God's Promise of Protection

 

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Psalm 91:9–16 ESV)

 

Not long ago I happened to be standing on my deck and heard the familiar sound of a jet approaching overhead. It is not uncommon to see them in the skies over Parker County. In fact, F-35 fighter jets have been seen over the Fort Worth/Weatherford area recently, likely due to the presence of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's first F-35A unit at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB) Fort Worth, which is near Weatherford. What is a bit uncommon is to see them in formation. I was very fortunate to have my phone and snapped a photo (which looks much closer than it was) of these two streaking across the sky to the north over our place. It was loud, though I’m sure it could have been much louder if they had been traveling faster or closer to the ground. I was struck with a sense of security knowing they were near. That feeling brought me to today’s reading and the following devotional.

 

The psalmist says that “because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent” (v. 9). He even goes further to say that the Lord has commanded His angels to guard over me. This promise applies to all believers.

 

The tension we face in life is that even though we may “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “rest in the shadow of the Almighty,” we have to deal with troubles and daily struggles—and even deadly diseases and terrorizing attacks at times. The psalmist understood that this world is filled with uncertainties—and yet there is a place of safety. We can go up against giants and must flee for our lives from dangerous enemies, and still we can be in a safe place with the Almighty.

 

The question each of us must address is “What is our dwelling place? What is our shelter or safety net?” If it is our money, family, home, or work, that will crumble. The enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy. But the one place of safety in the universe from which no one can snatch us is “in the shelter of the Most High.” Our risen and ascended King has promised, “My sheep listen to my voice … and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and … no one will ever snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

 

So, when you face your circumstances, recognize that the shelter of Jesus’ work of redemption is greater than any threat. Fighter jets are great, but God’s protection is much great than that! Rest in Him!