Safety

God promises safety

To his people

Deuteronomy 12:10 NASB95

“When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security,

See also Dt 33:12; Dt 33:26–29; Ps 48:8; Je 32:37–38; Zec 14:11; Ro 8:31

To those who trust in him

Psalm 91:9–10 NASB95

For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.

See also Job 11:13–19; Ps 37:3; Pr 18:10; Pr 29:25

To those who obey him

Leviticus 25:18–19 NASB95

‘You shall thus observe My statutes and keep My judgments, so as to carry them out, that you may live securely on the land. ‘Then the land will yield its produce, so that you can eat your fill and live securely on it.

See also Le 26:5; Pr 1:33; Pr 3:21–26; Pr 28:26

To those in need

Job 5:11; Job 5:15; Is 14:30

But not to the wicked

Job 5:4; Pr 28:18; Je 12:12

Safety from enemies

Hebrews 13:6 NASB95

so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

See also Jos 10:21; Ps 3:5–6; Ps 12:7; Ps 31:20; Ps 78:53; Eze 28:26; Re 3:10

Perfect safety in God’s kingdom

Isaiah 11:6–10 NASB95

And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea. Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.

See also Is 2:4; Is 65:25; Ho 2:18; Mic 4:3–4; Re 7:16; Is 49:10

Safety from dangers

Isaiah 43:2 NASB95

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

See also Ps 23:4; Eze 34:25; Eze 34:28

Spiritual safety

1 John 5:18 NASB95

We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

See also Ro 8:35–39; 2 Ti 4:18; Re 2:11

Safety in God alone

Psalm 4:8 NASB95

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

See also Zec 8:10

Safety in Jesus Christ

John 17:12 NASB95

“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

See also Je 23:5–6; Jn 10:11–15; Jn 10:28–30

Angels providing safety

Matthew 4:6 NASB95

and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”

See also Ge 19:16; Ge 48:15–16; Ex 23:20; Ps 91:11–12; Da 3:28; Da 6:22; Ac 5:19; Ac 12:11; Re 7:2–3

Human responsibility for safety

Personal

Pr 11:15; Je 4:6; Je 6:1; Mt 24:15–16; Ac 2:40; Ac 27:44

Family

Ge 4:9; Ge 43:9; Ge 44:32; Mt 2:13

Friends

1 Sa 20:12–13; 1 Sa 22:22–23

Neighbours

Exodus 22:5–15 NASB95

“If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution. “If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double. “If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking, an oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them that he has not laid hands on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. “But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. “If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces. “If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. “If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; if it is hired, it came for its hire.

Officials

Ne 2:7; Ac 23:24

Kings

1 Ki 4:25; 2 Ch 15:5; 2 Ch 15:15; Pr 20:28

Pastors

Hebrews 13:17 NASB95

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

See also Jn 10:11–15; Ac 20:28; Php 3:1

Concern for safety

David for Absalom

2 Sa 18:29; 2 Sa 18:32

Mephibosheth for David

2 Sa 19:24; 2 Sa 19:30

Father for son

Luke 15:27 NASB95

“And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

Prayers for safety

Psalm 16:1 NASB95

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.

See also Ex 33:15; Ezr 8:21–23; Job 30:15; Job 30:20; Ps 17:8–9; Ps 19:13; Ps 27:4–5; Ps 119:29; Ps 140:1–4; Ps 141:8–10; Mt 6:13

Possible dangers inherent in safety

False security

1 Thessalonians 5:3 NASB95

While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

See also Dt 29:19; 1 Ki 22:27–28; Job 21:9; Job 21:16–18; Eze 39:6; Da 8:25; Ob 3–4; Zep 2:15

Complacency

Pr 1:32; Lk 12:16–21

Wickedness

Je 7:9–10; Eze 39:26