Grace Goodies (v)

Concluding our study on the grace of God and all that has been made available for us in Christ Jesus; today we will look at Divine Protection. We read from Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” – these are the Father’s words, His plans are for us not to suffer harm! But like everything else, He has also outlined principles in the Scriptures that will ensure that we walk in the reality of all God has for us. Such principles for experiencing the divine protection of God are found in Psalms 91. It is written, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1), wherein the term ‘dwell’ refers to perpetually abiding and remaining: this is not referring to people who visit, but people who have a permanent place of location in God’s presence. Abiding would practically refer to staying in the Word of God, maintaining an atmosphere of worship, and being steadfastly prayerful; disciplines that keep us conscious in the Lord’s presence. The psalmist communicates that this group of people would then abide under the shadow of the Almighty, which refers to protection and covering – if we choose to remain conscious in the presence of God then we will rest under His protection. He then continues, “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust” (v.2), He specifies that HE will say it and vocally express the realities of God over his life because there is an understanding that the blessings and promises of God are voice activated! Is it not written, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak…” (2 Corinthians 4:13), and also, “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?” (Deuteronomy 7:17) – showing us the responsibility as Christians to speak the Word of God instead of our feelings and situations; this is how we superimpose the realities of God over everything that we see. It is important to note church, that while God is all powerful, He is limited to the power we have allowed to work in us! Teaching the church in Ephesus, apostle Paul shared, “… now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:20) – he makes it clear that God is able to do all things, but He will continue to be limited by the extent of the power that works in us! 

The psalmist continues, “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence” (Psalms 91:3) – showing us that in this life, we will encounter snares and various challenges, all of which have a spiritual source and significance, but we have a tendency to naturalise everything and fail to see beyond the physical. There is always a spirit behind every activity on earth; men and circumstances are being used by the enemy in the same manner our Lord uses people to bring us His blessings. The psalmist continues to note that the Lord will cover us with His feathers, and that under His wings we find refuge, being protected by the truth of His love, which is unwavering (v.4). Therefore we should not be afraid, as Scripture admonishes us (v.5), although we know that there is a pestilence that hunts after us at noonday and terror by the night (v.5-v.6). All these schemes of the enemy aim to distract us from the blessing of the day, the voice of God – because once our soul is disquieted in worry, we are likely to miss God and the subtle communications of His presence. “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (v.10-v.11) – this is our benefit, when we stay in the right radius, the Lord’s presence dispels all plagues and we need not lift a finger, because our God will also set His angels charge over our affairs and they will ensure that we are kept, and that we do not collide against stones (v.12). So we have to be conscious of angelic ministry, we have to be aware of who and what we have on our side in all our ways. To be conscious of a reality does not mean you have to see it first, knowledge is better – remember, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). 

It is important to remember that the angels of God work in line with the will and purposes of God, not in line with anything else. So we cannot assume they will be there to aid our rebellion, and this is what Jesus knew when Satan attempted to take Him out of the will of God by luring Him into a false security over the intervention of angels (Luke 4:10-13). The AMPC makes this clear, “For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service] (Psalms 91:11). So we should not assume that angels will be there to help further ploys of wickedness, but they are ministering spirits that further the agenda of God! The passage then further changes to God speaking in the first person, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation” (Psalms 91:14-16) – this is what God has in store for us! He has said it Himself, He satisfies us, He answers us when we call, He is with us on the day of trouble, He honours us, and with long life and salvation He satisfies us! This is the divine protection we have in the Lord!

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your Word, that teaches us of the divine protection we have in You. We are assured of Your love, of Your protection, of Your deliverance, of Your shield! In your presence, we have everything we need, and we are not consumed. We bless Your Holy name. In the name of Jesus! Amen!