Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will put my trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower”.
Growing up in a tough Bronx neighborhood in New York City , Jerry and Jeff Monroe developed an interest in self-defense . They became experts in the martial arts, and they opened a kung fu school in 1978. Later, the brothers formed a group to protect their neighborhood from crime. Eventually they merged with Curtis Sliwa the now famous Guardian Angels.
One day a fellow member of the Guardian Angels walked up to Jerry, pointed his finger at him as if it were a gun, and said “You’re good at kung fu. Bang! Jerry got the point. His skill at self-defense was no match for a loaded gun. Then the other Angel asked, “Where will you spend eternity if you’re blown away on patrol?” Jerry admitted he had never thought about that.
When Jerry mentioned the incident to his brother, they both realized their need for God in their lives. Today Jeff and Jerry are Christians, and they use their kung fu demonstrations to tell others about the ultimate defense, the kind David celebrated in Psalm 59:16 “You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble “.
The greatest protective shield of all is – God Himself. David knew that the LORD could keep him secure in a hostile world. We too can know that same confidence. Even though Satan may attack us and evil may surround us, the Lord is our protector.
Whenever we are frightened by circumstances or feel that the forces against us are too much, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s protective shield is more powerful than anything man or nature can provide.
In Second Kings 6:16, Elisha’s servant saw why his master could be so confident in the face of what seemed to be impending disaster. We read that “the Lord opened the eyes of the young man” and he saw an amazing sight (v 17). An invisible army “of horses and chariots of fire ” surrounded Elisha, ready to protect the Israelites from the Syrian army.
Divine protection is not an Old Testament provision. As God’s children, we can put our faith in His might defense as we do His will. We can move ahead with confidence, eager to fight the foe. Even when the battle seems too great, we must still trust the Lord. We can encourage ourselves by thinking of Elisha’s message to his servant, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”.
In today’s society, we are vulnerable to everything from viruses to nuclear weapons. We need divine protection. We must depend on God, who is our defense and refuge in the day of trouble.
With God Behind Us And His Arms Beneath Us, We Can Face Whatever Lies Ahead Of Us.
Pastor Paul Okonkwo
Independent Baptist Bible Church (IBBC),
New Haven,
Enugu
