Joy of Protection

Psalm 121 John 17:1-5,10-15

…as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” Matthew 23:37

“The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand” Psalm 121:5.

“My prayer is… that you protect them from the evil one,” John 17:15

The imagery of chicks and a hen serves as a powerful and tender metaphor in the Bible, highlighting themes of protection, care, and divine longing. This imagery primarily reflects God's nurturing and protective nature, as well as His desire to gather and shield His people. Peggy Joyce Ruth shares a story about how a hen protected her chicks:

“My husband and I live in the countryside, and one spring, our old mother hen hatched some baby chicks. One afternoon, while the little chicks were scattered all over the yard, I suddenly noticed the shadow of a hawk overhead. What happened next taught me a lesson I will never forget. What I expected to happen and what actually happened were two very different things.

I thought that the old hen would run around the barnyard, pick her favorite chicks, and try to cover them with her wings. Instead, to my surprise, she squatted down, spread her wings, and began to squawk. Without hesitation, the little chicks came running to her from every direction and quickly ducked under her outstretched wings. All the mother hen did was cluck and extend her wings, so they knew where to hide. Then she pulled her wings down tightly, tucking every little chick safely beneath her. There was no way that hawk could get to those babies without going through the mother hen first.”

This imagery conveys God's character's protective and maternal aspects, emphasizing His readiness to shelter and care for us. The story also reflects the intimate relationship God desires with His followers, one that is characterized by closeness, safety, and trust.

Psalm 121 illustrates the joy of protection and how God offers us care and support. 

This psalm emphasizes trusting in God’s providential guidance and serves as a travel Psalm. It conveys three key truths about God’s assistance and care for us: 1) The Creator is your helper. 2) The God of Israel is your protector. 3) The LORD will keep you from all harm.

Let’s explore these points as we delve into the joy of protection!

The first assurance is that God is our helper. Everyone needs help sometimes. While it's good to have friends, family, or a support system, they don't offer absolute safety. Despite precautions, things can go wrong. That's why we need to look to God for help. The Creator of the universe is your helper who there is no problem that is too big.

The second truth is this: God protects Israel and will protect you. Psalm 121:3-6 states, “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber… nor sleep. The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

The psalmist describes the various ways God protects you. First of all, God protects you from accidents

As verse 3 states: “He will not let your foot slip” (Psalm 121:3). When you build your life on God, you stand on solid ground. You have a firm foundation for both your feet and your life. For those who put their faith in Christ, there are no accidents. Everything that happens in your life occurs under God’s providential care.

Secondly, God never slumbers nor sleeps (Verses 3-4). Because God is always awake, you can sleep peacefully. It’s similar to how a child struggles to fall asleep until their parent promises to stay by their side. Once the parent is present, the child can trustingly drift off, knowing they are being watched over. In the same way, no matter what challenges you are facing, you can rest assured that you can leave them in God’s hands, confident that He will take care of you.

Thirdly, He is always close to you and protects you at all times. Verses 5 and 6 state, “The LORD watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.” This means that “the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” In other words, God provides protection around the clock—both day and night, and everything in between. He is always present to help you face any challenge in your life.

Fourthly, the Lord will keep you from all harm and will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore, even during every transition in your life (Psalm 121:7-8).

These verses assure us of God's constant presence in our lives. God does not promise that you will never face problems, but He does promise to be with you through them and to turn every challenge into a source of good (Romans 8). Evil will not prevail, and nothing can thwart God's purpose for your life. You can trust in God's providential care, as He oversees every aspect of your existence.

This assurance is the key to finding joy in God’s protection. Additionally, remember Jesus' prayer for His disciples: "My prayer is… that you protect them from the evil one" (John 17:15). And He reassures us, "Surely, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).