We Are Protected

He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge, His truth shall be your shield and buckler. ---Psalm 91:4


We have been discussing benefits from being in Covenant with God in Psalm 103. In verse 4, let’s unwrap how the next benefit should be enjoyed by His children. “Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits: (4a) Who redeems your life from destruction." I know I am not alone if I share with you how vulnerable I sometimes feel in this wicked, perilous world. We hear of tragedies, bazaar accidents taking place, reckless behavior resulting in broken bodies and even simple annoying incidents like twisting an ankle. Even our thought life affects our behavior and health. We can get a thought in our mind and start to believe the negative message that landed there, meditate on it, nurse it and eventually believe that lie the enemy has planted.

The benefit that is mentioned in Psalm 104:4a is that God redeems us from a life of destruction. Let’s start with the word redeems which means to buy back or purchase. God is saying here that He has got you covered. We know that Jesus redeemed our sins by going to the cross. Well, because Jesus went to the cross, we are also purchased back from a life of destruction! If it was so in the Old Testament (Covenant) how much more true it is when Jesus established a new and better Covenant? It is interesting that redeem is in the plural. It is an ongoing process. The attacks will be constant and so must your confessions and your prayers.

Now, let’s look at that word, destruction. It means a sinking pit (especially as a trap), corruption, the grave, destroyed. Let’s face it, our enemy is not God, so that means it will be Satan… or we can be our own enemy. Satan loves to set traps for us to choose to step in that will eventually lead to sickness and death. Let’s say our diet. Foods that taste good aren’t necessarily good for our bodies. Yet we continue to eat unhealthy or way too much and eventually our body starts to show signs of sickness and disease. Did Satan put that spoon or fork in your mouth? No, you did. But it is your thoughts that set it up. Does Satan make you gossip, criticize or speak judgment over someone? No, you did, but your thoughts drove you to do that. Now you have disfunctional relationships. Did Satan buy the pack of cigarettes or liquor? No, you did, but the temptation came into your mind first, then you acted.

We must come to the point where we get righteously angry by the way we are being manipulated by Satan. God is ready, willing and quite able to deliver us from our lives of destruction. We have been and are being redeemed. The attacks will come constantly because we are children of God and Satan hates us. So, even though he has lost us from an eternity in hell with him, Satan will do his best to make our hell on earth! Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners: and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7,8)

Confession: I will not let the enemy of my soul continue to destroy me. I resist the devil and all his maneuvers in his attempt to destroy my life, my body, and my mind in Jesus Name. I will be aware of traps being set for me and seek God for guidance and instruction, then follow what He puts in my heart.