Encircled

 

But you, LORD, are a shield that protects me;

you are my glory and the one who restores me.

Psalm 3:3

 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Psalm 139:5 

My prayers have been compartmentalized for so many years.

Jesus, heal me.

Father, protect me.

Holy Spirit, help me.

The realization is dawning in my soul like a sunrise that I am encircled. I am surrounded by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Three in One are never alone and therefore I am never alone. 

God exists in community; therefore so do I.

The concept of God’s encircling is everywhere in Scripture. Psalm 3 describes the Lord as a shield who protects us. That mighty little word for protect, בְּעַד ḇe‘aḏ, means in, up, beside, among, behind, for, through, round about, and on behalf of. Wow!

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in us, beside us, among us, behind us, for us, through us, round about us, and move on behalf of us.

Encircled, we are.

In Psalm 139 the Lord appears like a seamstress, tidily tucking us in with careful stitchery behind and before, as He lays His strong hand upon us to hold us steady.

You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.
Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,
and settle down on the other side of the sea,
even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me,
and the light will turn to night all around me,”
even the darkness is not too dark for you to see,
and the night is as bright as day;
darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalm 139:5-12, NET

When we are in the dark, the Lord encircles us with light to take the next step.

Indeed, you are my lamp, LORD.

The LORD illumines the darkness around me.

2 Samuel 22:29

When we are afraid, beloved, we can remember that because the Lord surrounds us all day long, indeed, because He carries us upon His strong shoulders, we dwell in safety.

The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety.
The High God surrounds him all day long,
and dwells between his shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:12, ESV

When we are wobbly and uncertain, we can remind our bodies, minds, and souls that underneath are His everlasting arms. He is our dwelling place. We are encircled.

The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, ‘Destroy.’

Deuteronomy 33:27, ESV

When we don’t feel courageous, we can remind ourselves that even in our obedience we are encircled. We go out surrounded by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Together with God, we will see all nations come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:26-30, NET

When we feel alone, we can remind our souls that the love of the Father, the salvation of the Son, and the help of the Holy Spirit encircles us.

We are encircled, beloved. 

How have you experienced the encircling of God? Write me!

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One, thank You for encircling me. I will go with You, encircled, into this day. Amen.

 

@audreycfrank

Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash