Chapter 8 - Standing in the Shadow

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Standing in the Shadow

Psalm 91:4 - 5: 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

• If we place our trust with reliance upon the protection of God, we will be secure from every temptation and assault of Satan. It is important to remember that those whom God has taken under his care are in a stable of absolute safety.

Are we always secure under God's care?

• In national security issues, the Bible presents no call to arms...It summons us instead to prayer for national security and demands that we relinquish all national pride in military might and begin to rely more confidently on the invincible power of God.
• What should we do - - - Psalm 112 says to "fear the Lord"
  • Psalm 112:7-8 - 7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
• Indifference to national security issues is insensibility, however. The point is where is your absolute trust??
• National security issues certainly alarm the faithful, but it cannot make them fainthearted, because it cannot shake their faith...The confidence placed in God rises above all the cares of the present life...
• Psalm 37:1,9 - Psalm Of David. 1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
• Calvin says "for those who put their trust in Him, everything in the end will be well with him....."
• At the same time we are to put our trust in God, we are to follow after goodness and truth......
• Consider Psalm 121 :
  • Psalm 121 A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
  • The psalmist declares that the purpose for which God is our keeper is that he may hold us up.....So, verse 7 above states "the Lord will keep you from all harm"........ well, how do you define "keep you from harm"??? If we define it as, in the midst of trials, God will "hold us up" if we trust in him - - then "harm" will come our way....but the Lord will protect us.......
  • As a trusting Christian, we must eliminate anxiety and fear in the midst....but also, we must acknowledge God's protective care.......

In the shadow of God's wings

• Shadow is a metaphor signifying God's presence......
• God's protection examples:
  • Paul and Silas in jail at Phillipi
  • When Saul pursued David...... Psalm 63:7-11 - 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. 10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. 11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
• In times of uncertainty, fear or affliction, know that our life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3)........ The psalmist says the same thing - Psalm 119:114 - - 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
• The Christian must live this - - that the preservation of their lives is entirely owing to the protection of God - -
• The truth that we have a "hiding place in God" must be cherished - - - and confirmed in our hearts....
• God's protection is clear in the Psalms:
  • Psalm 27:4-5 - 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
  • Psalm 17:8 - 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
• Consider that the tabernacle was a constant symbol of God's presence and protection in the OT!
• Psalm 61:3-4 - 3 - David - fleeing Saul and Absalom - - - For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. 4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah ......... Notice, this is when David was fleeing - - - he considered it more important to "be under God's care" then to remain King........

Do angels protect us?

• Angels are spiritual beings who serve at God's command and will, to deliver his messages, protect His people and punish His enemies.....
  • Hebrews 1:14 - 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
  • Hebrews 12:22 - 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly......
• Note - - The Bible does not say that each of God's children has a "guardian angel".
• Psalm 91:10-11 - 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
• A summary statement is - "however great may be the number of our adversities and the dangers surrounding us, the angels of God (not just a "guardian angel", but all angels), armed with invincible power, constantly watch over us and arrange themselves on every side to aid and to deliver us from evil."
• Example - Acts 12:3-11 - Peter's release from jail by an Angel

God's protection when the church is under fire

• We must pray for the persecuted church as well as support humanitarian aid efforts on behalf of suffering Christians - - we, being those who can worship in freedom....
• Matthew 16:18 - 18 - And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
• Matthew 16:18 has a wonderful promise, but also a devastating truth - that the church on earth will always be under attack and that satan will always be an enemy of the church.
• Isaiah 54:7 is about the church - - "no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
• Psalm 46:1-2 - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, ....... Calvin says that while the faithful will not be shielded from trouble, the Church, overall, will survive the attacks of Communist atheists in China, radical Islamic Jihad forces in the Middle East and post modern liberals in America and Europe.

In life or in death, God is our protector

• We are not forsaken by God in life or in death.....for those whom God brings safely by his power to the end if their course, he at last receives to Himself at their death.....
• Psalm 23:4 - 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
• God protects the faithful in death, but not necessarily from death
• God receives us to Himself at our death - - Psalm 49:15 - "But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself."

We are under the protection of Christ

• We are helpless to defend ourselves against the schemes of the devil, unless we have Christ as our guardian.
• And to be under this guardianship, we must be "poor in spirit"; humbled....

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