1: "Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty." – The psalmist is saying that the Lord will offer help whenever we face danger.
2: "I will say to the Lord, "You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God and I trust you." – Trust God and turn to Him whenever our lives are in danger.
4: "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection." - His truth is all we need.
14: "The Lord says, "Whoever loves me, I will save. I will protect those who know me." – In the Prayer of Jabez we pray to be kept safe from harm. This prayer was granted to Jabez and it is a promise we also can rely on for ourselves.
15: "They will call to me, and I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them." – When we turn to God for help and comfort, He will be there.
Points to Contemplate:
Do you turn to God for help?
The psalmist seems to indicate that God provides a shield of safety to those who call out His name. Have you experienced this in your life? Have there been anxious moments where you have called out to God and He has responded? Are you surprised when God responds? Should you call out His name more often? Do these moments become part of your testimony to others?
Does God protect you from harm? What kind of harm are we referring to? Does God promise to keep you safe from physical harm? Since you might be able to point to instances where you feel that God protected you in this way, do you see the fallacies with growing to always expect this type of protection? Is it possible that God is more interested in Spiritual harm? As you walk your tight-rope between sin and holiness, can you see God actively involved in protecting you from the harm you do to yourself through sin? Does He help you manage your temptations? As you follow His light do you see His paths of righteousness opening up before you and the paths to sin being closed off?
Do you love God? Are you saved? What does this phrase mean to you? Is salvation only an issue of eternity or can it also be a daily experience? What does verse 14 mean to you when God says: "Whoever loves me, I will save?" Have you felt His saving grace? Have you experienced His constant presence in your life? Through His presence do you allow Him to guide and inspire you?
Does God honor you? In what ways does God honor those who love Him? Is this an earthly honor? Are you to be enriched and rewarded with recognition and fame because of your faith in God? Are His blessings that flow into your life examples of this honor? Or is His honor something that awaits you in eternity? Are your treasures in heaven increasing the more you turn to God and call out His name?1 Promise of the Gospel:
As we travel throughout our lives, it is comforting to know that there are no circumstances in which we might find ourselves that are beyond God’s control. Just as with Jabez whose prayer of safety from harm was granted, so it is with each of us who calls out God’s name in love, trust, and faith. He will protect those who know Him. He will rescue those who seek His help. He will save those who love Him. Perhaps these promises refer to issues of spirituality and eternity, but why not lean into His loving guidance in all things we face? If we trust God, rely on His truth, and if we have faith in His love, then we will not be surprised when we see evidence of His saving grace in all situations of our lives.
1"A Life God Rewards – Why Everything You Do Today Matters Forever" by Bruce Wilkinson with David Kopp, Multnomah Publishers, 2002.
Gary, this was the favorite Psalm of one of my grandmothers. It was her continued prayful encouragement and accepting me "just as I am" that ultimately led to my being saved at age 30.
I listen to Moody-Keswick Radio Station WKES out of Lakeland/St. Petersburg -- 91.1 FM.
We have a saying: There was 9/11; there is 91.1; and best of all there is 91:1. Bobbi
