(pronounced shah-MAR yis-rah-EL)
THE PROTECTOR OF ISRAEL
Psalm 121:4
Behold! The Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Behold simply means, 'listen up!' or 'pay attention!', in order to gain a person's attention that the next words said are heard by the hearer. Sometimes to remind, sometimes to reinforce what has already been said previously.
The Protector of Israel is Almighty God. He is Keeper. He keeps watch over His chosen people. [John 17:12]. As a father protects his children, God protects His people.
He is Guardian. He guards us on every side. As He guarded His people in the wilderness, He went before them as a pillar of cloud and behind them as a pillar of fire. [Exodus 13:17-22]. Even when the tabernacle was built, and the glory of God was upon it, the cloud by day and the fire in the cloud by night, reinforced God's presence upon every Israelite in the camp. And the tabernacle was not consumed in the fire of God's presence. [Exodus 40:38].
The Protector of Israel surrounds him, instructs him and guards him 'as the apple of His eye'. [Deuteronomy 32:10]. We are surrounded by the angel of The Lord [Psalm 34:7; Zechariah 2:5]. We are instructed by His voice [Isaiah 48:17]. We are the apple of His eye. We are vulnerable in our humanness and require great care by a loving God. [Psalm 17:8].
The Protector of Israel is Shepherd over Israel. When the flock begins to scatter, He gathers them back to Himself. At times, He will leave the majority of the flock and go looking for the wanderers, the lost sheep. Even when it is The Lord Who has scattered us for His purposes and will, it is still He Who brings us back to Himself. [Jeremiah 31:10; Deuteronomy 28:64]. Only when we acknowledge Him as Shepherd, does He become our personal Shepherd; The One we follow everywhere because we love His voice. [Psalm 23].
The Protector of Israel never sleeps or grows weary; never gets drowsy. [Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 27:3]. It is impossible for mere man to be on guard 24/7, seven days a week, month after month into the years. Yet, our God's strength and protection is beyond time and space. Wherever God is God is awake, alert, and prepared.
Aren't you glad God is your Protector?
