Protection
1. TRUSTING IN GOD IS YOUR ONLY SURE REFUGE:
A. Safety and protection are in God’s hands:
Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain
Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared … but safety is of the Lord
B. God is able to protect you:
Exodus 6:6–7 I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgements
Isaiah 59:1 The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save
Romans 4:21 What he [has] promised, he [is] able also to perform
Ephesians 3:20 He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all … we ask
C. God is your defence and protective shield:
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge
Psalm 3:3 Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me
Psalm 5:12 With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield
Psalm 89:18 For the Lord is our defence
Psalm 115:11 Trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield
Isaiah 33:16 He shall dwell on high: place of defence … the rocks
(See also Psalm 18:35; 107:41.)
D. He is your tower and fortress, your high rock:
2 Samuel 22:2–3 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer
Psalm 9:9 The Lord will be a refuge … in times of trouble
Psalm 61:3 Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy
Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence
Psalm 71:2–4 Be thou my strong habitation … deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked
Psalm 91:2 He is my refuge and my fortress, in him will I trust
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe
E. He is your protection in times of great danger:
Isaiah 25:4 A refuge from the storm … when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall
Nahum 1:6–7 The Lord is … a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth … ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger
(See also Psalm 46:1–5.)
F. He is your hiding place:
Psalm 27:5 In the time of trouble he shall hide me
Psalm 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about
Psalm 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and shield: I hope in they word
Psalm 143:9 I flee unto thee to hide me
2. GOD WILL PROTECT YOU BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU:
A. God delivers His people who trust Him:
2 Samuel 8:6 The Lord preserved David withersoever he went
Psalm 37:28 The Lord forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved
Psalm 37:40 The Lord … shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him
Psalm 91:9–10 Because thou hast made the Lord … thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work
B. God loves, favours, and will protect you:
Deuteronomy 33:12 The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him
2 Samuel 22:20 He delivered me, because he delighted in me
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him [Job], and about his house, and all that he hath on every side
Psalm 17:8–9 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings … from my deadly enemies
Psalm 41:11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me
Psalm 56:9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back … for God is with me
Psalm 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee
Psalm 105:12–15 He reproved kings for their sakes; saying, touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm
Matthew 10:29–31 [God even watches over sparrows, and] ye are of more value than many sparrows
(See also Psalm 4:3; 40:17; 125:2.)
C. He is always close by to protect you:
Genesis 28:15 I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest
Deuteronomy 33:12 The Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge … a very present help in trouble
Psalm 109:31 He shall stand at [his] right hand … to save him
D. God’s guardian angels protect you:
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them
Psalm 91:11–12 He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways
Isaiah 63:9 In affliction … angel of his presence saved them
Daniel 3:28 God … hath sent his angle, and delivered his servants that trusted in him
Daniel 6:20,22 God hath sent his angel, and shut the lions’ mouths
(See also Exodus 14:19–20; 23:20; 2 Kings 6:15–18; 2 Chronicles 32:20–21; 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 5:19; 12:6–10.)
E. Rest in God, trusting Him to protect you:
Exodus 14:14 Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace
Exodus 33:14 My presence shall go with thee, I will give thee rest
Psalm 112:7–8 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed [steadfast], trusting in the Lord
Psalm 118:6–7 The Lord is on my side; what can man do unto me?
F. Thank God for protecting you:
Psalm 5:11 Let them shout for joy, because thou defendest them
Psalm 28:7 I am helped … with my song will I praise him
Psalm 59:16–17 I will sing of thy power … for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble
Psalm 98:1 Sing unto the Lord … his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory
3. GOD CAN PROTECT YOU FROM …
A. Traps and snares:
Psalm 91:3 He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler
Psalm 124:6–7 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey … [we are] escaped as a bird out of the snare
Psalm 141:10 Let wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I escape
B. Disease and epidemics:
Exodus 15:26 I will put none of these diseases upon thee
Deuteronomy 7:15 The Lord will take way from thee all … evil diseases … but will lay them upon all them that hate thee
Psalm 91:3 He shall deliver thee from … the [perilous] pestilence
Psalm 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling
C. Injury:
Psalm 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken
Psalm 91:11–12 Angels … bear thee up … lest thou dash thy foot
Mark 16:18 If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them
D. Fire and burning:
Psalm 29:7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire
Isaiah 43:2 When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
Daniel 3:25,27 These men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed
E. Drowning:
Psalm 107:23–30 [God can save you from terrible storms at sea]
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee … they shall not overflow thee
Matthew 8:23–27 There arose a great tempest … he rebuked the winds and sea … was a great calm (See also Matthew 14:23–32.)
Acts 27:14–44 Exceedingly tossed with a tempest … all hope taken away … it came to pass, they all escaped safe to land
(See also Jonah 1:4,11–17; 2:3,10; 1 Peter 3:20; Genesis 7:23.)
F. Death:
Psalm 41:2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive
Daniel 6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he … hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions
G. Dangers while travelling:
Genesis 28:15 I will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land
Exodus 23:20 I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared
Deuteronomy 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out
Psalm 105:13–15 When they went from one nation to another … he suffered no man to do them wrong
Psalm 121:8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
John 10:4 When he putteth forth his sheep, he goeth before them
(See also Exodus 33:14–15; Psalm 37:23; Isaiah 55:12; 63:9.)
H. Every kind of evil:
Job 5:19–22 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee
Psalm 46:1–3 God is our refuge … therefore will not we fear, though … the mountains be carried into the … sea
Psalm 121:7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil
Luke 10:19 I give you power … nothing shall by any means hurt you
2 Thessalonians 3:3 The Lord is faithful, who shall … keep you from evil
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work
4. PROTECTION FROM THOSE WHO SEEK TO HARM YOU:
2 Samuel 22:49 Thou hast lifted me above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man
2 Chronicles 32:8 With us is the Lord our God … to fight our battles
Job 5:12–13 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise
Psalm 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people … against me
Psalm 21:8,11 They intended evil … which they are not able to perform
Psalm 37:32–33 The wicked … seeketh to slay [the righteous]. The Lord will not leave him in his hand
Psalm 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee
Psalm 97:10 He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked
Psalm 118:13 Thou has thrust sore at me … but the Lord helped me
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper
Jeremiah 1:19 They shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail … for I am with thee to deliver thee
Jeremiah 39:17 I will deliver thee … thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid
5. SPECIAL PROTECTION PROMISED IN THE LAST DAYS:
Luke 21:17–18 Ye shall be hated of all nations … but there shall not an hair of your head perish
Revelation 7:3 Hurt not the earth … till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads
Revelation 9:3–4 [Locusts will] hurt … only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads
Revelation 11:3,5–6 If any man will [try to] hurt them [the two witnesses], fire … devoureth their enemies
6. CONDITIONS FOR HAVING GOD’S PROTECTION:
A. Faith in God is essential:
Psalm 37:40 The Lord shall … deliver them from the wicked … because they trust in him
Daniel 6:23 No manner of hurt was found upon him [Daniel], because he believed in his God protection
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith
(See also Psalm 33:22.)
B. Pray in time of need:
Genesis 32:1–12 [Jacob’s earnest prayer for protection from Esau and his 400 men] (See also 32:24–30.)
2 Samuel 22:4 I will call on the Lord, so shall I be saved from enemies
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the Lord … delivereth them
Psalm 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver
(See also Psalm 18:6; 59:1–3.)
C. Love and reverence God:
2 Chronicles 16:9 [God shows] himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him
Psalm 31:23 Love the Lord … for the Lord preserveth the faithful
Psalm 33:18–19 The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him … to deliver their soul from death
Psalm 34:7 Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them
Psalm 91:14–15 Because he hath set his love upon me, I will deliver
Psalm 145:20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him
(See also Proverbs 16:7.)
D. Stay close to God:
Psalm 57:1 In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be over past
Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
E. Be obedient and do good:
Exodus 23:22 If thou indeed obey his voice … [God will protect]
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the Lord … delivereth them
Psalm 41:1–2 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble
Psalm 81:13–14 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me … I should have … turned my hand against their adversaries
Proverbs 1:33 Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely
Daniel 6:16 God whom thou servest continually … will deliver thee
1 Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers
(See also Psalm 7:10; 1 Peter 3:13.)
F. Do your part:
Hebrews 11:7 Noah … prepared an ark to the saving of his house
(See also Genesis 6:12–14,22; 7:1,11,17–23.)
Hebrews 11:31 The harlot Rahab perished not … when she [hid the spies and hung down the red cord] (See also Joshua 2:4–21.)
Exodus 12:21–23 [The Hebrews were required to paint blood on their doorpost so that the destroyer would pass over]
G. Don’t be reckless, foolhardy, or disobedient:
1 Kings 22:1–4,29–37 [King warned not to go to battle; he went, disguised as a common soldier, and was killed by a stray arrow]
2 Chronicles 35:20–24 [King Josiah rashly went out to fight the Egyptians, who didn’t want to battle with him, and he was killed]
Proverbs 16:5 Though hand join in hand [join forces for strength], he [the proud in heart] shall not be unpunished
Hosea 8:3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him
Matthew 4:5–7 The devil … saith unto him, cast thyself down … Jesus saith, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God
Acts 19:29–31 [The disciples and Paul’s friends advise him not to “adventure himself” into the bloodthirsty mob]
Acts 21:17–30 [Paul went to Jerusalem despite God’s warnings] (See also Acts 20:22–23; 21:4,10–14.)
7. SOME EXAMPLES OF DIVINE PROTECTION:
Genesis 19:15–17 [Angels helped Lot and his family to escape the doomed city of Sodom]
Genesis 35:5 [God made the Canaanites afraid to pursue His people]
Genesis 45:5–7 [Jacob’s brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt, but God preserved him and turned the situation to good]
Exodus 12:21–23 [The Angel of Death smote the Egyptians, but passed over the Hebrews’ houses]
Exodus 14:9–10,19–20 [The pillar of fire moved between the Hebrews and the pursuing Egyptian army]
Joshua 3:10–17 [God held back the swollen, flooded Jordan River, so that the Hebrews could cross safely]
Joshua 10:11–14 [God sent hailstones to smite Joshua’s enemies, as well as delaying the sun’s setting for him]
1 Samuel 17:34–39 [God delivered David from a lion, a bear, and Goliath]
2 Kings 6:24; 7:5–7 [The Syrians besieged Samaria, but] the Lord made [them] to hear a noise of chariots … and they … fled
Daniel 6:16–22 [God protected Daniel in the lion’s den]
Jonah 1:15,17; 2:10 The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah [it kept him from drowning, and took him to his destination]
Matthew 2:13–16 [God warned Joseph in a dream to flee with Mary and baby Jesus into Egypt]
Special chapter about protection: Psalm 91—the “Protection Psalm” (See also Psalm 121; 124.)