Provider and Protector

Some years ago a newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money. Out of the hundreds who competed, the winner submitted the following: “Money is a universal provider for everything but happiness and a passport to everywhere but heaven.”

Anonymous

Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB 2020)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We tend to lean to the world to be our provider and protector.

We need to turn to God to be that for us. Not money, not others, but GOD.

PRAY

Psalm 34:1–3 (NASB 2020)

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the Lord;

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

Exalt the Lord with me,

And let’s exalt His name together.

At all times translates to “In every situation”.

We need to praise His name in every situations and at all times!

If we boast, let’s boast Him. We need to proudly proclaim what He has done for us.

We need to join together and exalt His name!

God is our provider and protector, our ever-present help in trouble. If we remember this, we will be able to trust him without grumbling or complaining.

Philip Graham Ryken; R. Kent Hughes

Psalm 34:4–7 (NASB 2020)

I sought the Lord and He answered me,

And rescued me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces will never be ashamed.

This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,

And rescues them.

When we are in trouble, we look to and seek the Lord for help.

He hears us!

Those who look to Him are radiant! This means that we are in awe of Him and we can’t help but to smile and glow when we tell of what He has done for us!

“This wretched man”. can refer to all of us. Even then, He hears us!

We have an Angel Army that fights for us!

363 The angels are the dispensers and administrators of the divine beneficence toward us; they regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways, and exercise a constant solicitude that no evil befall us.

John Calvin (French Reformer)

Psalm 34:8–14 (NASB 2020)

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Fear the Lord, you His saints;

For to those who fear Him there is no lack of anything.

The young lions do without and suffer hunger;

But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.

Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Who is the person who desires life

And loves length of days, that he may see good?

Keep your tongue from evil

And your lips from speaking deceit.

Turn from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

Taste means to judge or see. We need to see for ourselves how good our God is!

Animals and other creatures suffer from hunger because only the strong survive.

God loves us more than any other creation. He will provide for us and we will lack nothing we need.

We need to teach our children to fear and revere the Lord.

We must seek peace all of the time and pursue it. He is our peace. Pursue Him.

Psalm 34:15–22 (NASB 2020)

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears are toward their cry for help.

The face of the Lord is against evildoers,

To eliminate the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears

And rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The afflictions of the righteous are many,

But the Lord rescues him from them all.

He protects all his bones,

Not one of them is broken.

Evil will bring death to the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.

The Lord redeems the souls of His servants,

And none of those who take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.

God sees and hears us if we cry out to Him.

Nonbelievers cry out, but not to the Lord. I feel bad for them.

When we call out, he rescues and protects us.

We will still face hardships in life, but God will always be there for us.

If we seek Him to be our refuge, we will not be harmed or suffer as they will.

In the day of prosperity we have many refuges to resort to; in the day of adversity, only one.

Horatius Bonar (Scottish Minister and Hymn Writer)

INVITATION