Verses 1-13
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There are layers to this passage that are important to unpack.
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1. There is a common protection that God grants to all of us. As a believer, you can be confident that, at the very least, God protects you from works of the enemy that are too great for you to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).
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Remind yourself often, as the psalmist does here, that God is your refuge and fortress. You are always protected, far more than you realize!
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2. There is a special, greater level of protection that God can choose to grant to a person. At this level, no evil, no plague, no destructive force can touch them.
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This level of protection is found in the “secret place of the Most High”. What is this “secret place”? Jesus taught that when we do good works, pray, and fast only to be pleasing to God, not to be seen by men, we are operating in the “secret place” (Matthew 6:1-18).
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Overall, when a person is doing a lot of work for the kingdom—diligently serving, praying, fasting, etc.—God will, at times, give them a break from things cultivated by the enemy in order to keep them from being disrupted.
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Dwell in the secret place. Stay praying always, stay serving others always. Work diligently in things that are beneficial for God's kingdom, and you will see more protection in your life!
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Verse 13. This verse, in particular, is very similar to something Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke. Luke 10:19 says, “I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
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The point is that, through the Son's name, we have authority to overcome the enemy on a greater level. God grants this authority when He pleases. And the closer you are to Christ—the more obedient you are to God—the more powerful against the enemy you will become.
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Verses 14-16
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If you want to live under the greatest protection that God offers, love God by being obedient to the Word (John 15:7). As your faith grows, more of your prayers will be answered, and your life will be longer and more joyful. Ultimately, you will see the salvation that we have in Christ.