"Standing in the shadow of God"

[moonlight87]

What does it mean that when God gets very close to us, we stand in His shadow?

 

[DaveBj]

I’ve never heard that before. If “God is light, and in him there is no darkness” (1 John 1:5), how could he cast a shadow. What I picture is that we get close to God, and then we’re standing in His light.

 

[moonlight87]

I heard this from a woman who is a lay Carmelite and I wonder if she said this in the context of Dark night of the soul but I´m not an expert when it comes to Carmelite spirituality. I believe I heard this “standing in the shadow of God” theory before however I can´t find anything about it on the internet.

 

[LexDivina]

Psalm 91:1
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High. The blessings here promised are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child of God looks towards the inner sanctuary and the mercyseat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence. Those who through rich grace obtain unusual and continuous communion with God, so as to abide in Christ and Christ in them, become possessors of rare and special benefits, which are missed by those who follow afar off, and grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; The Omnipotent Lord will shield all those who dwell with him, they shall remain under his care as guests under the protection of their host. In the most holy place the wings of the cherubim were the most conspicuous objects, and they probably suggested to the psalmist the expression here employed. Those who commune with God are safe with Him, no evil can reach them, for the outstretched wings of his power and love cover them from all harm. This protection is constant – they abide under it, and it is all sufficient, for it is the shadow of the Almighty, whose omnipotence will surely screen them from all attack. No shelter can be imagined at all comparable to the protection of God’s own shadow. The Almighty himself is where his shadow is, and hence those who dwell in his secret place are shielded by himself. What a shade in the day of noxious heat! What a refuge in the hour of deadly storm! Communion with God is safety. The more closely we cling to our Almighty Father the more confident may we be.