8. Protection…
Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
Psalm 40:11
When David offers himself to Saul to kill Goliath, Saul’s first thought is to prepare David for the battle. He gives him his armour – no doubt the best in the land – and his sword. But David didn’t need Saul’s’ oversized and cumbersome armour, he knew that he had God’s protection and just took some stones and his catapult as he went forward to meet the giant.
And here, in Psalm 40, we understand why he was able to do this. David knew that wherever he went, whatever the situation, he had God’s protection because he had God’s love.
There have been many times in my life when I have looked to myself for my protection. I have put on the extra locks; I have closed my heart against being hurt again; I have avoided conflict. I have tried to dress myself in an oversized and cumbersome suit of armour that covered me from head to toe but did not prepare me to fight the battles of life.
But, in those times when I have sought God’s protection knowing how much he loves me, I have felt a curious freedom to face the battle as David did. Poorly armed in a worldly fashion, yet confident that God has my back, my front, and my sides.
In both my battles against cancer, I was vulnerable but not fearful as I trusted in God’s love and faithfulness to lead me through, protect me, and bring recovery. I entered surgery armed with Psalm 121 alone:
I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let me stumble; the one who watches over me will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over me! The Lord stands beside me as my protective shade.
The sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps me from all harm and watches over my life
The Lord keeps watch over me as I come and go, both now and forever.
On my missions to India, I often found myself in spiritually dark places fighting against the enemy, praying for healing for many who were in the grip of demonic powers. Yet there was peace in my heart. Confidence in the power of the love of God to protect me:
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
We are reminded time and again in his Word of how God’s love for us is all the armour we need to provide the protection we need to go into our battles whatever they be – sickness, financial struggles, relationship breakdowns, losing our job, exams, and the list goes on… We are never alone (Joshua 1:9).
Prayer: Lord, your love is what I most need in times of pressure and battle. By your love and faithfulness, go before me today into whatever I will face. Surround me and protect me in the battles of life.
Amen
Action: Today, check out some of the “protect” psalms (I find the search function great on my phone Bible app) and then step out boldly, courageously, into your battle whatever it be, in the knowledge of God’s protective love.
Journal your thoughts…
