KNOWING GOD – THE PROTECTOR
Lesson Three
Text: Psalm 121 – [The CEV gives the psalm the heading, “The LORD Will Protect His People”]
V.3 – He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber;
He will not let your foot slip – Note: 1 Samuel 2:9 – He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails;
Psalm 41:1-2 – 1Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. 2The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
Psalm 66:8-9 – 8Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.
Psalm 97:10 – Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. [Note the criterion for being protected: “Let those who love the LORD hate evil.” Note also the benefit of fulfilling the criterion: V.11-12 – 11Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. 12Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.]
Proverbs 3:21-26 – 21My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 22they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Isaiah 27:1-3 – 1In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
2In that day—
“Sing about a fruitful vineyard: 3I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.
Leviathan (V.1) – Symbolic of Israel’s enemies. Let us thank the Protector as He reminds us of the church’s enemy and instructs us how to overcome him and thereby benefit. 1 Peter 5:8-11 – 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Note Ephesians 6:10-18 – 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Let us thank the Protector that we are assured of His protection because He is faithful. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
TPT – But the Lord YAHWEH is always faithful to place you on a firm foundation and guard you from the Evil One.
But the Lord YAHWEH is always faithful – TPT note: Twelve times in the Bible the Lord is described as faithful. (See Deut. 7:9; Isa. 49:7; 1 Cor 1:9; 10:13; 2 Thess. 3:3; Heb. 10:23; 11:11; 1 Peter 4:19; 1 John 1:9; Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11.)
Guard you from the Evil One – TPT note: Or “guard you from evil” (the unproductive and sinful ways of the past).