God is Protector

November 21, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 91
Lesson Passage: Psalm 91:1 – 6; 9 – 16

I recall times in my life as a teenager when life appeared to be getting fairly complex. There was so much to learn about friends and relationships that up to that point were not very important to me at all. Some days, life could seem pretty overwhelming and that feeling could sometimes extend for days on end. It seemed as though trouble was to be found everywhere. It was at those times that I began to seek out a quiet place where I could temporarily unplug from the world and try to wrap my mind around all of the situations and circumstances that were apparently starting to complicate my life. When you grow up in a relatively large family (I had nine siblings) it could be difficult finding a quiet place unless one would physically leave home for a while. Lucky for me we lived in the country so I would just grab a rifle or shotgun and start walking for the woods that were about a half mile away. That walk was normally long enough to provide me with the time I needed so that I didn’t have to spend much time in the woods. My quiet place was not a space but a journey. When I grew up and left home for college and then after that to a career, I missed those walks that afforded me the privilege of escape from the rat race and troubles of life. Later, I discovered another place of solitude and reflection that was even better than a walk to the woods. This place is the one that the psalmist refers to in Psalm 91. Many times I wish I had found this place first but nevertheless, I am happy that I found it.

There is no question of whether trouble will come but rather a question of when trouble will come. Whether we like it or not, some problems are just much bigger than us no matter how young or old we are. When our problems are too big for us to handle, we need help. When our problems won’t go away, sometimes we need a place to go to escape our problems. To whom do you run or where do you hide when hell hounds are on your trail? We all have tribulations in life. Jesus reminded his followers that in the world we shall have tribulation. The psalmist in our lesson today offers the answer to these questions. If we hide in God’s shadow, then God will protect us. In speaking of the shadow of God as a hiding place, the psalmist used a Hebrew metaphor to describe the protection afforded by God to those that seek his presence. One must be close enough to God to abide in his shadow. When one is close enough to be in God’s shadow, metaphorically, there is no fear of what the enemy may desire to do. There within his shadow, God becomes both a safe haven and a military post for spiritual warfare. One’s position in God brings all of this to pass. Evil traps that are set will become ineffective and death will no longer threaten the well being of God’s elect. All threats are neutralized. The terror of the evil one, spiritual warfare, death, or anything else that may be debilitating are all left in God’s hand. Although the world around you may fall apart and be reduced to rubble, those who trust in God will not be overcome by any of it. God will send guardian angels to reassure his elect that they are being kept by his mighty power. God’s elect have all of the promises of God to stand on when times are difficult. And no matter what troubles may come, we are assured that God is our protector.

Robert C. Hudson
November 11, 2010