Deuteronomy 33:12
And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
The verse belongs to Moses' prophecy and blessing concerning the tribes in Deuteronomy 33, given as an excellent poem or song. That blessing of Moses parallels Jacob's dying prophecy of the tribes and is to be read and compared with that prophecy tribe by tribe. It stands in the second of the two marvelous songs or poems in Deuteronomy 32 and 33 that close Deuteronomy and close Moses' words before his death recorded in Deuteronomy 34. The song enshrines blessed truths about God and was taught to the people to recall His mercy and goodness.
It blesses Benjamin with safety and the Lord's constant care, so that he dwells secure beside the Lord, who shelters him throughout the day, and rests between the Lord's shoulders as one held close and protected by God. It promises that those beloved by the Lord dwell securely by Him under His covering all day long under His continual care. Dwelling in safety by Him means living and moving in Christ, holding the Father's hand instead of dropping it to run ahead or lag behind like little children. This safety is pictured by the infant Jesus resting in the manger or in His mother's arms, careless and unconscious of earthly turmoil and plots to take His life. It promises the peace God gives His trusting children on earth, so that those who put their trust in Him are as safe from sin crouching at the door and from every assault as Jesus was safe from murderous Herod. Because He is their peace, they may rest in peace without knowing or caring what dangers, troubles, and difficulties threaten them or lie in wait for them.
This safety does not place believers beyond the reach of temptation and does not promise ease and indulgence, but the Lord's covering assures His people of help as they face trials and temptations. While they live up to this privilege Satan cannot intrude because they are hedged about, and faithfully overcoming each trial renews their strength for the next. Keeping this covering requires never being off guard, not congratulating self after victory and forgetting the Source of strength and leaving the gate unguarded for the enemy to enter. It requires accepting the place where character will best ripen to gain strength to do and to suffer and to endure hardness as a good soldier.