Divine protection comes to you because of righteousness. Look at our text in the fifth Psalm:
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.
Psalm 5:12
God won’t surround everyone with favor: He only surrounds the righteous.
Favor Like a Shield
You don’t have to live afraid, worried, or unnerved. If you have accepted Jesus as your savior, you already have all the protection you need.
Who are the Righteous?
Scripture tells us that those who have faith in Jesus Christ are righteous.
Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:21-22
What is Favor?
When God says that, if you have faith in Jesus Christ, His favor surrounds you like a shield. In this case, the favor serves as protection. A supernatural shield keeps you safe from your adversary, the Devil. God’s favor protects you from the dangers of this life, giving you a distinct advantage over non-believers.
What constitutes this favor?
Pleasure
Got wants you to enjoy life under His protection. God also takes pleasure in you, if you’re righteous.
Delight
Do you know God delights in you? He’s proud of you. He not only finds pleasure in protecting you, but He treats you as His masterpiece. Just as God showed off Job, He shows off you. As a child of the King, you have nothing to fear.
Favor
Besides pleasure and delight, God gives you His favor. He gives you an advantage in life. He gives you blessings. He gives you strength to endure the testings you face. What else does favor mean?
The Oxford English Dictionary (Unabridged), 1933
- Propitious or friendly regard, goodwill, esp. on the part of a superior or a multitude.
- Approving disposition towards a thing ; inclination to commend, sanction, or adopt.
- To be, stand high, etc. in a person’s favour : in his good graces.
- The object of favour; a favourite.
- The action of favouring.
- Exceptional kindness ; gracious or friendly action due to special goodwill, and in excess of what may be ordinarily looked for. Favour out of goodwill, freely.
- Something conceded, conferred, or done out of special grace or goodwill ; an act of exceptional kindness, as opposed to one of duty or justice.
- Kind indulgence.
- Partiality towards a litigant, competitor, etc. ; personal sympathies as interfering with justice.
- Used as a prep, in various senses, a. In defence or support of; on behalf of; on the side of. To be in favour of: to be on the side of, to be disposed to support or advocate.
- Something given as a mark of favour.
- That which conciliates affection or goodwill: attractiveness, comeliness, beauty; an attraction, charm.
Do you now understand some benefits of God’s favor? He gives all this to you. He surrounds you with it. He protects you with it.
Now, do your part. Live like God has surrounded you with favor. Have confidence that God is on your side.
