Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Those who have made the Lord their Redeemer and refuge and dwell under His protection need not be afraid of dangers and terrors by night or by day, for God Himself is their shield, strength, and guard before and behind, with all heaven pledged to help them. This is the assurance given to the righteous when the Lord comes to end wickedness, that in a time of peril and judgment those who walk humbly and trust Him remain under the shelter of His covenant love. The saints will still be on earth in mortal flesh during the plagues, and though thousands fall around them and destruction surrounds them, the calamity will not come near them or their dwellings because God charges His angels to protect them. Even while they suffer persecution, distress, and privation, they are not abandoned, for God shields and preserves them, supplies their needs, restrains enemies from harming them before His time, and brings them unharmed through pestilence, tempest, and earthquake as a safe shelter to His people. The promise is to be taken at God's word and made personal, held fast as a stronghold without distrust or discouragement, with faith increased and courage spoken even amid clouds and trials. It also covers children, who need not be afraid of spreading sickness when they turn their hearts to God, keep His commandments, and pray for Him to accept and keep them.
Promise of Divine Protection
Those who have chosen the Lord as their Redeemer and made Him their refuge, dwelling under His protection, need not be afraid of dangers and terrors whether they come by night or by day. God is their shield and refuge, their strength and front guard and rearward, with all heaven pledged to help and strengthen them. Those who make the Lord their refuge are assured freedom from fear of danger, terror, and threat by night and by day.
The promise belongs to the psalm's description of the Lord coming to put an end to wickedness and to protect the righteous when the wicked face His judgments. In a time of peril and divine judgments, those who walk humbly before God and trust Him remain under the protection of His covenant and receive assurance of His loving protection.
The promise is to be read and believed, taken at God's word, and appropriated to individual experience as a stronghold. That means not losing hold on God, not becoming discouraged by perplexities, not distrusting the Lord, and not trusting in man nor in the arm of flesh. It means not letting clouds and trials quench faith, but letting faith increase, looking on the bright side, being of good courage, and talking faith.
The same protection keeps children from the pestilence and sickness spreading in the land, so that they need not be afraid, and they are to be prayed for to that end. Children who turn their hearts to God should pray much for Him to accept them and to keep them from it, keeping His commandments and loving and obeying their parents. God loves the young and loves to bless them.
Safety in Time of Trouble
The promise not to be afraid proves that the righteous are still on earth in mortal bodies while the final plagues fall, living through that period rather than having already been made immortal. The warning against fear would have no meaning unless they were present amid the judgments and in need of assurance.
In the day of the Lord's plagues terrors and destruction surround them and thousands fall at their side, yet calamity and plague do not come near them or their dwellings. This exemption comes because God gives His angels charge to protect them. In the time of trouble they will still suffer persecution, distress, privation and deprivation, but they are not abandoned. God shields and preserves them and supplies their needs even while calamities overtake the wicked.
When enemies threaten their lives, God's angels guard the faithful and hold back every assailant until He permits otherwise. The danger and sense of being left alone bring deep agony, yet no one is allowed to harm them beforehand. Through pestilence, tempest and earthquake they pass unharmed. God is a safe pavilion to His people while He is a devouring fire to those who transgress His law. At the appointed time of attack, when armed men prepare to kill them in the night, they wait in secluded places and plead for divine protection without fear of the danger closing around them.
Those who have made the Lord their Redeemer and refuge and dwell under His protection need not be afraid of dangers and terrors by night or by day, for God Himself is their shield, strength, and guard before and behind, with all heaven pledged to help them. This is the assurance given to the righteous when the Lord comes to end wickedness, that in a time of peril and judgment those who walk humbly and trust Him remain under the shelter of His covenant love. The saints will still be on earth in mortal flesh during the plagues, and though thousands fall around them and destruction surrounds them, the calamity will not come near them or their dwellings because God charges His angels to protect them. Even while they suffer persecution, distress, and privation, they are not abandoned, for God shields and preserves them, supplies their needs, restrains enemies from harming them before His time, and brings them unharmed through pestilence, tempest, and earthquake as a safe shelter to His people. The promise is to be taken at God's word and made personal, held fast as a stronghold without distrust or discouragement, with faith increased and courage spoken even amid clouds and trials. It also covers children, who need not be afraid of spreading sickness when they turn their hearts to God, keep His commandments, and pray for Him to accept and keep them.
Promise of Divine Protection
Those who have chosen the Lord as their Redeemer and made Him their refuge, dwelling under His protection, need not be afraid of dangers and terrors whether they come by night or by day. God is their shield and refuge, their strength and front guard and rearward, with all heaven pledged to help and strengthen them. Those who make the Lord their refuge are assured freedom from fear of danger, terror, and threat by night and by day.
The promise belongs to the psalm's description of the Lord coming to put an end to wickedness and to protect the righteous when the wicked face His judgments. In a time of peril and divine judgments, those who walk humbly before God and trust Him remain under the protection of His covenant and receive assurance of His loving protection.
The promise is to be read and believed, taken at God's word, and appropriated to individual experience as a stronghold. That means not losing hold on God, not becoming discouraged by perplexities, not distrusting the Lord, and not trusting in man nor in the arm of flesh. It means not letting clouds and trials quench faith, but letting faith increase, looking on the bright side, being of good courage, and talking faith.
The same protection keeps children from the pestilence and sickness spreading in the land, so that they need not be afraid, and they are to be prayed for to that end. Children who turn their hearts to God should pray much for Him to accept them and to keep them from it, keeping His commandments and loving and obeying their parents. God loves the young and loves to bless them.
Safety in Time of Trouble
The promise not to be afraid proves that the righteous are still on earth in mortal bodies while the final plagues fall, living through that period rather than having already been made immortal. The warning against fear would have no meaning unless they were present amid the judgments and in need of assurance.
In the day of the Lord's plagues terrors and destruction surround them and thousands fall at their side, yet calamity and plague do not come near them or their dwellings. This exemption comes because God gives His angels charge to protect them. In the time of trouble they will still suffer persecution, distress, privation and deprivation, but they are not abandoned. God shields and preserves them and supplies their needs even while calamities overtake the wicked.
When enemies threaten their lives, God's angels guard the faithful and hold back every assailant until He permits otherwise. The danger and sense of being left alone bring deep agony, yet no one is allowed to harm them beforehand. Through pestilence, tempest and earthquake they pass unharmed. God is a safe pavilion to His people while He is a devouring fire to those who transgress His law. At the appointed time of attack, when armed men prepare to kill them in the night, they wait in secluded places and plead for divine protection without fear of the danger closing around them.