KNOWING GOD – THE PROTECTOR
Lesson Four
Text: Psalm 121 – [The CEV gives the psalm the heading, “The LORD Will Protect His People”]
V.3-4 – 3He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber; 4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
He will not let your foot slip – See Lesson Three.
He who watches over you will not slumber – Contrast 1 Kings 18:16-39 (V.27-29 – 27At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.)
Let us thank the Protector and rejoice in the “truth” that no one can be compared to Him, as He Himself declared: Isaiah 40:25 – “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Isaiah 46:5 – “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
Let us therefore emulate the following people who were confident of this “truth.”
Moses – Exodus 8:9-10 – 9Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.”
10“Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.
Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God.
Exodus 15:11 – “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
Hannah – 1 Samuel 2:2 – “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
Ethan the Ezrahite – Psalm 89:6-8 – 6For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? 7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Isaiah – Isaiah 40:18 – To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?
Jeremiah – Jeremiah 10:6-7 – 6No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. 7Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.
Micah – Micah 7:18 – Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
In concluding Lesson Three we thanked the Protector for being 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.
Let us now thank the Protector that we are assured of His protection because He is good. Nahum 1:7 (GNT) – The Lord is good; he protects his people in times of trouble; he takes care of those who turn to him.