Definition: Being free or secure from danger, harm, or loss.
1. Although the Lord expects us to do all we can to protect ourselves, ultimately He is the one Who protects us from harm.
* Genesis 28:15a And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.
* Exodus 11:7 [God blesses His people with a special protection from evil.] But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
* Exodus 23:20a Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way.
* Deuteronomy 33:12b The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders.
* Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
* 1 Samuel 2:9a He will keep the feet of His saints.
* Psalm 37:23,24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.
* Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
* Psalm 84:11a For the Lord God is a sun and shield.
* Psalm 121:5-8 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
* Psalm 127:1b Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
* Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
2. The Lord has promised us safekeeping, but His promises are conditional on:
* Leviticus 25:18 [Obedience to His Word:] Wherefore ye shall do My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. [See also Psalm 119:117.]
* 2 Chronicles 16:9a [Keeping our hearts right with the Lord:] For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
* Psalm 34:7 [Staying in the fear of the Lord:] The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear [reverence] Him, and delivereth them. [See also 115:11.]
* Psalm 34:17 [Desperate prayer:] The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
* Proverbs 1:33 [Heeding His warnings:] But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
* Proverbs 3:21,23 [Exercising wisdom and common sense:] My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: … 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
* Isaiah 30:15b [Not being reckless, but keeping calm:] In returning and rest shall ye be saved: in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.
* Proverbs 29:25b [Putting our trust in Him:] Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
* 1 Peter 1:5 [Faith:] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
3. Accidents can sometimes happen as a result of sin.
* Job 5:4 [Job said of foolish parents:] His children are far from safety.
* Psalm 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
* Proverbs 10:10b [Foolish and vain babbling can cause accidents.] A prating [chattering] fool shall fall.
* Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
* Proverbs 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
* Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
4. To help avoid accidents, we must observe sensible safety guidelines.
* Proverbs 14:29b [Go slow:] He that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. [See also Proverbs 19:2b.]
* Proverbs 27:12 [Make it impossible for accidents to happen by eliminating dangerous situations:] A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
* Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 [Work two by two when doing potentially dangerous jobs:] Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
* 1 Corinthians 10:12 [Beware of over-confidence:] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
* Ephesians 4:27 [Don’t let the Devil’s thoughts distract you:] Neither give place to the Devil.
* 1 Peter 5:8 [Beware of the unguarded moment!] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. [See also Matthew 26:41.]
5. More promises to claim for the Lord’s protection:
* Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
* Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; … and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
* Psalm 5:12 For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.
* Psalm 32:8 [The Lord will guide us in safety.] I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.
* Psalm 78:52,53a But [He] made His Own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53a And He led them on safely, so that they feared not.
* Psalm 89:18a For the Lord is our defence.
* Psalm 91:1,2,9,10 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. … 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
* Psalm 145:20a The Lord preserveth all them that love Him.
* John 17:15 [Jesus intercedes for our safety and well being:] I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
* 2 Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.
* 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
* 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His Heavenly Kingdom: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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