Saturday, July 28, 2018
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is the strength of my life!
OUR PROTECTOR
Farmers raising chickens readily recognize the threat of chicken hawks who circle the sky waiting for the little chicks to stray from the hen -- only to swoop down and destroy them. Seeing the hawk the mother calls her chicks and spreads her wings-- under which they dash for protection. This striking picture both our Savior (see Luke 13:34) and the Psalmist allude to: "Therefore the children of men put their trust in the shadow of Thy wings" (Psalm 36:7).
Luther puts it this way in his explanation to the first article of the Apostles' Creed: "He defends me from all danger and guards and protects me from all evil." Do we realize all the physical dangers that surround us daily and from which we have been spared-- bacteria and virus that can invade and infect our bodies, the breakdown of our organs, accidents and natural disasters, crime that pervades our society? Even when illness, trouble, and sorrow do come our way God is at our side to see us through and to strengthen us spiritually so that we my persevere through all of life's trials.
Consider the hordes of spiritual enemies and threats we face daily. All have been overcome for us by and through Jesus. He bids us walk and live in faith, not fear. "For The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of what shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).
