God is Your Keeper

Scripture:  Psa.121:3-5 

Hello "Fan" - tastic Passengers, 
  
Every born-again believer in Jesus Christ is only on earth for a short time because they are pilgrims who are journeying towards heaven (1 Pet.2:11-12; Heb.11:13).  Nevertheless, God is always near His people, on their earthly pilgrimage, as their Keeper/Guardian, who constantly protect and refreshes them.  In fact, He is at your right hand to rescue you from hidden traps, shield you from deadly hazards and with His outstretched arms comfortably safeguard you from every danger.   Furthermore, He has ordered His mighty host of angels, to guard and protect you, should you “dash your foot against a stone “ (Psa.91:12).  Consequently, even though the land through which you sojourn is notorious for its mountainous, rocky and slippery terrain which poses diverse uncertainties along the way, God your Father, is there to keep you from falling; and will not allow your foot to be moved (Psa.121:3-5; Jude 1:24-25). 
  
History tells us that in the ancient near east travel was dangerous unless you were protected by armed guards.  The situation is not much different in the world in which we live today, especially for the born-again believer who, in their travels will encounter; but not be afraid of:  "the terror by night," the arrow that flieth by day," "the pestilence that walketh in darkness," "the destruction that wasteth at noonday" (Psa.91:5-6).  In addition, in Scripture we are presented with images such as the lion and the serpent, which are images of Satan (Gen.3; Luke 10:19; Rom.16:20; 2 Cor.11:3; 1 Pet.5:8; Rev.12:9; 20:2).  Consequently, in the ancient near east, as well as in today's world both were and are still  dangerous enemies, especially for travelers walking along the narrow paths of life.  

A Keeper is a person who manages or looks after something or someone.  Therefore, God the Father is the Keeper or Guardian of the born-again believer’s soul.  Consequently, He has committed and will guard and protect it against all evil. 

(A)  Your Keeper  will not allow your foot to be moved 

Definition – The human feet are members of the body that are associated with moving and with foundation, direction and a chosen path.  Biblically speaking, the feet may symbolize the response to God’s direction.   
  
For example, while treading on the path of life, Scripture explains that, born-again believers will be confronted with deadly “serpents and scorpions, and…all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19).  Notwithstanding, it is God’s divine direction that every born-again believer walk in faith and victory over the enemy on this narrow, rocky, mountainous and uneven path of life, that is infested with poisonous and lethal devices of an enemy who hates you with cruel hatred (Psa.25:19).  In order to accomplish this victorious walk in the Lord, the born-again believer must exercise their God-given authority and by faith in God’s Word,  “tread” or “trample” upon all those “serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” which they will encounter along the journey because Scripture assures you that, “nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Psa.91:13; Acts 28:3-5; Eph.6:15). 
  
Born-again believers are on a pilgrimage, as they sojourn earth, on their way to heaven.  On this journey the terrain is mountainous, rocky and uneven.  The possibility, therefore, exists for their feet to stumble or to be moved, resulting in them falling. 
  
Definition - Moved or Falling is literally a word meaning “stumbling.”  
  
Scripture in 1 Samuel 2:9 tells us that the Lord promises to guard or protect the feet of His faithful servants, as it says, “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail” (1 Sam.2:9). 
  
Travel in ancient Israel was for the most part done by foot over trails that were often mountainous, rocky and dangerous (Psa.91:11-12; 121:3).  Consequently, many a path sometimes posed themselves to be impassable.  Nevertheless, despite these hazardous paths and the enemy’s numerous snares, the Lord protected and kept the feet of His faithful servants. 

The Lord will not only be the Protector of the righteous to keep them safe, but “He will also be your confidence” to keep you secure, so that your foot will not be “taken” by your enemies nor ensnared, not even by your own fears (Prov.3:21-26).  Our God has committed Himself to us, in a covenant relationship, to keep the feet of his saints, as Scripture says, “For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken” (Prov.3:26) 

(B) He is a wakeful and watchful God 
  
While it is true that God "neither slumbers nor sleeps" in the sense of losing consciousness or contact with the reality about Him, He may choose to remain unresponsive or inactive in situations where we might expect Him to act decisively. When He finally bestirs Himself to display His power and enforce His will, it is as if He had aroused Himself into action, like a man awakening out of slumber and confronting a situation demanding his immediate response.  Scripture tells us that our God is a wakeful watchful keeper, as it says, “He that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psa.121:4).  He never did, nor ever will. God was not too weak to act on the behalf of the Israelites, when they were oppressed by other nations.  In addition, neither was fatigue an obstacle for the Creator in the defense of His people (Isa.40:28-31).  Furthermore, Scripture lets us know this truth, “…that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding" (Isa.40:28) 

© He is the Shade upon your right hand 
  
Shade in this context refers to “the shadow”  "umbra" - picture of divine protection in the hot lands of the Middle East (Psa.91; 121:5) 
  
It is interesting to know that God not only protect those whom He is the Keeper of, but He also refreshes them. Scripture says, “He is their shade” (Psa.121: 5b). 

By being our shadow, the Lord will keep His children close to Him, as the shadow does to the body.  Furthermore, He will also shelter us from the scorching heat,"...as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa.32:2).  It is Under this shadow that the children of God may, on their long journey, "...sit with delight" (Song 2:3). 
  
God is always near to His people for their protection and refreshment, and never at a distance.  In fact, He goes with you everywhere you go, just like your shadow does.  He is the Keeper and Shade on the right hand; of His people, therefore, Scripture says, ”I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psa.16:8).  
  
Finally, similar to Romans 16:25-27  Jude’s conclusion to the matter of God being our Guardian/Keeper is a doxology expressing confidence in God’s power to preserve His people, during their earthly pilgrimage, until they arrive home safely in heaven.  Therefore, let us believe and speak by faith what Jude says, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 1:24-25). 

Your Conductor, 
Joy 

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