Safety Is of the Lord

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”

Proverbs 21:31

Introduction:

  1. A young man recently reminded us of the general fear of men, for they are afraid of many things.
  2. A woman in our church was saved from bodily harm in a serious auto accident only two days ago.
  3. Think about the things that steal peace and cause many to fear … jobs, health, travel, politics, finances, enemies, children, career choice, storms, diseases, war, childbirth, terrorism, etc.
  4. How safe are you? Do you know you are perfectly safe as long as you fully trust the Lord?
  5. How safe are you? The bravest people in the world should be Christians … consider the martyrs!
  6. Can you sing Psalm 3 and 18? David faced more danger than we can imagine, but God saved him!
  7. The Lord will bring frightening events and situations into your life to build your faith and get Himself glory, and we prepare ourselves for those events and situations by assimilating a study like this one.

The Source of Safety

  1. Our sovereign God, active daily in the world by providence, is the only source of true safety.
  2. Roman Catholics, addicted to superstition and relics, will use statues and medals of St. Christopher, their manmade patron saint of protection and travel, in order to obtain safety.
  3. The horse, once important for safety for military success, cannot compare to God (Pr 21:31).
  4. Some may trust in chariots and horses, but only the LORD can truly save anyone (Ps 20:6-8).
  5. David gave all the credit to the LORD his God for his safety and success (Ps 3:1-8; 27:1-6).
  6. Peaceful sleep at night is based on learning to trust the only source of safety – God (Ps 4:8).
  7. David was not afraid of the valley of the shadow of death, for God was with him (Ps 23:4).
  8. All the ordinary and natural means of safety are worthless compared to God (Ps 33:16-20).
  9. God sends the angel of the Lord to encamp around and deliver those who fear Him (Ps 34:7).
  10. Psalm 91 describes God’s protection from … enemies, annoying fatal diseases, terror by night, silent terror by day, fatal diseases during the day or night, men falling by the thousands on all sides, evil, plagues in your house, serious falls, dangerous enemies, and death.
  11. We use means for building and protecting, but we trust God to bless the efforts (Ps 127:1).
  12. It is folly and vanity to look for safety anywhere but with God through obedience (Is 30:1-7).
  13. No matter your careful precautions, you cannot escape without God’s help (Isaiah 30:15-17).
  14. Those who trust in human help other than God will be sorely disappointed (Isaiah 31:1-3).
  15. Safety and prosperity come by trusting in the Lord and no other for protection (Jer 17:5-8).
  16. Ahab sought protection by disguise, but God’s chance arrow hit home (I Kings 22:29-40).
  17. Time and chance affect your life in many respects, but who rules time and chance (Ecc 9:11).
  18. True mercy for the helpless comes from the Lord; reject any other hope (Hosea 14:1-3).
  19. Jonah summarized it well by saying at seaside, “Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:7-9).

The Examples of Safety

  1. God protected Abraham and Isaac’s wives (Gen 12:12-20; 20:1-17; 26:6-11; Ps 105:12-15).
  2. God protected Jacob from his angry father-in-law and Esau (Gen 31:24,29,36-42; 33:1-4).
  3. Israel’s men could leave their homes and property unprotected three times a year (Ex 34:24).
  4. Job was very safe inside God’s hedge, which even Satan admitted was there (Job 1:4; 2:10).
  5. David wrote Psalm 18 (also found in II Sam 22) to celebrate his victory over all his enemies.
    1. He wrote much of God’s glorious intervention to save him from many threats (18:1-19)!
    2. He wrote of leaping over a wall and running through a troop with God’s help (Ps 18:29)!
    3. No wonder he could conclude with a glorious song of praise for deliverance (18:46-50)!
  6. The three Hebrew men did not fear Nebuchadnezzar and were saved from fire (Dan 3:16-27).
  7. Daniel spent a night safely with lions that were not so kind to his enemies (Daniel 6:21-24).
  8. There are devils behind governments, but our angels fight against them (Daniel 10:13,20-21).
  9. Jesus was forced to the edge of a cliff, but He walked through the mob safely (Luke 4:28-30).
  10. Paul was saved oft from death, and he knew he would yet be saved (II Cor 1:9-11; 11:23-27).

The Hope of Safety

  1. Are you fearful of political change? Remember Esther in Persia, Daniel in Babylon, etc.!
  2. Are you fearful about your children? Remember Moses’ mother putting him in the Nile!
  3. Are you fearful about your income? Remember Ruth finding a decent job in Israel!
  4. Are you fearful about a spouse? Remember Ruth finding a decent man in Israel!
  5. Are you fearful of famine? Remember Jacob and his family eating the best of Egypt!
  6. Are you fearful of a disease? Remember Hezekiah and his reversal of health!
  7. Are you fearful of travel? Remember Jacob traveling with his young family (Gen 35:5)!
  8. The things written aforetime were written for our comfort, patience, and hope (Rom 15:4).

The Conditions of Safety

  1. Only reasonable efforts with trust in God should be made, or you trust yourself or man too much, and God will withdraw His blessing to expose your true helplessness (Ps 127:1-2).
  2. God’s promises of safety do not excuse or justify tempting the Lord by unnecessary and excessive risks, for He expects us to be prudent and wise when possible (Luke 4:9-12).
  3. When a man’s ways please the Lord, God makes his enemies at peace with him (Prov 16:7).
  4. When a man fears God, he has the angel of the Lord as a constant companion (Psalm 34:7).
  5. Fear is a lack of faith, and let not that man presume on God’s protection (Heb 11:6; Rev 21:8), yet good men get discouraged or fearful at times (Ps 34:4; Acts 27:20; II Cor 1:8).
  6. King Asa tried God and man for safety, and the lesson applies to all of us (II Chron 16:7-12).
  7. Psalm 91, a great psalm of safety, describes the conditions for God to protect a person.
    1. You must walk closely with God and remain in a close personal relationship (91:1).
    2. You must make God your all in all, your favorite object and favorite activity (91:9).
    3. You must love God and seek to know all you can about Him and His works (91:14).
  8. Call upon the Lord in your time of trouble, no matter how feeble your prayer. He will hear and deliver you (II Chron 20:6-12; Psalm 18:6; Matt 14:30-31; Heb 5:7; I Pet 5:7).

Conclusion:

  1. Think about the things that steal peace and cause fear to many … jobs, health, travel, politics, finances, enemies, children, career choice, storms, diseases, war, childbirth, terrorism, etc.
  2. How safe are you? Do you know you are perfectly safe as long as you fully trust the Lord?
  3. How safe are you? The bravest people in the world should be Christians … consider the martyrs!
  4. Can you sing Psalm 3 and 18? David faced more danger than we can imagine, but God saved him!
  5. The Lord will bring frightening events and situations into your life to build your faith and get Himself glory, and we prepare ourselves for those events and situations by assimilating a study like this one.

For Further Study:

  1. Proverb Commentary: Proverbs 21:31
  2. Sermon Outline: Psalm 91