, who know His voice go wherever He leads. He told men to leave their livelihoods and families in order to go where He would lead. With Him, in Him, is a SHELTER – a secret hidden place of provision.

This is yet another reason why we must know of Yeshua’s correct identity and function. As Rabbi, it was understood that His students would always be found following His every step – watching, learning – literally found in His SHADOW. This has crossed all time and been extended to us today. We now have the same covenantal promises of Father AND the Example of Messiah Yeshua (our Rabbi) who perfectly lived Them out. We can literally look back through time - watch and follow the SHADOW that His life cast. Yeshua taught His Father’s Torah, by example, and was the perfect , flawless satisfaction of It! We have the wonderful offering of the New Covenant and are now empowered by Holy Spirit to have the want-to - to follow Yahweh wherever He leads. He is still “the“ SHELTER. Because Yeshua perfectly stayed within the secret DWELLING of the Most High, at all times, we can as well, via His pattern. The beauty of the New Covenant!

This is where we must insert the proper understanding of “lodge” or “pass the night”, in regards to the SHADOW. (First mention: Angels with Lot – Genesis 19.) When we look back, we see that the SHADOW was always moving. It never remained in the same place. The proper biblical definition of Yahweh’s People, while in a foreign land, is a People of movement. If we are going to be at all like the Hebrews 11 saints, we must live like this land is not our home. We must spend the rest of our days pulling up the tent stakes of the religious doctrines of men that have taught us to go our own prescribed way. This has unknowingly moved us out of His safety and provision, We must learn from those who went before us, lay aside our own wanderings and follow the Rabbi.

When we willingly forsake man-made traditions, idolatry and ways of the nations (Gentile-living), we make Yahweh our SHELTER, our Dwelling. How? By doing what the children of Israel did (when they obeyed) and what Yeshua always did – we follow the SHADOW, wherever He leads. We willingly lay aside all that is not sourced in Him – our entire Provision. This is where we must insert the proper understanding of “lodge” or “pass the night”. (Biblical first mention: Angels with Lot – Genesis 19)

In conclusion, I’d like to offer how I believe that we can extend this type of living to others. I would submit that we invite them to “look in” – into this secret abode. Example: “Would you be willing to ‘look in’ and see this safe place?” Father has prepared a place for His People, but it is a covenantal dwelling. It was and is a lodging for those Who choose to submit to His covenantal Ways. It was the way in then and it is the exact same now.

One followed the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night and one today now looks to Yeshua, the exact representation of the same. He is the Door into the same hidden, covered dwelling. What a wonderful residence that He has extended to us! A SHELTER literally fashioned by Yahweh for His covenantal People! His Possession! His Set Apart Ones! This place is hard to find and few, even upon finding it, will enter in. Like all who have gone before us, it will cost us everything, but it is the only safe SHELTER, for it is of the Most High. All who choose to covenantally dwell here will “lodge” in the ever-moving shadow of the Almighty. Selah.