“In the shelter of Your presence You hide them from all human intrigues; You keep them safe in Your dwelling from accusing tongues.” – Psalm 31:20, NIV

No prizes for guessing the most dangerous creature to human beings on earth – human beings!

More than ever before, personal safety and security have taken on a whole new meaning in our world today.

There are dangerous people at every corner – plotters, schemers, scammers and hackers are ever on the prowl.

Families, companies, and nations are spending billions to keep themselves and their assets safe from people.

But as we have come to find out from the high profile cases of some of those who are heavily protected with machine guns and ‘firewalls,’ worldly safety is never guaranteed.

In our meditation today, David invokes the ultimate place of safety from dangerous people – God’s presence.

You don’t have to spend sleepless nights worrying about your personal safety or that of our loved ones.

David sang, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

‘Safety’ means freedom from fear of danger, harm or oppression.

It is interesting that ‘sozo,’ the Greek word for ‘save,’ shares a root with ‘safe.’

That implies that those who are ‘saved’ are ‘safe.’

The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him

who shelters him all the day long;

he shall dwell between His shoulders…

The Benjamite Blessing – Deuteronomy 33:12

In its basic meaning, being ‘saved’ means being safe from God’s wrath and the devil’s influence because of sin.

From the same root we get the word ‘soteria,’ which denotes preservation, deliverance, salvation, safety.

In another version, may be translated ‘safe and sound,’ implying being healthy in a holistic manner – body, soul and spirit.

The Bible shows that the concepts of ‘safety’ and ‘salvation’ have a direct connection to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

That’s why the prophet prophesied: “In His days (Christ) Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely.” (Jeremiah 23:6)

Indeed in John 17:12, Jesus prayed to His Father; “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave me.”

Being ‘safe’ therefore denotes the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted by God to those who repent and believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

The Bible says; “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

That is why Paul could confidently declare in 2 Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen”!

You don’t have to live in perpetual fear of the so-called ‘dangerous’ people in your various spaces – workplace, community or in cyberspace.

The Bible says; “the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”

Let me conclude by invoking what I call the  ‘Benjamite Blessing’ upon your life: “The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; he shall dwell between His shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12).

“Between His shoulders” explicitly speaks of God’s personal protection of you, His beloved.

We, His beloved, don’t have to live in fear; we dwell between His massive protective shoulders!

Hallelujah!                     

Prayer:

Almighty God, thank for saving me. I declare that I am safe and secure from all alarm in the Name of Jesus! Between Your shoulders is where I will forever dwell. Amen.