Dwell In Safety

I was reading through the beginning of the book of Psalms this evening, and this made me think a bit:

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Psalms 4:8)

How interesting to think about that in the context of modern American culture, where we have doors with a gazillion locks on them, alarm systems, gated communities, security guards, cameras, etc. Really the protection most people have on their homes isn't going to stop a whole heck of a lot of someone is determined to do something bad to you. Some people have a ton of security, or perceived security, but really those cheap little locks on just about every door in America isn't going to stop something with a bump key, a lock pick gun, or a heavy foot.

Whatever security we have, or think we have, or don't have, we do have a big gap in how safe and secure we feel -- for certain.

You can go to the richest, safest, most protected neighborhoods on the planet, and you're certain to still find some people who constantly live in fear. Scared someone will break in and take their stuff. Scared someone will come in and do them harm or hold them hostage. Heck, isn't that why these things called "panic rooms" exist in the first place? Probably.

Then you can go to the least protected neighborhoods on the planet where sometimes the cops are even afraid to go, and you're certain to still find some people who doing think twice about it. They walk out of their run down apartment to wherever, passing by a number of folks who would take their life in a heartbeat if there was good reason too.

What's the difference? I don't know in all cases. But in some what else can it besides knowing God and how big he is. One group doesn't know God and/or doesn't trust him to protect them even among their man-provided comfort and safety. The other group knows God very well and recognizes his sovereignty. They are the ones who said "Here am I LORD, send me. Send me to the bad neighborhood. Send me to the jungles. Send me to the remote villages. Send me straight into the lion's den LORD, because I'd rather run a rescue boat up to the gates of hell than stand in the shade of the church steeple."

You know, most of us are somewhere between the two. I know I'm not like the latter, yet that's how we all should feel.

Grace and Peace