My Father’s Care Is Around Me
Scripture: Psa.121:7-8
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Wherever we are, at home or abroad, we are constantly exposed to danger, more than we are aware of, that could potentially harm us. Nevertheless, we need not fear life or death, today or tomorrow, time or eternity because we are in the loving care of our Heavenly Father. Therefore, in penning Psalm 121, the psalmist encourages every born-again believer, to anchor their confidence by faith in God, and to put themselves under the Father’s protection and care. When we do so, then we can say with confidence, “My Father’s Care is Around Me” to protect and preserve me from all evil, in my going out and coming in, from this time forth and even forevermore (Psa.121:7-8).
Definition
To preserve means to keep something as it is, especially to prevent it from decaying or being damaged or destroyed. Therefore, God our Father promises to keep us from all evil, as we sojourn this world, from the wicked one, whose motive is to, “steal…kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10).
“All Evil”
The term “All evil” as used in this context means anything that could harm us, as we sojourn earth. You see, evil will always revolt against the born-again believer on their earthly pilgrimage. Notwithstanding, our Father’s divine care and protection, in preserving us from all evil, will not allow evil to harm us. This simply means, He miraculously causes to work, “…all things…together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom.8:28).
You may be hurt but not harmed
As we scrutinize the life of Joseph we learn how God preserved his servant and worked out His purposes concerning his destiny, amidst the slander and hatred of his brothers, thirteen years of separation from his father, the false accusations of his employer’s wife, and many years in prison, all because of his brothers’ sins. In spite of all the evil which rose against Joseph, in the end he was able to say, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Gen.50:20).
>To cause hurt to someone, means to inflict physical or emotional pain
>To harm someone is to inflict physical or mental damage
Notice the difference? One only causes pain while the other does damage
Scripture tells us how Joseph was made a prisoner in Egypt, where “His feet they hurt with fetters” (Gen.39:20-23; Psa.105:18. There in prison was the servant of the Most High God, among other criminals, unjustly charged with a crime - rape of his mistress. It was because of this charge that, “the iron entered into his soul,” that is, it was very painful to him. Furthermore, the false accusation which was the cause of his imprisonment did in a special manner grieve him, and went to his heart. Nevertheless, Joseph was left with no harm or permanent damage from the ordeal, which attempted to keep him from fulfilling God’s destiny for his life (Gen.50:2).
My friends, you may be suffering now in your house of bondage, as Joseph did but God is with you and He will allow you in the fullness of time, to walk out of that very painful situation - unharmed.
The Path
Scriptures: Psa.18:33; 91: 5-13; Luke 10:19; Eph.6:15
Even though the path on which the born-again believers walk as they sojourn earth is dangerous, God wants us to walk on it in faith and in victory. But how can we do this when the path is laden with “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).
>“Terror by night” - mean simply “the fear of the dark” and of what can happen in the darkness. Contaminated water and food, plus an absence of sound health measures, made it easy to contract diseases by day or by night
> “Arrow that flieth by day” – In olden days, arrows at first were made of reeds, and then of wood tipped with iron. Arrows are sometimes figuratively put for lightning (Deut. 32:23, 42; Ps. 7:13; 18:14; 144:6; Zech. 9:14). They were used in war as well as in the chase (Gen. 27:3; 49:23). They were also used in divination (Ezek. 21:21)
The word is frequently employed as a symbol of calamity or disease inflicted by God (Job 6:4; 34:6; Psa. 38:2; Deut. 32:23. Comp. Ezek. 5:16), or of some sudden danger (Psa. 91:5), or bitter words (Psa. 64:3), or false testimony (Prov. 25:18).
>”the pestilence that walketh in darkness” – Darkness is often used in Scripture as a symbol of sin and its effects (Job 24:16-17; Prov.2:12-15; 4:19; Isa.5:20; John 3:19-20). Pestilence denotes any type of dreadful disease that spreads quickly, such as that which slew the first-born of the Egyptians, and the army of the Assyrians. There is no locks nor bars, that can shut out diseases.
>”the destruction that wasteth at noonday” - when we are awake and have all our friends about us; even then we cannot secure ourselves, nor can they secure us from situations coming against us, to bring us harm. For example, it was in the day-time that the pestilence wasted, which was sent to chastise David for numbering the people (2 Sam.24).
The description of a battle in Psalm 91:7-8 may have a direct relationship to the covenant promises God made with Israel (Lev.26:8; Deut.32:30). It was with their own eyes, Israel saw the grief of the Egyptians over their firstborn who died on Passover night (Exod.12:29-30). Furthermore, they also saw the Egyptian army, who tried to follow them, in an effort to re-capture them into slavery, dead on the shore of the Red Sea (Exod.14:26-31). In spite of all this, no harm came to the people of Israel. God’s angel went before them to prepare the way and to lead the way (Exod.23:20).
Prayer
Scripture: Matt.6:13; John 17:15; 2 Tim.4:18
The Bible tells us that God does not tempt mortal men (James1:13). Nevertheless, along the path of life, however, He will subject us to trials that may expose us to Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (Luke 22;31-32). This petition, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” reflects the born-again believer’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. However, God knows what one’s need is before one asks and He promises that no one will be subjected to testing beyond what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape—often through endurance (1 Cor.10:13)
Jesus had taught His disciples to pray daily, “deliver us from evil: which should also encourage us, as well as them to pray:
Keep us from the evil one - that is, the Devil and all his instruments; that wicked one and all his children who do wickedness. Keep us from Satan as a tempter, that either he may not have leave to sift us as wheat, or that our faith may not fail. Keep us from him as a destroyer, that he may not drive us to despair
“Keep us from the evil thing, that is sin; from everything that looks like it, or leads to it. Keep us , that we do no evil,” (2 Cor.13:7). Sin is that evil which, above any other, we should dread and deprecate
“Keep us from the evil of the world, and of our tribulation in it, so that it may have no sting in it, no malignity. Not that we might be kept from affliction, but kept through it, that the property of our afflictions might be so altered as that there might be no evil in them. That is, so that there will be nothing in them to bring any harm to the child of God
Today, I encourage us all to be strong in the Lord, as the apostle Paul, who, even though Satan opposed him, knew that God would deliver him from all temptations and plots against him, in order for God’s work to go on (2 Cor.1:8-10; 2 Tim.4:18). God will preserve His children from all evil.
Promise
Scripture: Mal.3:6
In spite of the dangers along the path of life, the born-again believer is promised preservation by Him who says, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Mal.3:6). The immutability of God is His unchangeableness. In theology it signifies the attribute, or perfection, of God, whereby, He remains the same in His divine nature and purpose.
The heavens and the earth, the work of God’s hands, will perish, says the psalmist, but He will endure; they change, but He is the same and His years have no end. Therefore, born-again believers and their children can dwell secure (Psa.102:26; Heb.1:10-12). He alone is God forever, with none before Him and no god after Him or beside Him (Isa.43:10; Deut.32:39). He is the first and the last (Isa.41:4; 48:2), who alone is immortal (Rom.1:23; 1 Tim.1:17; 6:16).
Because the Lord does not change, the sons of Jacob are not consumed (Mal.3:6). Jesus Christ, Son of God, as well as, Son of Man, is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb.13:8).
“Going out and coming in”
The phrase “going out and coming in” refers to the daily activities of life (Deut.28:6; 1 Sam.29:6; 2 Sam.3:25). Indeed, God the Father, is concerned about our tasks and our schedules and even the so-called “minor details” that we too often take for granted. Orthodox Jews, for example, embrace this truth from God’s Word, literally and, therefore, affix small metal boxes containing Scripture portions to the right-hand doorpost of the house, and they touch the box reverently, each time they go in and out of the house (Deut.6:9; 11:20). These boxes are called Mezuzas; which means “doorpost.” In addition, some Jewish families also attach Mezuzas to the right-hand doorposts of individual rooms in the house.
Indeed, it is a great joy to know that, as we go in and out of the house, to and fro in the city, and even fly from city to city and country to country, God our Father is with us and cares for our every need. As a matter of fact, Scripture encourages you and I to cast, “…all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet.5:7). This is a care package filled with protection and preservation for life, that God our Father freely offers; and which never goes out of date. We can rest assured that our faithful God will protect His Church and His pilgrim saints, now and even forevermore.
Your Conductor,
Joy
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