The Lord Is Your Shade

Psalm 121: 5-6 (NIV) —

‘The Lord watches over you—

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

    nor the moon by night.’

Yesterday, I focused on the attentive character of God and likened it to the way a parent or carer would tend lovingly to a child. Today I’m focussing on another facet of God’s character that is displayed in this Psalm: God as protector. God is described as being like ‘shade’ or ‘shadow’ throughout the psalms and these particular references are often used by the psalmists to exemplify God’s protection over his people. Verses 5 and 6 in The Message translation say this: ‘God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you. Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.’ 

These verses clearly display that God’s heart is to protect and shield us day and night from all the visible and invisible harms we face. We know that doesn’t mean that we will never experience suffering in any way. But it does mean we can trust that we have a faithful, steadfast companion to guard our hearts and stand shoulder to shoulder with us in those situations even if we don’t understand them. For me these verses communicate how God in the midst of all that life throws at us is a steadfast, firm and protective presence that we can rely on and stand with in everything.

I wonder how you interpret these verses? Perhaps you’d like to take some time now to reflect on how you have seen, or are currently seeing, God acting as a steadfast protector in your life.

Prayer - God our protector,

We would be lost without your steadfast presence and your desire to protect and shield us from that which would seek to harm us and our relationship with you. I lift up the areas and people in my life and in our world that need particular protection to you now. I surrender them into your hands and entrust them to you.