The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8 NIV
During the financial crisis of 2008, many people lost the money they saved in their banks. In addition, a large number of retirees lost a large portion of their retirement savings in their 401K plans. That does not include the vast amount of money lost in the Stock Market.
The point is that we cannot even trust banks and other financial institutions to keep our money. Nor can we depend on the government to keep us safe from acts of terror. In the last few weeks, we have learned that the governments in the world cannot keep the citizens of their country from COVID-19. They also cannot keep their economy from going into recession because of COVID-19.
Psalm 121 is a song of Assent. Pilgrims sang that Psalm as they go up to temple in Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices. The journey to Jerusalem was fraught with danger as many pilgrims were often beaten and robbed by bandits. The idea of God as their keeper was not just a religious slogan; it was a prayer of reassurance and an expression of confidence in God’s protection power.
The Hebrew word for keeper is ‘Shamar’, which is from the root word, which is translated as protect, preserve, save, reserve. What we need is not only for God to protect us from COVID-19; we also need him to preserve those who are already infected with the virus. We need God to reserve a divine stimulus plan for those who are losing their jobs and facing financial hardships.
Only God can succeed in doing all of that. He alone can watch over every aspect of our lives and keep us from falling. Who else can we trust in times like these? Where else can we go? Therefore, we can say as the Psalmist says: The Lord is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear? The Lore is the strength of our lives; of whom shall we be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1-2)
In verse 8, the Psalmist says with confidence, “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” That confidence is experience-based. One has to have been delivered or saved from adversities to say with confidence about what God will do.
The Psalmist was confident that God would watch over his coming and going because he presumably made the journey to Jerusalem several times without ever being victimized by bandits. Can I tell you that God will provide for all your needs according to his riches in glory if you lose your job or your business is struggling during these difficult financial times! Please allow me to remind you that God will watch over your life and the life of your loved ones despite the coronavirus pandemic. How can I be so confident? He has been watching over my life and the life of my loved ones.
Some of us have made through automobile accidents, or cancer, or a stroke, or a failed business, or a failed marriage, or the loss of employment because God is our keeper. As we journey through these difficult times, we should remember that God will watch over our coming and going. He will watch over our 401Ks, our health, the Church of Jesus Christ, and our loved ones.
Let us rejoice in the Lord our God and be exceedingly glad for God’s keeping power. We need God to preserve us from the tyranny of COVID-19 and save us from financial collapse. I want to end today’s devotional with the Benedictions below:
Numbers 6:22-26 - "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Rom. 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Heb. 13:20-21- Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer- Blessed Lord, please keep all health workers, first responders, and everyone working to help meet the basic needs of people during this crisis, in Jesus’ name.
Comments