The Weekly Encourager – September 25, 2015 – Comprehensive Care

Have you looked at your insurance policy lately? How comprehensive is the care you've been promised in case of a medical, home, auto, or financial emergency? When an accident happens, who do you call?  You may find that some things you thought would be covered are not. Read the fine print! By contrast, here's the Lord's insurance plan.

Psalm 121 The Lord My Keeper

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shield on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forevermore.

A recent look at this short psalm revealed that the Hebrew “keep” is used six times in eight verses. It can also be translated preserve, protect, guard, or watch, as a watchman of sheep or cattle, or to put a protective hedge around something. I was struck by how comprehensive the Lord's care is over us. “Day and night” and the mention of both “sun” and “moon” cover any time of day; indeed, the Lord who “never sleeps” is available 24/7 to deal with emergencies. “All evil” covers any bad thing that could happen from external sources; “your soul [life]” includes the inner part of us, which is invisible and most valuable. “Going out and coming in” could refer to our movement about the day's tasks, travel, beginnings and endings, or major decisions such as which job to accept or where to live. “From this time forth and forever” covers all time until the end of time. God's loving care is all-encompassing.

What a contrast to man-made insurance policies! We can be confident that this Old Testament policy covers us, too, because Jesus prayed on our behalf, “Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me...I was keeping them in Thy name...I guarded them...that they many have my joy made full in themselves. Keep them from the evil one.” - John 17:11-15 Jesus prays for us still, from His seat next to the Father. In effect, our insurance gets automatic updates.

Paul prays for the saints, “May the God of peace sanctify you...may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved [kept] complete without blame at the coming of Jesus Christ.” - I Thessalonians 5:23 This is echoed in Jude 24-25, “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, be glory.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd who keeps us safe. As His personally-selected flock of sheep, we are entitled to His full protection. In fact, He wrote the policy; read the fine print! This policy is permanent and can never be revoked. Even better, the cost of this insurance is already paid in full. So we can rejoice! The same Good Shepherd who will guide us blameless into Eternity will lovingly care for our every need here on earth.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Trust in the Lord, and cast all your burdens on Him, for He cares for you. Lord, may we have great joy in Your promises, and peace in Your comprehensive care. May we review the policy often.

God is faithful,
j