The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7 NKJV)
There is a wonderful promise in our passage of Scripture today, but it comes with a condition. God has put His holy hedge of protection around those who fear Him. Now, this is not the kind of fear that drives us into a small, dark corner, cowering in fear of God. This fear is a holy reverence for the sheer glory and magnificence of our God because we love, respect, and honor Him.
When we read that “The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,” the word encamps reminds us of the 40 years of wilderness wandering of the people of God. After being freed from bondage in Egypt and being led out to the Promised Land, God gave Israel forty years to think about their unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:34). But during all that time, God never abandoned them. He encamped around them and protected them from everything that would come against them. Even in their faithlessness, they still feared God, and He ultimately delivered them into their Promised Land.
Do you fear God? Do you love and respect Him? Do you esteem Him above all else? Then you have this promise today, that God will deliver you from anything that will come against you. You have the promise of God’s protection, God’s deliverance, and God’s love, favor, and mercy.
We must be careful not to assume something that is not promised. The promise is not a trouble-free existence; regular readers here know that I frequently recall that Jesus flatly told us that we will experience trouble in this world (John 16:33). The promise in Psalm 34:7 is that God will encamp around you and ultimately bring you to the other side of everything that has come against you – if not in this life, then certainly in the next, when He brings you to your true Promised Land.
Are you living your life in the fear of God, knowing that He has encamped around you with His holy hedge of safety? We can feel all alone when the waves of challenge are crashing down on us, but we must remember what Jesus said to His disciples before He left them: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). You are not alone! Jesus is with you every step of the way, especially when your way is long and winding and filled with difficulties.
One final word of encouragement. A few verses earlier in this psalm, David said, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). God not only hears your cries, He has promised to answer them and replace your every fear with faith. All you need to do is seek Him out, and you can look forward to His deliverance.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 