For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. – Psalm 5:12
One of the great comforts of a Christian’s life is knowing that anything that is hard that happens to us does not occur outside of the sovereignty of God. It is a blessing to know that the Lord protects us from evil. While He does not prevent every harm that may befall us, He does ensure that He works all things together for our good (Ro 8:28), even the things that others may have intended for our downfall (Gen. 50:20)
Psalm 5:12 reminds us not only does God protect us from evil, but He is covering us with His favor. A shield is normally thought of as a defensive weapon; it prevents damage and destruction. This Psalm turns that idea on its head. God shields His children with His favor; He prevents evil from destroying us and He also brings forth blessings in our lives.
Precious child of God – your Heavenly Father loves you so much. He is not only protecting you from the harm that the opposition may desire to inflict; He is providing for you in both seen and unseen ways. His favor is upon you, and He can do far more than you ask for or imagine (Eph. 3:20-21). He delights in giving good gifts to His kids (Mt. 7:11), and His mercy is pursing you all the days of your life (Ps 23:6). Whatever challenges or difficulties you may be facing, know this – the Lord your God covers the righteous with His favor. And whether you can see it or not now, you can be confident that you will one day soon see His goodness on the path where He leads (Ps. 27:13). Take courage and wait upon Him (Ps. 27:14).
