Originally posted: 08/02/2019
Safeguard: “something that serves as a protection or defense or that ensures safety.”
Sometimes, I confess, when I read a chapter like Deuteronomy 19, I am inclined to see a list… a list of rules and regulations.
I can easily miss Him and focus on what I deem to be a collection of random policies and statutes; completely missing the safety He so lavishly provides by His wisdom, righteousness and lovingkindness.
His laws are anything but random or indiscriminate; they are His Safeguards, leading His people into holy living whereby they can experience and enjoy His presence and peace.
Consider His Safeguards
- His Safeguard for the innocent
- …you shall set aside three cities for yourself… 8 If the Lord your God enlarges your territory, just as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which He promised to give your fathers— 9 if you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities… 10 So innocent blood will not be shed in the midst of your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and bloodguiltiness be on you, (19:2,8-10).
- His Safeguard against premeditated murder
- But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes him so that he dies… 13 You shall not pity him, but you shall purge the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with you, (19:11,13).
- His Safeguard for property rights
- You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance… (19:14).
- His Safeguard against false testimony
- A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed… 18 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you, (19:15,18-19).
- His Safeguard of holy living
- The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you, (19:20).
How do we respond to His Safeguards?
God’s commands always emanate from His perfect and holy nature, His wisdom, righteousness and lovingkindness; therefore His laws are always best. They are given to protect the innocent and purge the evil from our midst.
His commands will ever be His Safeguards for us if we will but trust and obey.
- His plans for us are perfect, therefore let us refuse to doubt His love or question His Safeguards.
- “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,” (Jeremiah 29:11).
- We must guard our hearts and our actions, therefore let us submit to His Safeguards in faith and obedience.
- Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it, (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).
Oh, let us believe, submit to, and trust His Safeguards that we would be led into holy living to daily experience and enjoy His presence and peace.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones, (Proverbs 3:5-8).
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 4:6-7).