Tag: protection

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

God’s hedges

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Piotr AMS on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Hosea 2.

Because God’s people have a tendency to be unfaithful, he plans to plant a hedge around her so she can’t wander. It’d kind of like grounding the kids to discipline them.

“Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns,
    and I will build a wall against her,
    so that she cannot find her paths” (Hosea 2:6).

But other times God puts a protective hedge around a person. According to Satan, that’s why Job was so faithful.

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land” (Job 1:10).

So I guess the question is, “What kind of hedge surrounds me right now?” Are there thick, plant-like walls around me to keep the world out, or to keep me confined? Because let’s face it, there’s a lot of bad stuff out I should avoid.

In a recent bible study, an author challenged his readers to explore God’s purposes in “unfulfilled aspirations.” In a world that praises productivity and achievement, failure is not an option. But what if God has something completely different in mind? What if being stuck in one place, in a dead end job, without a home, or no longer able to do what you used to do is a place where God needs you to be?

I don’t like the thought of that any more than you do. I would much prefer to have God simply watch my back while I go off and do whatever I want to do.

But that’s not the way it works. God knows me too well and loves me too much to simply let me wander off. My shepherd comes looking for me, keeping me in the sheepfold and keeping predators out for the night.

What hedges of protection has God placed around you? What hedges of confinement has he set in place? Be thankful for both.

Posted in dogs

We are safe and sound

Posted on by William Douthwaite

The barking was incessant. Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip. What in the world is going on out there? I looked out the window at the little dog (Winston, the White West Highland Terrier) aggressively yapping at a spot in the grass.

I had to go out and see. It was probably a lizard. Or part of one. Wrong. It looked like a mouse. How in the world did he catch a mouse? Wait. That’s not a mouse. It’s a mole. Winston had caught or found a squinty-eyed, pointy-snouted, long-clawed mole somewhere in our backyard. A mole? I’ve never seen a mole in our yard. Where in the world did you find it? I scooped it up and tossed it over the fence. You’re not going to torment him (or her) any more.

I got back into the house to find the big dog (Willow, the Great Dane) barking and scratching at the porch floor. Now what? I called her away only to find a dead lizard on his back, covered in drool. Great. Just what I need. I tossed him (or her) over the fence.

Suddenly, these dogs who spend most of the afternoon snoozing have channeled their inner hunter and pursued the latest predators in our yard. They have successfully protected their home from invaders!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I’ll never again complain about lunch taking so long

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Duncan Sanchez on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 91.

While in Texas, we took four grandchildren to lunch at Panera last week. Tw o of them had bowls of soup, one had the macaroni and cheese, and the fourth went with grilled cheese.

I couldn’t believe how slowly they ate! It took every bit of forty-five minutes for them to enjoy a nice relaxing lunch. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’ve just never seen anyone eat a potato chip in six separate bites. I grab a few and pop them in mouth. Rather than a whole spoonful of soup, which wasn’t that hot, the olders scooped very small amounts of soup with their spoons. Mac and cheese? One small noodle at a time. Unless she decided to eat that noodle in three bites.

We weren’t in a hurry, had lots of things to talk about, and enjoyed our time together. Afterwards, we headed towards a Target to pick up a few things. As we approached the turn in, I saw two banged up cars waiting for the police to arrive. A minute sooner and it could have been us. I said, “I’ll never again complain about lunch taking so long.”

The psalmist writes

He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11,12)

Forget about a guardian angel. I’m thankful for a bunch of them taking care of me. And here’s the fascinating thing. Most of the time, I’m not even aware of their presence and protection. The bad stuff that could have happened doesn’t. So I go on with my life, oblivious to their efforts.

In the bible, angels sing, deliver messages, praise God, fight battles, and take care of us in ways we can hardly understand. Thank you, Lord, for letting us linger over lunch.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

There’s another lion

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Mike van den Bos on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 57.

My soul is in the midst of lions;
    I lie down amid fiery beasts (Psalm 57:4)

David wrote these words when Saul was pursuing him, intent on killing him. Hiding in cave, David whispers a prayer for God’s mercy as he feels surrounded by lions.

David has faced lions (and bears) when he was tending sheep. Having killed those predators, he knew he could handle Goliath.

But this was different. These were people bent on his destruction. They were relentless. They tested David’s faith more than ever.

David doesn’t despair. Instead he sings. He sings God’s praises as if he’s already been rescued.

How did he do that? I believe he remembered another lion, the Lion of Judah. His Lord never changed, no matter what the enemy threw at him. God got him through it before, and God would get him through it again. He’s in the cave, surrounded by lions, and he’s singing about his victory.

One day Daniel would be there. He actually got a good night’s sleep because that same divine Lion sent an angle to close the mouths of all the others.

I’m big into visualizing my prayers. I love this picture of the Lord, because you never know when you might have to face lions.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The apple of his eye

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Ion Fet on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 17.

“Keep me as the apple of your eye” (Psalm 17:8).

I’m sure I’ve glossed over that phrase dozens of times. I kind of know what it means, but I really don’t know what it means. Do you know what it means? Let’s find out.

It is actually a reference to the pupil of your eye. It’s small, round, and of great value. Your eyelids reflexively close if anything comes near your eye, protecting the aperture that lets in light. It is valuable, protected, and a treasured part of your body.

So if you’re the apple of God’s eye, you are treasured, valuable, and something that he’ll protect no matter what. This is one of the ways David pleads for God’s surrounding presence and powerful protection. Isn’t that a poetic way of submitting yourself to God’s loving protection in the presence of enemies?

How do we protect those things most valuable to us? We lock them away. We insure them. We keep them close to us. We install cameras and an alarm system. We ask someone to keep an eye on it. We put a chain on it, like a wallet. Or we just don’t let it out of our sight.

So this is like praying, “God, don’t let me out of your sight. Protect me like the most precious part of you.” God sees everything. Nothing escapes his eye. His eyes go way beyond the miracle of sight that we know. So the pupil, or apple, of his eye, is precious beyond measure.

And so are you and I. God treasures us as the apple of his eye, his most valued possession. He never lets us out of his sight. Nothing is getting close to us unless he allows it. He’s our personal bodyguard, security system, and guard dog all in one.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Good news and bad news: a hedge

Posted on by William Douthwaite

On the one hand, a hedge is good. On the other, it’s miserable.

That’s what Job experiences.

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side?” (Job 1:9,10)

Job’s life was “hedged in” by God’s protection. Job was surrounded by God’s blessing. It was a great place to be.

On the other hand, once Satan has a chance to torment Job, it’s a different story.

Job asks, “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?” (Job 3:23)

He feels trapped. Everything good he had is gone. He doesn’t know why. He can’t do anything about it. He’s stuck. He’s trapped. He wishes he had never been born. But here he is. He’s boxed in by the miserable life God engineered for him.

Do you feel protected or trapped by God? Is your faith a force field or a cage?

On the one hand, God is confining. He has some strict guidelines for our lives. On the other hand, those guidelines set us free from things like sin and death and the power of the devil. Hmm. How can confinement actually be freedom?

So, what hedges has God put around your life? How has he protected you? How has he kept you on a short leash?