Protected from arrows

Psalm 91 - Study 16 - Protected from Arrows 

We read in Psalm 91:5-6, “You will have no fear of the evil things of the night, or of the arrow in flight by day, or of the disease which takes men in the dark, or of the destruction which makes waste when the sun is high.” (BBE) 

The part of the verse we are meditating on in this study is that we need not fear the arrows that fly by day. Arrows were widely used as weapons of warfare in days gone by to kill, hurt or pain those who were the targets. These arrows are almost unheard of as they are hardly in use in these days of modern warfare. However, I will show you a verse from the bible which will help us realize that there are arrows that are still being used even today, and we are in need of God’s protection from their attacks. 

We read in Jeremiah 9:8,“Their tongue is a deadly arrow;”(ASV) 

There are many people whose words are sharp and deadly like arrows. These words when hurled at us cause deep pain, but the psalmist encourages us to not be in dread of these deadly arrows that are directed towards us. 

We will study in detail some of the incidents that transpired in David’s life and learn how he handled these arrows that were aimed at him. 

1. The arrows of scorn and curses 

Goliath despised David 

In 1 Samuel 17:42-43 we read, “When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him, for he was only a boy and ruddy with a handsome appearance. So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog that you are coming to me with sticks?" Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” (LEB) 

Goliath the Philistine looked on David who was a young man with contempt and spoke to him with utter disregard. David did not allow the scornful words of Goliath get him down. Not only did Goliath speak to David with defiance, he went further on to curse David by his gods. However, David did not get perturbed but instead he boldly declared to Goliath that he came against him in the name of the Almighty God who was on his side. By doing so, David ended up with a jubilant victory over the ungodly Goliath. 

Often we may have heard people speak of us disrespectfully or with disdain. There are also those who might have cursed us with their words. It would be good to understand what these words of blessing or curse are, so that we will be better equipped to handle these assaults that are hurled against us. A majority of people consider their family or having their own house or a vehicle as their blessings. Let me explain blessings from the perspective of God in creation. 

When God created Adam and Eve the first thing He did was to bless them and this He did so by pronouncing certain words over them. God gave them instructions as to the kind of life they were expected to lead which were His words of blessings. God blessed them so that they would multiply, fill the earth and rule over all that He had created. The words of God gave them strength and they became rulers over all of God’s creation just as He declared. 

So also curses are words that are pronounced that declare our ruin or downfall. Often when we hear these words we get stressed and filled with fear that these could actually materialize to affect our family, work or even our future. If we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, every uncalled for curse that is hurled at us, will not affect us and there is no need for us to panic about them. 

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing 

We read in Ephesians 1:3,“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” (LEB) 

Everyone who has received the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior, have the blessed privilege of being those who are blessed with every spiritual blessings by God the Father. Therefore, none of the curses of men that are aimed at us will actualize in our lives. 

Goliath was a trained warrior, David was just an ordinary young shepherd boy. While Goliath came with all his armor, David stood before him with nothing to protect himself. However the Lord stood with David and gave him an astounding victory. None of the words of contempt or curses of Goliath had any sort of impact on David for the Lord was on his side. 

Just like David, the Lord will raise us up in the presence of those who spoke with disdain or scorned us. The Lord hears the words of disregard aimed at us, even before they reach our ears and He will fight on our behalf. Let us also be assured that any curse that is targeted towards those of us who are God’s children, will not affect us in any way for the Lord will turn them around to become a blessing to us. 

Balaam could not curse the Israelites 

There is an incident in the Old Testament that will help us understand this truth in a very practical way. As the Israelites journeyed toward the promise land, there was a king who was perturbed by their progress. His fear was that the Israelites who were numerous and strong would overcome him and overthrow his kingdom. King Balak who was the king summoned to Balaam who was a prophet to pronounce curses on the people of Israel. This incident is recorded in Numbers chapter 23. Balaam tried his best to curse the Israelites, but it proved utterly futile. 

We read in Numbers 23:20, “He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that.” (ERV) 

While the king ordered Balaam to curse the Israelites, God commanded him to bless them instead. The outcome was inevitable. Balaam ended up blessing the people of Israel as He was unable to go against God’s commands. When King Balak saw the turn of events, he was totally perplexed and filled with fear. 

If the blessings of the Lord rests on someone, Satan cannot speak or bring to pass any of the evil curses he proposes to target them with. So also the blessings of the Lord cannot be nullified or reverted by the enemy. 

2. The arrows of deceitful words 

We read in Jeremiah 9:8, “Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.” (ESV) 

This kind of arrow is the words of deceit that people practice. This refers to those who speak peaceably in the presence of the person and once their back is turned they will speak ill of them. When this sort of news reaches our ears we may be shocked that it came from those whom we thought were so kind to us. The Lord is able to protect us from such arrows of deceitful speech and there is no reason for us to be fearful of them for God has promised to be our shield. 

Absalom deceives his father

We read in 2 Samuel 15:7, “And after forty years, Absalom said to king David: Let me go, and pay my vows which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron.” (DRB) 

David was the King of Israel. David’s son Absalom came to meet his father David and placed a request before him. He informed David that he had made a vow to the Lord which he was obligated to fulfill by going over to Hebron. David was so impressed by Absalom’s request that he readily granted him permission to do so. 

If our children sought our permission to go to a prayer meeting or a camp, we too as parents would be delighted to send them, just like David did. 

This was David’s reply as recorded in 2 Samuel 15:9-10, “And king David said to him: Go in peace. And he arose, and went to Hebron. And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying: As soon as you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, say ye: Absalom reigneth in Hebron. (DRB) 

David completely trusted his son Absalom and sent him with his blessings to Hebron. However, Absalom had an evil plot to take over the throne from his father David. Absalom sent out spies into all the tribes of Israel with the intention to elevate himself to be the king in the place of his father David. Behind his act of piety was a wicked scheme to overthrow his father David. Absalom took over the throne and David had to flee from his palace. However this was only for a really brief period, for soon Absalom lost all that he plotted and schemed to achieve. 

There are those who like Absalom appear godly on the outside but their lives will be in complete contradiction to the faith they profess. 

This incident is also a warning to children that they need to be truthful with their parents. It is good to say things as they are. Instead if they tell lies or use deceit to escape a situation, the ones to face the consequence are not parents but children themselves. 

We read in 2 Timothy 3:5, “they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.” (GNB) 

In the above mentioned verse Paul cautions young Timothy that there will be those who will appear very religious on the outside but will be totally lacking in the real power and that he should stay away from such people. 

If we are to assess as to who is a godly person they will be proper in all areas of their lives. They will be upright in all their relationships, with no deceit in their speech. They will have integrity in handling finances. Sadly, there are many believers too who borrow money from others promising that they would repay them on a certain date, but neither give back the loan and don’t even inform the concerned person of their inability to do so. This is certainly not a mark of a godly person. So also in relating with the opposite gender, a godly person should be a good example. Our godliness should not be a cover up. There are many believers whose work table at office will portray that they are godly people, but their dealings will be in total contradiction to what they profess. We must constantly be reminded that godliness is not just an outward form but it is should be evident in our day to day lives as the way we actually live. 

It is strange that there is so much of talk about social distancing these days, but this was the admonition Paul gave to Timothy way back then that he should stay away from those whose words and deeds don’t match. We must be careful to not associate with such people, who are unable to keep up their words or at least inform us that they are not able to do so. 

The New Testament talks about a man who had two sons. The younger son demanded for his share of property only because he did not respect his father. As children we must always learn to honor our parents for if we do not do so, our future will be uncertain. Honoring one’s parents is different from obeying. Honoring is to esteem our parents and place them in high regard. Our parents may be economically backward, or not as educated as we are, but the commandment of God stands that we honor them anyways. 

3. The arrows of betrayal 

Ahithophel betrays David 

As David fled from his palace into hiding, Ahitophel who was one of the most trusted advisors and a wise counsellor to David chose to switch sides and went along with Absalom. If there is a term that can be used for what Ahitophel did it was treachery. Ahitophel promised Absalom that he would be a loyal counsellor to him just as he was to his father David. 

When the news of this betrayal reached David, he was not perplexed. We will read the verse below to find out how David dealt with this sort of disloyalty. 

We read in 2 Samuel 15:31, When David was told that Ahithophel had joined Absalom's rebellion, he prayed, "Please, LORD, turn Ahithophel's advice into nonsense!" (GNB) 

When David heard that Ahitophel had turned traitor, David took the matter up to the Lord immediately. He prayed to the Lord that he should turn Ahitophel’s advice into foolishness. Absalom rebelled against his own father and woefully he had a tragic end. Ahitophel gave advice which was not heeded and in total desperation, Ahitophel appallingly ended his own life. 

We may have had such experiences where the ones whom we helped much, those who received numerous blessings through us have turned against us. This kind of betrayal will cause us immense pain and agony. Many people think that we must act in such situations when someone speaks wrongly and get even with them. Every time we encounter these words of betrayal and acts of treason, let us like David take it to the Lord and commit it to Him. The Lord fully understands this perfectly as one of his chosen twelve who was closest to Him, decided to betray Him. As Judas Iscariot left to betray Jesus, the Lord was not perturbed for He knew who He was and the reason for which He had come down to the earth. 

Arrows that are aimed at us can be of three types. Words of scorn and curse that Goliath spewed out at David. Deceitful words like the ones Absalom used to cheat his father King David. Words and acts of betrayal like those of Ahitophel to his master King David. David encountered all these arrows, but the Lord delivered him from all of them and He established David’s throne so that David was never shaken. 

As God’s children we are to constantly be reminded that when enemy heaps on us words of scorn and curse let us trust God and move on, knowing that He will give us victory. Secondly when words of deceit are spoken against us by those closest to us, instead of being shattered, let us not be dismayed because the Lord heard those words even before we heard them, and He will deal with them. Thirdly, when words of treason are spoken against us, let us go to the Lord in prayer believing that He will overcome and overthrow every treachery that is formed against us. God’s word encourages us that no weapon formed against us will prosper, and we must learn to stand firm in the Lord. 

The word of the Lord encourages us that we need not be fearful of any of these arrows that are hurled at us by day. The Lord is our shield and fortress and we can be confident that none of these arrows will harm us in any way, for we are safe in His care and keeping.

Prayer:

Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for the protection that You have promised for us from all the deadly arrows that are aimed at us.  So many times we are hurt by the words that are spoken against us and feel so low but we thank You for Your words of comfort and assurance.  From now we will not be afraid of the words that are hurled at us under various circumstances and we will go forth as the children of God who are under the divine protection of God.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

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Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Terror by night

Psalm 91 - Study 15 - Terror by Night

We read in Psalm 91:5-6, “You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.” (BBE) 

The part of the verse we will meditate on is that ‘we need not fear any dangers at night.’ Generally during the day we are surrounded by people, are in constant communication with those around and hence may not feel fearful. However, for many at night when they are in bed, as they ponder on various uncertainties, their thoughts are clouded and are often gripped with apprehension. For those of us who have such anxieties or dread that has seized our hearts, God’s word comes to encourage us through this study. 

Abraham was fearful too

We read in Genesis 15:1, “After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Have no fear, Abram: I will keep you safe, and great will be your reward.” (BBE) 

We know that Abraham was a great man of God, the father of faith and yet the word of God that came to him was to not be afraid. In the previous chapter we read that Abraham had fought with kings and won an astounding victory. He was an extremely wealthy man who was blessed with abundance of gold, silver, livestock and affluence. However, Abraham did not have a child of his own, and it was this situation that prompted him to be filled with fear and anxiety. 

All of us will encounter those circumstances which cause apprehension, but we must learn to overcome these fears. These fears if left unchecked could certainly overwhelm us. There may be some of us who have been blessed much, but often it is a very small need in our lives that will weigh our hearts down. Whenever we are challenged with want of any kind, it often does fill our hearts with fear, especially at night. 

The widow who feared starvation

We read in 1 Kings 17:12, “Then she said, By the life of the Lord your God, I have nothing but a little meal in my store, and a drop of oil in the bottle; and now I am getting two sticks together so that I may go in and make it ready for me and my son, so that we may have a meal before our death.” (BBE) 

The land in which this widow lived had a severe famine. All that remained with this woman was a little flour and oil with which she decided to gather a few sticks to cook the last meal for her son and herself. That was when she met Elijah, the prophet of God. Imagine her mental state on that night before she met the prophet, when all that she could anticipate was death because of the severe famine. 

Many people are challenged with lack during these days, and though they may smile through the day, these fears loom large at night. Uncertainties about the future and questions on how to meet the basic needs of the family cloud their minds. 

The Lord’s assurance to Abraham

We read in Genesis 15:2, “And Abram said, What will you give me? for I have no child.” (BBE)

When God told Abraham that He would be to him a shield and great reward, Abraham said to the Lord, ‘What will you give me? For I have no child.’ The thing that troubled Abraham most was the fact that he was growing older and had no child of his own. 

Listen to God’s reply in Genesis 15:5, “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”” (ESV) 

The above mentioned verse has deeply impressed my heart. When Abraham mentioned the thing that was lacking in his life, namely a child to call his own, the Lord took him outside his tent. While the tent in which Abraham lived in was small, God had to call him out to look at the vastness of the sky, to remind him that He was the Almighty God who created this vast expanse. God then gave Abraham the assignment to count the stars in the night sky if it were possible for him to do so. If Abraham tried to do that he must have given up in utter despair. God had to reassure Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars that he beheld in that night sky. From that day onwards, Abraham believed God fully and did not let the fact that he did yet have a child as yet, bother him anymore. 

To those who are overwhelmed with the thought that there is a huge need in their lives, the Lord encourages us to take some time to come out of that mindset. In the midst of all the difficulties, the Lord beckons us to put our faith in Him, just as Abraham did. He is the God who created the heavens and the earth. We may think that the solution to our problem will come one way, but the Lord has myriad of ways to meet all of our needs, and there is absolutely no reason to fear. 

Elijah’s assurance to the widow

We read in 1 Kings 17:13-14, And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” (ESV) 

The first words of Elijah to the despairing widow was ‘Do not fear’. He further had to assure her that this was the affirmation from the God of Israel that her jar of flour and the jug of oil would not go empty until the day the Lord sent rain and turned the situation around. Elijah requested her to first go, make a little cake and bring it to him. It was indeed a strange request, as usually when a guest comes home, we would offer them something only if we ourselves had enough to give to them. The way the prophet asked her to give him was as though she had enough to share. When she trusted the words of the prophet and put her faith in God, from that day on, she had no reason to worry anymore about the lack, for the Lord multiplied her supplies in a miraculous way. 

God’s word that comes to comfort us today is that we too need not fear anything. As human beings we are all prone to be dismayed and anxious, but instead of focusing our attention on the circumstances at hand, let us turn our eyes towards the Lord who is the mighty creator and all of our fears will be alleviated. 

The fear that overcame Isaac

We read in Genesis 26:24, And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.” (ESV) 

This was the promise of God to Isaac, the son of Abraham. Apparently, though Isaac was the heir to all the wealth and blessings of his father Abraham, he too required the assurance from the Lord that he should not be afraid. Isaac was a man who prospered in every way and yet he was fearful. God had to reassure him that he would certainly bless him and multiply his offspring for the sake of the promise he made to Abraham. 

The reasons for Isaac’s fears are stated in the verses below.

In Genesis 26:13-14 we read, “and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.”(ESV) 

Here we read that Isaac became extremely wealthy and gained more and more. As Isaac was prospering with flocks, herds and many servants, this explosion of wealth made the Philistines envy him. The Philistines were so jealous of Isaac, that whenever he dug a well, to water his flock, immediately they claimed that it was their own. They repeated this several times. 

This world at present is in such a crisis that people have to encounter adverse situations, irrespective of whether they have little or much. When envy rules the heart, it will make people do things that they never imagined they could. We may have been challenged with jealousy at our work place or in various other relationships. Generally, at those times we too may be gripped with fear and seek the favor of men. Instead, we must trust in the Lord completely for the Lord will deliver us from all our fears and from those who are envious of us. 

Daniel did not fear his conspirators or the hungry lions

We read in Daniel 6:3-4, “Daniel soon showed that he could do better work than the other supervisors or the governors. Because he was so outstanding, the king considered putting him in charge of the whole empire. Then the other supervisors and the governors tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel administered the empire, ..”(GNB) 

Daniel was impeccable in all that he did, that there was no way anyone could find fault with him. While the king considered elevating him to the topmost position in the empire, this made the governors and supervisors who worked alongside Daniel turn envious of him. Daniel was wrongly charged and had to spend one whole night in the lion’s den only because of his uncompromising faith, integrity and diligence at work. 

We read in Daniel 6:22, “God sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me.” (GNB) 

Daniel must have been in an arduous situation that night, but here’s the testimony Daniel declared to the King the next day, ‘God had sent His angel and shut the mouth of those fiercely hungry lions so that they did not harm me in any way.’ God was able to keep Daniel safe and secure though he had fallen into the lion’s den. 

There may be some who are fearful because they are surrounded by those who being filled with jealousy, are constantly looking for reason to find fault with them. They may be conspiring to malign the good name we have earned with our superiors. Let us be reminded that these situations are not exclusive only to us and we must look to the Lord. The Lord promises us that no weapon formed against us will prosper. When the Lord is with us He can protect us and deliver us even when we pass through fire, or the lion’s den or through the Red Sea and we need fear nothing. 

The king makes peace with Isaac

We read in Genesis 26:26, “Abimelech came from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army to see Isaac.” (GNB) 

And in Genesis 26:28, “They answered, "Now we know that the LORD is with you, and we think that there should be a solemn agreement between us. We want you to promise.” (GNB) 

Abimelech was the king who chased Isaac away from his territory because he observed that Isaac was prospering greatly. Wherever, Isaac went the Lord went with him and so the blessings of Isaac multiplied. The very same king who drove Isaac away, came with his officers to make a peace treaty with Isaac. 

Often we are running away from people fearing their jealousy, not realizing that they are the ones who should be fleeing from us. If the Lord is with us and giving us the increase, no human being can thwart the plans or stop God’s blessings for our lives. Let us praise the Lord in all situations, set aside all our fears and stand firm on the hope that the Lord is with us. 

Jacob was fearful of Esau

We read in Genesis 32:11, Save me, I pray, from my brother Esau. I am afraid—afraid that he is coming to attack us and destroy us all, even the women and children. (GNB) 

Jacob was scared to meet his brother Esau, because many years earlier as a young man, he had cheated his brother of his birthright and later his blessings from his father. In the beginning of chapter 32 Jacob encounters angels and at the end of the same chapter we find that Jacob is wrestling with God. When Jacob was informed that his brother Esau was on his way with a band of men to meet him, Jacob was dismayed that he immediately divided his family into two groups and his herds into four groups. One can imaging his confusion and perplexity only because of the dread as to what could befall him for all that he had meted out to his brother Esau in the past. 

We see that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob our ancestors all went through these phases of fear. Often like Jacob our fears are because we have done or said things in our past, which we believe are the reasons for our present calamities. As children of God be encouraged to know that when we confess our sins to the Lord, He will surely forgive us of all our iniquities and will not keep a record of the wrongs we have done. God’s word promises us that He has cast our sins into the depths of the sea. Also if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us all of our sins. 

Peter was in dread of death 

We read in Act 12:4, “After his arrest Peter was put in jail, where he was handed over to be guarded by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after Passover.”(GNB) 

King Herod arrested Peter and had him jailed. Herod’s plot was to kill Peter just as he had already done to James because he found that this pleased the Jews. Every morning Peter was probably anticipating death. I think Peter might have pondered in those lone moments of the time when he denied Jesus. There was something wonderful that happened at that time. While Peter languished in prison, the church was praying for his release. 

It is a powerful truth that when the church comes together to pray, the Lord will intervene to do the miraculous. 

Jacob was reconciled with Esau

We read in Genesis 33:4, But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They were both crying. (GNB) 

Jacob wrestled all night with God and this is what happened the next day. As Jacob anticipated the worst, Esau ran to meet him, hugged and kissed him. They both cried tears of joy on being able to meet each other. 

When God is with us, we have the assurance that He is able to make our enemies live at peace with us. The fact is that when God is with us, he will make our enemies live at peace with us. 

Peter was delivered by the angel of the Lord

We read in Act 12:19, Herod gave orders to search for him, but they could not find him. So he had the guards questioned and ordered them put to death. After this, Herod left Judea and spent some time in Caesarea. (GNB) 

As the church prayed, the angel of the Lord released Peter from prison. King Herod searched high and low but could not find Peter and in anger ordered that the guards be questioned and be put to death. Strangely after this incident, Herod left Judea and went away to reside Caesarea. The king who threatened Peter was now filled with apprehension and left the city of Judea. 

It is also an actuality that if the Lord is with us, those who oppose us will themselves flee from us. 

The Lord will keep us safe from all the fears that crowd our thoughts at night. Let us have faith that the Lord will remove our wants and supply all of our needs. We need not fear those who are envious of us for God will deal with such, and not allow them to overcome us. Keep in mind that the one who is in us is greater and He will never allow us to be put to shame before our adversaries. We must also be assured that the Lord will not deal with us for all the sins of our past. If we have confessed them to the Lord we need not fear that we will have to pay for all the wrongs we committed in the past. 

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV) 

The confidence that God has given to us He has not given to us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love and of a sound mind. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob needed assurance from God to overcome their fears and God did intervene to help them overcome those fears. The same God is willing to help us too. We must stop being afraid and declare with faith that we will not be afraid of the terror by night. Let us seek the Lord and pray that He will help us overcome every fear in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

Bro. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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