- Hide
Psalm 31:20
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man:
Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
God promises to hide those who fear Him and to keep them secretly away from those who could do them harm. The presence of God is a secret place where believers may hide from the enemies; it is secret because the enemy cannot go into God’s presence and see anything there.
The pride of man, whether our own pride or the pride of others, is a dangerous thing that leads people into sin and away from God. Pride is an enemy of the soul; pride puffs up the soul and then God opposes the proud and brings them down; pride causes sinners to believe they can get away with sin; then the sin destroys them. Attacks upon us may come from prideful people for so many different reasons. Whenever we sense an attack on the soul on account of pride that is the time to allow the Lord to hide us in the secret of his presence. When one enters the presence of God by faith in Christ (repent and believe) pride, sin and the devil cannot find us or reach us. God hides. We do not fear what man can do to us.
The strife of tongues is a dangerous situation to be found in. Whether we start the argument, or continue it by defending, or just get caught in the crossfire we need to escape this kind of battle for it leaves wounds and scars. When strife begins to build up we may let the Lord keep us secretly in a pavilion, safe from the strife. The pavilion is the safe place behind the battlefield where the general resides. It is heavily guarded and a safe place to be. God will secret us there and hateful words and vicious lies will not find us. God keeps us secretly. Of whom shall we be afraid?
The hiding place that God promises is a place that the Enemy cannot come. Sin and Evil may know where we are, but can do nothing about getting to us. Just knowing you are hidden by God in His presence gives you peace and security.