“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
“In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.” (Psa 27:4-6)
Journal,
David speaks of God’s secret place, of God’s hiding place, and the place of God’s shelter. Often when he uses these terms, David is referring to the holiest of holies in which only the high priest was allowed to enter but once a year. But behind the symbol lies the reality.
So, why would David say that the secret place is where God hides His people? And David isn’t the only one who speaks of this secret dwelling place.
Listen to Moses:
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psa 90:1-2)
All the prophets shared insights into the wonders of redemption. Their full understanding had limitations. Some things were kept in store for the times of Messiah.
Note the apostle Peter:
“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know
what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
“It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven
“–things into which angels long to look.” (1Pe 1:10-12)
God’s blue print of redemption
Between the angels and over the mercy seat was a Light. In the Light was a form. The form was Jesus Himself. God spoke to Miriam and Aaron, concerning the form:
“With [Moses] I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” (Num12:8
Now Paul:
“… who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a bond-servant … ” (Phil2:6,7)
The blue print of our redemption is in the Old Testament tabernacle plan. The holiest of holies was the most sacred part of the tabernacle. It represented heaven and the throne of God. No one was allowed to entered there except the high priest, and that only once a year. He carried over his breast the tribes of Israel.
In the holiest of holies was the Ark of the Covenant. On each side of the lid were two angels. Their gaze was fixed on the mercy-seat.
This is what Peter is calling attention to. The angels speak of the wonder of heaven about the incarnation of the Son of God, and in His work of redemption. The Light over the mercy-seat was the same Light that blinded Paul on the road to Damascus.
But the angels saw something else. In looking at the mercy of redemption they saw the children of God, seated with Christ in the heavenly places. This is their wonderment.
Our secret hiddenness
David often breaks forth into praise when he speaks God’s love for His people.
“How great is Your goodness, which You have stored for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the conspiracies of man; You keep them in the shelter from the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:19,20 nasb.)
The lives of all believers are hidden with God in Christ.
David could speak of the holiest of holies as the hiding place for God’s people because he saw passed the veil, and into God’s redemption plan that stretched from eternity past to eternity future.
David saw the Lord Jesus. In fact, David called Jesus, his Lord. (Ask me if you don’t know where this is.)
The secret place of God would take in all His people from ancient time on. The tabernacle was a picture-perfect symbol of God’s eternal purpose for all His people.
The ever-present One
Even the Old Testament saints knew in their hearts that the Lord was their ever-present security in life. The Psalmist Asaph speaks of God’s people as His ‘treasured ones.’ He writes,
“They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones [tsaw-fan’].” (Ps83:3)
These treasured ones are God’s people of the ages. The Hebrew for ‘treasured ones’ speaks of that which is covered by God, or, that which is hidden, or, that which is kept secret. It especially speaks of the secret of one’s heart. God’s treasured ones are the secret love of His heart.
All who are ever going to be saved have their names already recorded in God’s book of redemption. Their point of salvation in this life is determined in Christ. Jesus said that everyone the Father gives to Him, will come to Him. He also said that all who come to Him, He will raise up on the last day.
Such a mystery this.
The psalmist puts things together when he writes,
“For in the day of trouble He will conceal [tsaw-fan’] me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock [the Rock is Christ]. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” (Psalm 27:5,6)
Sealed and concealed for eternity
The Hebrew for ‘conceal‘ [tsaw-fan’]is the same Hebrew word used for God’s ‘treasured ones’. God’s people are His treasures in the earth and for all eternity. This allows us to have a better understanding of a kingdom parable about a treasure. Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field [world], which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matt13:44)
The story is the story of the cross. Jesus Christ gave His life for the hidden treasure. Jesus came to seek that which was lost. Now the treasure is hidden again, but this time it is hidden in Christ.
Paul said,
“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Col3:3,4)
Being hidden in Christ means that every believer is eternally secured from the power of darkness. We can never be separated from God’s love. Our life is placed in the Light of God’s very being. Peter said that our calling was into “His marvelous light.”
Secured eternally
Our place in Christ was secured at the cross. We have already been raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places. We are to live out our present life with the knowledge of our eternal
placement. God gives us heavenly life as a foretaste of eternity. Heavenly life is God’s oversight of our lives. Heavenly life is also the working of heaven in our hearts.
God never takes His eyes off any who belong to Him. Listen to this conversation between David and the Lord:
[David] “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” [Lord] “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” (Ps27:7,8)
Jesus said,
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. … This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37,39,40)
What say ye Christians? Is your heart in tune with heaven. Are you looking and longing for you final redemption?
Take time to listen once again to this song.
In Christ always,
Buddy
Think about it.
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