THE BLESSING TO HAVE GOD AS YOUR GUARD: Part 2
PSALM 121
Illustration, Personal- Twenty seven years ago, I travelled to a new Church to preach in Kenya . Every time on my way to this church which was in the Maasai jungle in the middle of nowhere, I prayed that God will protect my family when I was gone, and God was faithful to do so. Not only my close family was kept by the lord, but my large family, all my relatives, my friends, my former students, my home church , all of them were guarded by God. And not only that, my nation was under God’s protection for the sake of His elect.
Transition- The lord not only protects you diligently, but…
Division statement 1- When God is our Guard, he protects us all-inclusively; us and our dear ones.
Explanation, Pattern Study, Historical- This psalm has a stair like structure (this is a common characteristic of the psalms of ascent); In stair like fashion, the phrases are in an ascending structure, the thought of the first line is repeated and emphasized at the beginning of the second line. Look in verse 4. The Lord not only guards you, but He is the keeper of Israel. This thought must have been very dear to the Jewish traveler. He is on his way toward Jerusalem, but his family was miles away; he had no chance to know what was going on there, neither a chance to protect them. Many dangers a family could face in that time and setting. Wild beasts, enemies, emergency situations. The author suggests; ‘do not be afraid. The lord who is your guard is Israel’s guard too; your family is not in danger.’ It was a time when all the men in the nation were gone to worship God in his temple: what is going to happen is the Philistines, or the Moabites, or the Ammonites will strike us during our worship festivals? There is no need to fear: God will protect Israel, He keeps Israel and, as it was true for you that He will not sleep nor slumber, it is true for Israel too.
Argumentation, Example, Quotation, Reason- God is so much interested in those whom he has a special relationship by grace, that he will protect their families, cities, nation as well. God is able and willing to guard those who cannot guard your family while you are gone a long trip for few weeks? You cannot protect yourself, neither them. But God can guard you and your family. Do you remember what Elisha said to his servant when Samaria was surrounded by an army with horses and chariots? “Do not fear, he said, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. “And the lord was a guard for Samaria and Israel that day.
Application, Exhortation- Sometimes it is hard to be gone and not to worry about your family, or even your nation. It is difficult to be a Christian or a Jew and to not fear for the sake of Israel. There is no need to. God is the keeper. He will guard you and them as well. Being powerless in issues too big for us not a reason to worry. We have a mighty God who is our God and our nation Guard too. Praise to him.
Transition- There is something more the Psalm says about God our guard. Are you excited yet?
Division Statement 2- When God is our guard, he protects us continually: day and night.
Explanation, Geography, Term Explain, Word Study- look in verses 5 and 6. In contrast to the variable climatic conditions expierenced in many parts of North America, conditions in Israel during summer months are relatively stable. Warm days and cooler nights are the rule, and it almost never rain. In Jerusalem for example, the average August daytime high temperature is 86 degrees F, the night time average low is 64 degrees F. Israel is one of the sunniest countries in the world. Everybody understands what it means to get sunstroke. But how can the moon stroke you? The influence of the moon was considered by the eastern people to be very dangerous, in hot climate especially. The names given to persons of disordered intellect, lunatics, arose from the widespread belief of the moon on those who were exposed to its influence. The idea here is that God is your guard day and night and there is no natural law able to affect negatively Gods protégé. You can have full confidence in Gods protection.
Illustration- Imagine yourself traveling with Israelites through the desert toward Canaan. The sun strikes you right on the top of your head. The sand shines and your eyes are red, tired of this view. There is no shelter to sit under and no shadow, no oasis. But God has something special for you; a cloud to shadow you. And during the night, in the deepest darkness, in coolness, God has pillar of fire to show you that He is there, never forsaking you. You can turn on the other side and continue your sleep. God is there, your guard at the door of your camp.
This is true not only for Israel, this is true for us too. The Lord has promised that He will guard us countless, day and night. Remember what our dear savior told His disciples right before He left for heaven: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mat. 28:20). The confidence that our lord is with us in every situation, every time, day and night, fill our hearts with joy and faith.
Application, Exhortation- My beloved brothers, do you realize that God cares so much for us that he guards us continuously, and he protects us from every harm that might fall upon us? In your darkest hour, in your most difficult problem, just look at your right side. Find there the shadow, and remember that you are not alone. Very close to you, right at your right hand, God is shadowing you so that nothing can harm. Trust him: He is guarding you
Transition- But not only day and night…
Division Statement 3- when God is your guard, He will protect you entirely: body and soul
Explanation, Word Study- Verse 7 adds a new dimension of Gods protection. In verse 6 God guards your body of natural evil influences. In verse 7 he guards your soul from all evil that is from spiritual evil influences. The Hebrew word “nepesh”, soul, can be translated in different ways: breath, respiration, life, soul, spirit, mind, creature, person, self. The term can be translated as heart, i.e. the inner man. It is clear that the text refers to God’s protection for the whole person, body, and soul. There are many ways to preserve the soul from evil. The soul is kept by God from the dominion of sin, the infection of error, the puffing up of pride, the world, the devil. Let me illustrate this idea.
Illustration, Military- In Kenya, as elsewhere, the military buildings are very important. There are permanent teams that guard the buildings and all properties of the army that no enemy will come in and destroy or steal our secrets. But the most precious thing in a military building is the flag of that military unit. Apart of the guards outside the building, there is a permanent guard inside the building that watches day and night to protect the flag. In the moment the flag is stolen or destroyed, that unit ceases to exist.
The human soul is the invisible, immaterial part of man, the very heart of the person. Jesus said that our soul is more important than the body and the soul is more valuable than the whole world. Psalm 121 assures me that the Lord guards not only the external, material, visible part of our self, but the inner, immaterial, invisible part also. Is not marvelous that God is the guard of the most precious part of human being, the soul ?. He shall preserve it from all evil, what a precious assurance.
Argumentation, Quotation, Reason- Indeed, He can do that, Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians’ church was that their “whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our lord Jesus Christ.” ( 1Thess. 5:23) When Jesus died on the cross, he committed his soul in the hands of the father, and so did Stephen. Why so? Because God can guard the soul and his protection is much stronger than any evil attempt to destroy it. But God is able to guard your soul not only in death, but in daily life as well, to protect it from all dangers.
Application, Descriptive- You may fill sometimes that your soul is weak and you cannot stand against Devil’s attacks by bad thoughts, sadness, discouragement, temptations, hurtful feelings. Maybe you think you are too sinful to be forgiven or you look around you and see only hypocrites, and Satan is piercing you with many evils. Look up to the lord and claim His protection. He is able to guard you. “Stand strong against the devil and he will flee from you.’ Be strong in the lord. He will preserve your soul and your body too.
By Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti, Pastor Forestville Baptist Church and Professor at Apex School Of Theology, Durham, North Carolina. Can be reached at nicjoyce@juno.com
