The Psalm for this Sunday is Psalm 91. Luther has some interesting observations about what for some is a favorite. He writes,
“Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. “The Hebrew reads: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Lord.” I ask you, for God’s sake, why does he add “in the aid” or “in the secret place” of the Most High”? Why “in the protection” or “in the shadow”? Would it not have been enough to say “he who dwells in the Lord” and “who will abide in the God of heaven or in the Most High Himself”?
That is interesting that all the nuances of the Hebrew are laid out for us because Luther understands something about human nature. There are all kinds of shadows and protections that come from God and He directs us to them in His Word. The Gospel and the Sacraments come to mind. Hearing His Word preached and receiving baptism and the Lord’s Supper. for whatever reason are not enough. Folks always want something more. Luther calls them “oddballs”. They are looking for some kind of internal feeling or notion. Maybe they are looking for some kind of divine imprimatur that what they think and feel is proper and right. The secret place of God is secret because most people can’t get it in their heads that God’s secret is how He deals with us in Christ.
“For these oddballs want to be friends of God and be led by His special control. And so, since they made a shadow for themselves and chose the protection and aid for themselves by means of which they wished to be saved by God, they despise all other shadows and protections of God.”
