The Lord Is A Shield About The Righteous

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
¹² Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Royal Refuge

God desires us to seek refuge in Him.  We are to go to God for all of our wants and desires.  It is God who is able to provide us with refuge from all things.  We can seek refuge from God in three ways:

• Protection from enemies
  • God is able to provide us protection from our enemies.  God has shielded His people on many occasions (here are just a few examples):
    • David was protected from Saul’s murderous desire to destroy him.
    • Elisha was protected from King Ahaziah
    • Paul was protected from the Jews who sought to kill him
    • Peter was released from prison by an angel
• Protection from circumstances
  • God has provided protection from circumstances in His people as well.  Here are three of the more famous examples:
    • Noah was protected from the flood
    • Jonah was protected from drowning
    • Lot was protected from destruction
• Protection through character
  • We can seek protection through character.  Daniel was protected from the lion’s den because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent, following God rather than the rules of men.  His friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were spared from fire when they refused to bow down before King Nebuchadnezzar.  We can find protection as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit and live our lives in the character of Almighty God.

Singing Songs

David was one of the most prolific song writers that we know of in the Bible.  Many of the Psalms were written by him.  David provided us with an example of joyful singing before God in praise and worship.  The Lord enjoys it when we worship Him in song.

Even for those who have not been blessed by God with a voice to sing, we are given a command to make a joyful noise to the Lord.  The Hebrew word eriou is a command and is literally translated “[raise a] shout you!”  Let your heart give praise to God in a shout for all He has done!

Bathed in Blessing

God blesses the righteous, and with the blood of Christ we are declared righteous before Him.  Oh, the many blessings of God!  We are blessed in that we are blessed!  If you ever want to see a short list of some of the most important blessings of God, read Ephesians chapters 1-3.

Sovereign Shield

God is a shield about us and the lifter of our heads.  He desires to gather us like chicks under His wings.  He is our refuge.  God is our shield.  No one can snatch us out of His hand.  God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  Even when we are in the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us.  He shields us from the second death.

There is nothing that God cannot sovereignly shield his people.  Yet we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  God may use you as a witness to the unbelieving.  If this is the case, do not fear the tribulation that God has appointed you to bear.

A Qualifying Question

Let’s ask a question: Am I praising God as I seek refuge in Him?

A short prayer of preparation:

Father in Heaven, You are glorious and beautiful beyond description.  You shield us from so much more than we can possibly imagine.  Thank You for your vast and encompassing protection.  Help me, Father, to not forget all that You do in my life.  May my life be a blessing to You.  May Your praise be on my heart and my lips even as I suffer in this life, knowing that You will remove all pain and all tears in Your time.  Help me to endure and to faithful until You call me home.  This I ask and pray in the name of Your Perfect and Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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