Sunday, July 14, 2024
PROVIDENCE AND
PROTECTION
Isa 54:17
17 No weapon
that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that
shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of
the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Ps 91:4-7
4 He shall cover
thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth
shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence
that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall
at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh
thee.
Providence
is the intervention of God in the affairs of men. Or at least that is the belief
of believers. Unbelievers may call it “luck” or karma, but it usually provides
more questions than answers.
Last night
I saw a horrific scene as the Republican presidential candidate was nicked by a
bullet fired by a sniper. Innocent bystanders were killed and wounded. On March
30th, 1981, I was at a pastors’ conference when President Reagan was
shot and survived while a secret service agent was knocked off his feet by the
impact of a bullet to his mid-section. Again, on September 13th, 1998,
controversial candidate George Wallace was shot and paralyzed from the waist
down. None can adequately calculate how these things happen or why.
Isaiah’s verse is
a prophetic promise to Israel, yet believers have borrowed it for
comfort. “Since the Assyrian attack in 701 B.C. there had been a tradition in
Judah that Jerusalem was invincible from attacks from invaders. This idea was
trampled by the Babylonian conquest and destruction of the city (605 B.C. - 586
B.C.). Now Isaiah states that in the future the city will be absolutely
invincible.”
(from IVP Bible
Background Commentary: Old Testament, Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton,
Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas. Published by InterVarsity Press. All
rights reserved.)
Psalm 91 has come to be
known as “The Soldiers’ Psalm.” Scholars are uncertain as to whether verse
seven refers to fallen comrades or enemies but verse four is clear enough
that there is protection for those who follow the Lord.
Through it all,
we are not led to live our lives recklessly but responsibly, not carelessly but
confidently.
Ps 37:5-6
5 Commit thy way unto the
LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring
forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Thank You, Lord, for your
covering and care. AMEN
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