Safety

God promises safety

To his people

Deuteronomy 12:10 ESV

But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety,

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 ESV

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no 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 ESV

“Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely.

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 ESV

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can 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 ESV

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall 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 ESV

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

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

Spiritual safety

1 John 5:18 ESV

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects 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 ESV

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

See also Zec 8:10

Safety in Jesus Christ

John 17:12 ESV

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

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

Angels providing safety

Matthew 4:6 ESV

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, lest you 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 ESV

“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn. “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.

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 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to 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 ESV

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 ESV

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

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 ESV

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, 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