God protects us in many ways that we don’t even know about. How many times have you almost been in a car accident, or very nearly avoided an awful situation? We probably don’t even know about many of the times God has protected us, but He does.
Today’s psalm, Psalm 91, talks about God’s protection in our lives. The psalm starts out with an invitation for God to protect anyone who wants His protection: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (verses 1-2). The words “shelter” and “shadow” point to imagery of a bird gathering her babies safely under her wings, whereas “refuge” and “fortress” have a more military stronghold idea to them. God provides us with both types of protection when we trust in Him.
What forms of protection does God provide us with? Verses 3-8 elaborate on them. He will save us from the “fowler’s snare” and from “deadly pestilence” (verse 3), meaning whatever adversity or tribulation evil men of this world can throw at us. We see more bird imagery in verse 4, with God covering us with His feathers and under His wings. God will protect His people both day and night (verses 5-6), and His protection is even greater than when the odds are 10,000 to 1. When we see God’s protection with our own eyes (verse 8), the Godly will be encouraged and the wicked be punished.
In verses 9-10, we again see an invitation to be protected by God. If we truly desire that God be our refuge and dwell in Him, then we will experience His protection. But that also implies that if we seek our protection elsewhere and not in God, then He will not protect us. Who would you rather have protecting you - the God of the universe who created all things and is more powerful than anything, or something else?
If we do accept God’s invitation for His protection, we see another way that He accomplishes that protection in verses 11-13: He will send His angels to protect us. God may allow terrible things to happen in our lives, but we know that nothing is outside of His control. Sometimes we may get lifted out of the danger, but other times we will have to walk through it, trusting in God and His power and protection over us.
To close the psalm, we hear promises from God in verses 14-16: “‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’”
These promises are just as true for us today as they were for the people that the psalmist was writing to. When we love God, He will rescue and protect us. He will answer us when we call on Him. He will be with us, deliver us, and save us.
Where have you seen God’s protection in your life? Where has God been protecting you that maybe you didn’t even recognize it? Are you truly desiring that God be your help and your protection through life, trusting in Him for everything? Think about these things as you go about your week, and I encourage you to read Psalm 91 a few times during your week too.
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