Editorial:-

Divine Protection

"I the Lord keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day," Isaiah 27:3

Wonderful is the way that God deals with His people. When they go astray, He disciplines them. Even He allows the enemy to attack them. Yet at the right time, He comes forward to protect and provide for His people. That's what we see in this verse.
     Isaiah had penned another song earlier - The song of the vineyard - portraying the fruitless life of Israel. There we see the Lord removing the hedge and abandoning His vineyard to be trampled down. Even He commanded the cloud to rain no more, (Isaiah 5:5, 6).
Future yet Present
But see what God says now, He keeps Israel night and day. He will not allow any more hurt to His people. He makes sure that they get sufficient water. He says further in v. 4a, "Fury is not in Me". Of course, Isaiah writes about the future restoration of Israel, but we the New Testament believers are privileged to experience this divine protection and provision today itself spiritually.
     This is something that should encourage us so much. Our Lord is a merciful God who has no pleasure in punishing us. Even when He chastens us to correct and mould us, we are still under His care and protection. He will never abandon His people. He is very much concerned about our safety, joy, and nourishment, (Cf. Eph. 5:25,26-29).
     God's care for His people should not only encourage us to follow and trust Him in all circumstances, but also challenge us to be concerned about other suffering people.
Partner with God
Remember what Christ told Apostle Peter when he repeatedly acknowledged his love for the Lord: "Feed My lambs"; "Tend My sheep", (John 21:15 -17). Having a commitment to care for God's people is a proof of our love to Christ.
     We need to realize that it is the burden of God to protect and provide for His people. Ministering for the needs of His people is God's concern. He does it night and day. Let us yield to Him, trust Him and be available to be workers together with the Lord in building up the saints for every good work.
     What a blessed privilege it is to be protected, provided and directed by the Lord Almighty day and night!

NTK

Outline: - 1

Our Protectors

1. Kept by the power of God, 1Pet 1:5
2. Kept by the peace of God, Phil 4:7
3. Kept by the presence of God, Psa 31:20

____ H.K.D

---

Outline: - 2

Heavenly Provision

1. Divine Love, Deut 23:5
2. Eternal security, John 10: 28, 29
3. True Discipleship, Luke 10:39
4. Soul Enrichment, John 17: 8

____ S.J.S

---

Anecdote:

Footprints

One night a man had a dream.
    He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
    Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to him and the other to the Lord.
    When the last of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
    This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
    The Lord replied, "My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering, when you see one set of footprints it was then that I carried you."

____ Source: Unknown

---

Worthy Quotes:

"The shepherd brings the sheep into the flock, but the sheep must follow the shepherd in order to have protection and provision."

_______ Warren W. Wiersbe

"Our great safety is to stay close to the word of God".

__________William McDonald