Divine Guardian
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun. Daily your walk is guarded by the God who protects and provides for those who love Him.
“So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
Joshua 21:41-45
Can you imagine how good it must have felt to finally settle down and begin to build a life in the promised land? Have you ever moved? Have you ever had a time where you felt unsettled and uncertain of what was to come? Think of how the people journeyed for multiple generations after having left the time of slavery in Egypt. They wandered, they waited, and they worked. All the while God was working for them. He was making a way. He had a plan. He has a plan.
The text says that God gave them rest on every side. Not one of their enemies withstood them. The people were guarded by God and given promises that would never be broken. Have you ever thought about how God is actively guarding you? We hear terms like guardian angels and can easily dismiss as fantasy the ways God watches over us. The bible recounts time and again how God guards those who love Him. How could knowing you have God watching over you help you find rest?
“Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? The righteous will be glad when they are avenged...people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
Psalms 58:1, 10-11
There is a tension that exists in absolute statements. When the text says that God watches over His people, how do we reconcile when we have times of suffering. Does that mean we did something wrong and God no longer guards us? This was one of the concepts that Job and his friends wrestled with in the book of Job.
One of the things that can help us to see that God is in control and does administer justice is time. In the immediate moment it can be confusing to hear that God guards when you are enduring hard times. David proclaims that surely the righteous are rewarded. David practices speaking truth over his life rather than giving in to the doubt. Trusting God is David's default setting. He might not know on that day how God will guard him from attack, but he takes the time to declare that at the right time the righteous hand of God will prevail over his problems. How could you be lifted up by speaking hope into a seemingly hopeless situation? How would that help guard your heart from going astray?
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways."
Proverbs 4:6-9, 13-15, 18, 23, 25-27
Where do you think Solomon first learned about guarding his heart and holding onto instruction? Was it not first by his earthly father? It is important for us to remember what we are modeling to others in how we live. Anyone can say that they love Jesus when things are going well. It is much more meaningful when people stay faithful and praise God when there is pressure.
Have you ever thought about why God tells Solomon to guard his heart? Have you ever had a time where you didn't guard your heart and things did not go well? Maybe you picked up some battle wounds or trusted someone who hurt you. Maybe you simply allowed the influences of the world to creep in and cause your heart to be divided. Each of us have unique experiences that shape how we think about the importance of guarding our heart. It is important to remember that it is because God knows you so well that He tells you to guard your heart. If there was nothing that could harm or hurt you then you would not need to put up your guard, but we live in a world that constantly attacks our identities.
Notice that Solomon did not say that life will always be sunny and cloud free. He says the path of the righteous will be like the morning sun shining brighter. For something to shine brighter, there had to have been darkness. God wants you to see clearly that there is a difference between light and darkness. There are things that can cause you to be unfaithful and lose the freedom you are meant to live with in your heart. This is why Solomon says give careful thought and be steadfast. Guarding your heart is not passive. It is not sitting back and stonewalling. It is proactively pursuing the kingdom of God and your personal relationship with Jesus.
Paul said in Romans that we are not to conform to the patterns of the world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Paul and Solomon are saying the same things. They both know there is a direct connection between our heads and our hearts. Part of guarding your heart starts with guarding your mind. What gets into your head will get into your heart. WHave you fallen into any unhealthy patterns? What are you watching? What are you reading? Who are you listening to and how is that influencing what is getting into your heart?
“This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. “What do you see, Amos?” he asked. “A basket of ripe fruit,” I answered. Then the Lord said to me, “The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land...“In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.”
Amos 8:1-2, 4, 7, 9-10
God loves us too much to guard us against the consequences of our choices on earth. This does not mean that He will revoke our eternal salvation or turn from us in our time of need. Part of loving well is allowing people to feel pain because of how pain can positively help turn our hearts toward God.
We might not like to hear it but pain can be really helpful. Think of the last time you experienced loss especially if it was someone you loved. How did the loss help you better understand how to live well? How does loss give us clarity about how to use your time well? When God says He will no longer spare the people that does not mean He loves them any less. If anything, it could be one of the greatest acts of love as God knows what will help us turn back to the path of righteous that shines brighter. Sometimes we have to walk in darkness before we see the light, but during those times it is important to remember that we have a Shepherd who leads us through the valley of the shadow of death.
“He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."
Hebrews 5:1-3, 5, 7-9, 11, 13-14
Isn't it comforting to know that we have a Savior who can relate to what we go through each day? The text says He deals with us gently when we are weak. We do not have to explain to Him what it means to be hungry, how it feels to be uncertain about tomorrow, what it is to deal with persecution. Jesus never had a 401k, large bank account, or cushy position of power that made his life easier. The text says that Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered and He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Have you ever thought about how obedience can lead to protection and can help your life align perfectly, or wholly, with God? The word perfect for us is not meant to be interpreted as an absence of sin but a sense of wholeness out of which we operate. It is the same feeling that the Israelites had when they settled down and rested in the truth that God watched over them. He fought their battles and they focused on building up the places where they lived.
Why do think that obedience is the solution that can help save us? Obedience teaches us to think about the next right thing that we should do rather than thinking about how things could go wrong. Obedience takes a step of faith rather than submitting to the lies of fear. Obedience is the proactive approach to guarding our minds and hearts that Jesus modeled for us. The question is will we follow? Will we choose to pursue wisdom and stay of the path of righteousness even during times of suffering? If we do, we will see that God is guarding us, actively working on our behalf, and will fulfill the promise of finding rest as we trust in Him.