What Is Your Protection?

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. 1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. 7 The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Defense from attack, hurt or exploitation. The ultimate protector is God, but he also uses others in defending the weak and needy.

Protection from cruelty

Psalm 72:4 NKJV

4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

Psalm 35:10 NLT

10 With every bone in my body I will praise him: “Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

Luke 1:51–53 NLT

51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. 52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.

Protection from abuse

Mark 12:38–40 NLT

38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

James 5:1–6 NLT

1 Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.

Means of protection against physical attack

Armor

1 Samuel 17:38 NLT

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.

Jeremiah 46:4 NLT

4 Harness the horses, and mount the stallions. Take your positions. Put on your helmets. Sharpen your spears, and prepare your armor.

Shields

Jeremiah 46:3 NLT

3 “Prepare your shields, and advance into battle!

Spiritual protection

John 17:11–12 NLT

11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

John 10:28–29 NLT

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Peter 1:5 NLT

5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Believers need protection from spiritual dangers

From Satan

1 Peter 5:8 NLT

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Job 1:9 NLT

9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.

John 17:15 NLT

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

Ephesians 6:11–12 NLT

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

From Satan’s agents in the world

John 15:18–19 NLT

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

Matthew 10:28–29 NLT

28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

1 John 4:4 NLT

4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

God protects his people

By watching over them and helping them

Psalm 121:5 NLT

5 The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

1 Samuel 2:9 NLT

9 “He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.

2 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

By sending angels to protect them

Psalm 34:7 NLT

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Hebrews 1:14 NLT

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

In Conclusion:

Conditions of God’s protection

Prayer

Psalm 72:12 NLT

12 He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.

Right attitudes

Psalm 91:14 NLT

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.