I loved picking up my children from school. It was just a little nicety I did or them and it would spare them the bus ride home. I especially have very vivid and precious memories of picking them up during the middle school years. Middle schoolers what a bizarre and funny lot, right? So what do God’s favor and middle school pick-ups have in common? Oh, more than you might think…
I was reading in the book of Psalms and came across this beautiful verse…
FOR IT IS YOU WHO BLESSES THE RIGHTEOUS MAN, O LORD, YOU SURROUND HIM WITH FAVOR AS WITH A SHIELD. Ps 5:12
Just the sheer poetry and depth of this verse stopped me in my reading. And as the deeper meaning began to soak into my being I was in awe again of who God really is and what I mean to Him.
Let’s break this down to get a better sense of this amazing verse. First things first, the psalmist tells the reader who is the one doing the blessing. God is a God that lavishes His blessings.
God’s blessings fall upon the righteous and unrighteous alike. Just like rain. Rain in the bible was considered a symbol for blessings.
THAT YOU MAY BE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. HE CAUSES HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND THE GOOD, AND SENDS RAIN ON THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS. MATT 5:45
But in our verse, God makes it very clear that He is speaking of the righteous. The elect, the saved! Those that have accepted the free gift of salvation. His own beloved! Those who have bowed the knee in reverence and submission to Jesus.
To really understand this verse let’s get some context…
The psalmist sets a distinction between those who exult the name of the Lord and those that are against God. And he understands that the end of the wicked is doomed but the righteous are blessed by God!
What a contrast.
I love the wording and the idea of YOU SURROUND HIM WITH FAVOR AS WITH A SHIELD. The word FAVOR is the Hebrew word ratson (raw-tsone’). It means to be acceptable and to have goodwill. And that favor surrounds those who belong to God as with a shield.
One type of weapon the ancients used during wartime was a shield. It was as long as a man was tall. These shields were a great defense at the time of an attack. Ancient soldiers would build or fit their shields together into a protective line, a circle to protect their backs, and even a roof over them to shield from flying objects.
Psalm 5:12 filters through these thoughts in my mind. And I come away with a picture of God’s favor lovingly surrounding me with an unpenetrable force. Protection, blessings, and loving!
This favor is a gift. I received it when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Just one of the many gifts I received!
Words that come to mind when I remember waiting for my children after school are bedlam, chaos, wild abandon! And in that sea of smelly, unkempt and hormone emerging creatures were my own. I could pick them out so easily. I had my eyes trained on them. I never missed finding them, not once! I would pluck them out of the frenzy and sweep them off to the car!
God loves the world. So much so that He sent His Son to save everyone in it. It is a messy, smelly sinful mass of humanity. And God loves us.
But God finds those who are His own, pick us out and surrounds us with favor.
Can I ask you something? Do you look for God’s favor in your life? Do you see Him in small ways and all ways? If we don’t look we might not see all the ways He works in our lives day to day! And what a joy to know our Father is working out favor for us beyond this life for all eternity!!!
If you do not belong to God yet… HE IS WAITING FOR YOU WITH OPEN ARMS. No matter who you are or what you have done the only God is waiting. And if you would like to know how to be His child please go HERE and HERE.
This week’s memorization verse:
FOR IT IS YOU WHO BLESSES THE RIGHTEOUS MAN, O LORD, YOU SURROUND HIM WITH FAVOR AS WITH A SHIELD. Ps 5:12
I am a child of God for so many years!!! I know my Lord loves me. He gave us a blessing of new clothing for my husband who has been losing lots of weight without trying. A pair of pants 👖 he bought three. He tried on one and it was fine. Men can do this! And when he washed them one pair was just too short!! Like it was mismatched. God is directing our paths down a very difficult rocky road once again so I encouraged him to return these too short pants. He went in receipt in bag and the man remembered him. Remembered his disabled wife who was not along this time. He just quickly handed FOUR pair of pants to my husband plus two very nice shirts. No exchange needed. (Locally owned store for over 100 years though we did not grow up in this city but he has shopped here a couple times a year for years). He came home with tears. This was from God. God’s gift. No one nowadays would be touched. Not the younger people. But I’m tears eyed writing. My husband has had trial after trial in every area and yet he glorifies God. So humbly. He’s hurting and there’s so much wrong. We cannot see the map for this path. It does not look like our friends nor family’s paths. Both of us broken vessels yet we are seeing God in many ways. Posts from you who is suffering yet does not give up. A hand written letter of encouragement from a long ago friend with a Bible verse. Camellias have graced my home Now for months. Over and over His blessings I see. I read about all that the Israelites had to do to be purified and again I’m blessed to be covered by Christ’s blood. My heart aches for yet another hard spot for my husband for it seems so much for one person. So I pray. And thank God for blessings upon blessings. For I see them each as big and wonderful. The Lord provides. I grow worried yet I remember my Dad reminding us kids as we grew into adults, The Lord provides.
Thank you for this message so uplifting.
Perfect message for us today. Thank you, Yvonne!
Beautiful devotional thoughts for today. Thank you Yvonne.
Oh my what an amazing and loving message Thank you and God bless Have a blessed week
So beautiful! I really needed that word today. Thank you
My husband and I are praying for the favor of God in our lives so that we can get moved across the country to be closer to our son, dil, and all our grandchildren. It’s taking longer than we thought it would but we continue in prayer that it will happen very soon.
What is the name of the real fur pillow you mentioned? I believe it was from Wayfair and you mentioned you purchased 2 of them? Thank you!
Hi Joan they were faux. You can see them here: http://www.stonegableblog.com/winter-pillow-love-2018/
Boy, did I need this reminder today, Yvonne – thank you! I have added it to my journal. My husband of 32 years and high school sweetheart just told me that he no longer wants to be together. To say this blindsided me is an understatement. We are both Christians, so his unforgiving spirit right now is something I am having great difficulty accepting. Nothing major happened which is why I am so shocked, but I do need and want to change some of my mannerisms for sure. I am completely willing and want to heal our relationship more than anything, and find it so hard that he does not. I fear for our children and our future. I know that God is on His throne and is in control, and that I need to rest in Him. But then doubt and fears and loneliness step in – so I am so grateful for you bringing this verse to my attention today. I would covet, and hold so very dear, any prayers you could send our way for reconciliation and growth. God Bless.
Praying for you Kimberly!
I always drove my 3 to school each morning. It gave me a good feeling to know they had arrived safely at school for the day. Sometimes it was 3 separate schools, but we had our routine and it worked! Since we lived in the country, they actually wanted to ride the bus home as it was a social time for them. So many good chats occurred on the way to school – and the bus ride home!
I loved those days!
This is really a blessing to read this morning. God is always looking after us and loves to lavish us with His goodness. Thank you for this sweet reminder.
Thank you Yvonne, I enjoyed this post. I was concerned when your usual Sunday post was conspicuously missing. Your followers notice these things you know!
Be well my friend! I wish you our Lord’s favor and protection always! Enjoy your day.
I’m a day late as this just arrived in my mailbox…. but I love how you shared about picking up your middle schoolers to the psalm. As always very inspirational and well done. I do see God’s favor in my life as long as I keep my eyes open, ears to hear and my mouth shut! Thank you!
Yvonne, Thank you so much for this post. You are such an awesome Bible teacher and scholar. Beautiful picture of His love for us! It’s raining today, so I will think on your lesson throughout today and be blessed. God is good!!!
In all of my years in church, I don’t think I’ve ever heard this verse explained. Thank you!
LOVE this post!!! Thank you!
Hi Yvonne Thank you for this wonderful message today. WOW. Our Sunday School is studying Psalms for some time. (Psalm 102 this week). May everyone that reads your lesson be as uplifted as I am. Blessings
Awesome! You make me think about the reason our world is in the shape it’s in,because of the absence of God. Our children are a blessing from God and we must train them up in God’s word. We must ask the good Lord to wrap HIS loving arms around them. Be an example for our children and other children too. Thanks for this devotion.
Thanks, Karen
Dearest Yvonne,
Yes, it is a blessing to have a heavenly Father and Mother who keep us safe and in their protection until we finally arrive home with them.
Beautifully written here above, for plucking out your children from the frenzy and that is how any parent knows his or her own.
Let us pray that this nation will return en mass to our heavenly Father in prayer and allow prayer back in schools and everywhere. We need it to stabilize our country once again.
Hugs,
Mariette