KNOWING GOD – THE PROTECTOR
Lesson Five
Text: Psalm 121 – [The CEV gives the psalm the heading, “The LORD Will Protect His People”]
V.5-6 – 5The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
V.5 – The LORD watches over you – Note the conditions as well as the benefits stated in the following passages: Psalm 33:18 (GNT) – The LORD watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love.
Psalm 34:15 (CEV) – If you obey the LORD, he will watch over you and answer your prayers.
(MSG) – GOD keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.
(TPT) – The Lord sees all we do; he watches over his friends day and night. His godly ones receive the answers they seek whenever they cry out to him.
The LORD is your shade at your right hand – We are assured of this if we are honoring and obeying the Protector. Note the guaranteed benefits. (a) Psalm 16:8 – I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
(CSB) – I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
David was confident of the benefit of “not being shaken” because he “always allowed the Lord to guide him.” Let us thank the Protector for hereby directing us to emulate David.
[See: Psalm 15 (V.5b – who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.)
Psalm 112 (V.6 – Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.)]
(b) Psalm 91:1-4 (GNT) – 1Whoever goes to the LORD for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, 2can say to him, “You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust.” 3He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. 4He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.
V.6 –The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night – The CEV notes: “In ancient times people saw the harmful effects of the rays of the sun, and they thought that certain illnesses (especially mental disorders) were also caused by the rays of the moon.”
Note: (a) Isaiah prophesied that restored Israel would experience the blessing mentioned in this verse. Isaiah 49:10 – They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
Contrast Jonah’s experience. Jonah 4:8 – When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
(b) It was revealed to John that “the great multitudes in white robes” would experience this blessing as a part of their reward. Revelation 7:16 – Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
In acknowledgment of the blessings from the Protector, let us pray and praise as follows. Isaiah 33:2, 5-6 (GNT) – 2LORD, have mercy on us. We have put our hope in you. Protect us day by day and save us in times of trouble.
5How great the LORD is! He rules over everything. He will fill Jerusalem with justice and integrity 6and give stability to the nation. He always protects his people and gives them wisdom and knowledge. Their greatest treasure is their reverence for the LORD.