Divine protection!

God protects those who place their trust in Him alone! Israelites are His Covenant people.

God chooses imperfect people as instruments of His mercy in His plan of redemption. Even when we're low on faith and slow to take action, He says to us, "For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you'" (Isaiah 41:13). The grace of Jesus is there to pick us up, dust us off and help us try again. First5

And speaking of Mother Teresa... let’s give her the last word, “Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy.” Sabbath Moments 

2 Kings 13:17

17 And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” The New King James Version

This section describes a symbolic act that Elisha had Joash perform to ensure victories over his enemies; the king was only partly successful in completing the task. Elisha’s symbolic act of putting his hands on the king’s hands should have alerted the king that the aged prophet was conveying a divine blessing on him. Jehoash’s halfhearted compliance with Elisha’s instructions exposed his weak faith and illustrated God’s unfavorable evaluation of his character. The NKJV Study Bible

Job 41:28

28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him. The New King James Version

The remainder of God’s speech is a poetic description of Leviathan. God describes its great strength, fearsome teeth, impenetrable skin, and fiery breath. Weapons are useless against it. Just as no one is able to subdue this creature, no one can challenge the rule of Yahweh. Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 11:2

2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, 

They make ready their arrow on the string, 

That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. The New King James Version

The wicked are prepared for attack, whether that attack is literal or describing slanderous accusations. The psalmist’s opponents hope to remain unseen to hide their guilt. Their ambush comes unexpectedly. Faithlife Study Bible

They view the righteous as helpless birds flying to their mountain home. They do not realize that their mountain home is protection in the Lord Himself. This is a picture of the wicked on the hunt for the righteous. These verses are the taunt of the wicked to the righteous. They are a false charge; the words are untrue. The foundations are not destroyed; there is a great deal the righteous can do. Most important, the righteous can keep trusting in God, their true foundation. The NKJV Study Bible

Psalm 91:5

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day, The New King James Version

The Hebrew word used here, pachad, describes a debilitating fear. The night describes the vulnerability of being in darkness. It introduces the context of a battle or the destruction that comes during invasion. The psalmist envisions protection throughout the day and night. Faithlife Study Bible

The interplay of words for night and day in these verses indicates the universal nature of God’s protection. Terror, arrow, pestilence, and destruction together refer to evil in general. The NKJV Study Bible

Proverbs 25:18

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor 

Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. The New King James Version

In the law, a false witness was given the same punishment as the accused. Faithlife Study Bible

Jeremiah 9:8 

8 Their tongue is an arrow shot out; It speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, But in his heart he lies in wait. The New King James Version

Jeremiah returns to the imagery of bow and arrow to depict Judah’s deceit. The picture is of a person speaking peaceably to his neighbor while lying in wait to ambush him. The NKJV Study Bible

Lamentations 3:12

12 He has bent His bow 

And set me up as a target for the arrow. The New King James Version

Returning to the imagery of the Divine Warrior unleashing arrows on His enemy. Faithlife Study Bible

This verse echoes Job in which Job compares God to an archer who makes human beings His target. The NKJV Study Bible

Psalm 7:10 

My defense is of God,

Who saves the upright in heart.

Psalm 21:12 

Therefore You will make them turn their back;

You will make ready Your arrows on 

Your string toward their faces.

Psalm 37:14 

The wicked have drawn the sword

And have bent their bow,

To cast down the poor and needy,

To slay those who are of upright conduct.

Psalm 64:4 

That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;

Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

Job 5:19 

He shall deliver you in six troubles,

Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

Job 5:20 

|n famine He shall redeem you from death,

And in war from the power of the sword.

Job 5:21 

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue

And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

Job 5:23 

For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,

And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

Song of Solomon 3:8 

They all hold swords,

Being expert in war.

Every man has his sword on his thigh

Because of fear in the night.