The Surrounding Favor Of The Lord
The Psalmist compares God’s favor to protection from a shield. Let’s take a closer look at how God’s favor rests upon us and protects us as we walk through this life.
I loved picking up my children from school. It was a small kindness I could offer them, sparing them the bus ride home. I have especially vivid and precious memories of picking them up during their middle school years. Middle schoolers. What a bizarre and funny lot, right? So what do God’s favor and middle school pick ups have in common? Oh, more than you might think.
I was reading the book of Psalms when I came across this beautiful verse.
Psalm 5:12
For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround Him with favor as with a shield. Ps 5:2
The sheer poetry and depth of this verse stopped me in my reading. As the deeper meaning began to soak in, I was again in awe of who God really is and what I mean to Him.
Breaking This Verse Down
Let’s take a closer look at this beautiful verse to better understand just how meaningful it truly is.
First, the psalmist tells us who is doing the blessing. God Himself lavishes blessings on His creation. His blessings fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous, much like rain. In Scripture, rain is often used as a symbol of blessing.
That you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matt 5:45
Who Are The Righteous
In this verse, God is clearly speaking of the righteous. The elect. The saved. Those who have accepted the free gift of salvation. His beloved. Those who have bowed the knee in reverence and submission to Jesus.
To really understand this verse, we need to look at it in context.
Putting It Into Context
The psalmist makes a clear distinction between those who exalt the name of the Lord and those who oppose Him. He understands that the end of the wicked is destruction, but the righteous are blessed by God.
God is a loving God who wishes that no one should perish but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9b).
The imagery and meaning found in the words you surround him with favor as with a shield are both beautiful and profound.
The word favor comes from the Hebrew word ratson (raw tsone). It means to be acceptable and to have goodwill. This favor surrounds those who belong to God. To better understand this, it helps to know a little about ancient shields.
One important piece of armor used in ancient warfare was the shield. It was often as tall as a man. These shields provided strong protection during battle. Soldiers would sometimes lock their shields together to form a protective wall. At other times, they formed a circle to guard their backs or even lifted them overhead to shield themselves from flying weapons
Psalm 5:12 paints a beautiful picture of God’s favor lovingly surrounding you and me with an unpenetrable force, providing protection and blessings!
This favor is a gift. I received it when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Just one of the many gifts I received!
Back To The Car Pick-Up Line
Now let’s return to that middle school car pick-up line.
When I think back to waiting for my children after school, words like bedlam, chaos, and wild abandon come to mind. Somewhere in that sea of smelly, unkempt, hormone-emerging creatures were my own children. And I could spot them instantly. My eyes were trained on them. I never missed them, not once. I would pull them out of the frenzy and sweep them safely into the car.
God has His eyes trained too, on every one of His own.
God loves the people of this world so much that He sent His Son to save everyone in it.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16
Humanity is a messy, smelly, sinful mass. And God loves us. But God finds those who are His own, picks us out, and surrounds us with favor.
Questions To Think About
Here is something to think about.
Do you look for God’s favor in your life? Do you notice Him working in small ways and in all ways? If we do not look, we might miss how present He truly is in our daily lives. And what a joy it is to know that our Father is working out His favor for us in this life and for all eternity.
If you do not belong to God yet, He is waiting for you with open arms. No matter who you are or what you have done, the One and Only God is waiting. And if you would like to know how to become His child, you can read more HERE.
Here’s something to think about.
A Verse To Meditate On
Psalm 5:12 is a beautiful and profoundly deep verse worthy of our contemplation this week.
FOR IT IS YOU WHO BLESSES THE RIGHTEOUS MAN, O LORD, YOU SURROUND HIM WITH FAVOR AS WITH A SHIELD. Ps 5:12
More Sunday Posts
Have a blessed day, friends!
Thank you for your Sunday posts – your application of scripture to daily life is a great encouragement. Best regards.
Hi Pamela, one of my goals is to be an encouragement. Thanks for letting me know.
Thank you for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior . So refreshing to be reminded that Jesus is our only hope , and that he gave his life for us because of his amazing love . God bless you .
Amen!
LOVE this word picture, Yvonne. Than you for sharing. Have a blessed day.
Great post. Love the visual. ❤️I will share it with my daughter who has junior high kids!
Thanks for spreading the good Word!
Just beautiful encouragement! We are so BLESSED with scripture! God knows EXACTLY what we need, when we need it! Thank you for this Yvonne!
You are so right, Shelley. God bless you.
I started following you several years ago. I was drawn to your calm, joy, your peaceful demeanor. Through the years I’ve pulled back the layers of your blog. I’m older now and maturing more in desires and what occupies my mental space. Don’t stop the format of your blog. Being grounded as a secure woman of God shines through. Although you are talented in so many ways, this is your most beautiful and lovely attribute.
I’ve been a follower of Christ for a very long time. What a pleasure to meet another.
How kind, Kim! Blogging can be a challenge at times. I’m so thankful for your encouraging comment. Above all: God be glorified!