Wednesday, November 30, 2005

The Wakeful Guardian

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
(Psalm 121:3-4)
Those who look to Yahweh are standing on a firm foundation. Their feet shall not slip; they shall not be moved by calamity. It shall not harm them.

The Hebrew word for “keep” is shamar. It means to hedge about, to protect, to attend to. God desires to set a hedge of protection about you and take care of you. He is a full-time God, and His protection and provision are always dependable.

“Behold!” says the psalm writer. It is a word of focused attention, signaling a foundational truth. It is a if the psalm-writer is leaning in to let you in on the most wonderful secret: “He who keeps Israel, shall neither slumber or sleep.” Yahweh watches faithfully over His people. He never falls asleep on the job. Not ever.

This is why the psalm writer looks to Yahweh for his help, no matter what he might be facing (vv. 1-2). And that is why you and I can, too. When we look to Him, He looks out for us. We receive it all by faith in His promise.

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