Trust In Jehovah for Protection

1-2. What earthshaking events will soon occur?

WE ARE living in the last of the last days. Earthshaking events will soon occur. Jehovah will put into the hearts of the nations “his thought”​—that they give “their kingdom to the wild beast,” the United Nations.a (Rev. 17:17) Then that greatly empowered beast, along with the full cooperation of all political powers, will remove the world’s false religious organizations once and for all. (Rev. 17:16) That event will mark the start of the great tribulation. Then what?

² Further climactic events will follow. The nations of this world will launch a coordinated, all-out attack on Jehovah’s people. (Ezek. 38:14-16) Why? The book Pure Worship of Jehovah​—Restored At Last! explains: “Egged on by Satan, the nations will try to efface true worshippers​—and along with them pure worship—​from the earth.” What will follow this will be the most momentous event of all​—the war of Armageddon. Jesus will lead his heavenly executional forces, including his 144,000 corulers, in removing this wicked world and in delivering us into a righteous new world.​—Rev. 16:14-16; 19:11-21.

3. What will we consider in this article?

³ Should we fear the coming execution of divine judgment on this wicked world? No! Why not? Because Jehovah promises to protect us. He had this promise recorded in his Word: “A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but to you it will not come near.” (Ps. 91:7) Let us examine Psalm 91 and answer the following questions: What kind of protection does this psalm promise? How does Jehovah protect us now? How will he protect us in the future? But first, let us get an overview of Psalm 91.

A PSALM ABOUT TRUST AND PROTECTION

4. How do the opening words of Psalm 91 assure us of Jehovah’s protection? (Psalm 91:1, 2)

⁴ The basic message of Psalm 91 can be summed up in a few words: Trust in God’s protection. From the opening two verses, we are assured that Jehovah will protect those who put their trust in him. (Read Psalm 91:1, 2.) What could make us feel more secure than knowing that we are under the protective shadow and wings of the Most High, the Almighty? (Ruth 2:12; Ps. 17:8) The nouns “refuge” and “stronghold” remind us of the protection that a walled city provided in Bible times. The city’s inhabitants were protected within its walls, and those in outlying areas could run into the city to be safe from enemies. In the verses that follow, the psalmist uses vivid imagery to assure us that Jehovah can protect His people no matter what dangers they may face.​—Ps. 91:3-13.

5-6. Psalm 91 ends with what promise, and what confidence does this give us? (Psalm 91:14-16)

⁵ In the closing verses of Psalm 91, we find the strongest assurance of all: In a dramatic shift, the psalmist goes from words about Jehovah’s protective care to words from Jehovah himself. Jehovah makes a promise​—or guarantee—​to his worshippers. (Read Psalm 91:14-16.) Note the words “I will” in these verses. Jehovah promises to protect his people because they trust in him, acknowledge his name, and call on him. We can have complete confidence in the Fulfiller of promises. (Josh. 23:14) His protection is not a mere possibility or probability; it is an absolute certainty!​—Num. 23:19.

⁶ Jehovah inspired the psalmist to record the words found in Psalm 91 for our benefit. (Rom. 15:4) We echo the psalmist’s confidence and say to Jehovah: “You are my refuge and my stronghold.” (Ps. 91:2) But what kind of protection can we look to Jehovah to provide?

WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION DOES PSALM 91 PROMISE?

7. What kind of protection does Psalm 91 promise?

⁷ As our publications have explained, Psalm 91 is a promise of spiritual security, or protection. We can be sure that Jehovah will always provide what we need so that we can protect ourselves from spiritual dangers and safeguard our precious friendship with him. But does this psalm promise only spiritual protection? No. This psalm is also a promise that Jehovah will protect his people as a group from physical and emotional harm at the hands of their enemies. Why can we say that Psalm 91 also applies to physical and emotional protection?

8-9. How did Jesus respond to one of Satan’s temptations, and what can we learn from his response? (Matthew 4:5-7)

⁸ Consider how Jesus responded when Satan tempted him and quoted the words found in Psalm 91. (Read Matthew 4:5-7.) Referring to the words of Psalm 91:11, 12 as a promise of physical protection, Satan tempted Jesus to jump off the temple battlement to see if angels would protect him from harm. How did Jesus respond? He did not say: ‘You are mistaken, Satan! That psalm does not promise physical protection.’ Rather, Jesus replied: “You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.” What can we learn from Jesus’ response?

⁹ Jesus was fully aware that his Father had at times used angels to protect His people from physical harm at the hands of their enemies. (2 Ki. 6:15-17; 19:34, 35; Dan. 3:19, 20, 26-28; 6:16-22) But Jesus refused to test his Father by expecting angels to protect him from physical harm if he behaved recklessly. So Satan misused Psalm 91, not by referring to it as a promise of physical protection, but by using it to justify putting Jehovah to the test.b Based on Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation, we may conclude that Psalm 91 is a promise of complete protection: spiritual as well as physical and emotional protection.

10. What confidence do we have?

¹⁰ The inspired words found in Psalm 91 fill us with confidence. We are convinced that Jehovah is the Protector of all those who trust in him as their refuge and stronghold. So we do not need to live in fear of the earthshaking events just ahead. Let us take a closer look at how Jehovah protects us now and how he will protect us in the future.

HOW DOES JEHOVAH PROTECT US NOW?

11. How is Jehovah protecting us spiritually?

¹¹ Jehovah protects us spiritually. This means that he gives us the help we need to combat spiritual dangers​—influences that could threaten our relationship with him. Consider, for example, our ongoing battle against our sinful condition. Jehovah fully understands the powerful grip that sin has over us. (Rom. 6:16; 7:21-23) Let us examine some of the ways that he helps us in this fight.

12-13. How can we win the fight against sinful desires? (Matthew 5:28, 29)

¹² His Word. Jehovah’s Word not only warns us about sinful desires but also tells us how to win the fight against them. For instance, note Jesus’ words found at Matthew 5:28, 29. (Read.) Jesus is talking about a man “who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her.” Such a man, Jesus says, “has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” What is the lesson for us?

¹³ If we continue looking at immoral images, we will arouse passion in our heart. And when passion meets opportunity, the likely result is sexual immorality. (Jas. 1:14, 15) To combat such wrong desires, we need to take strong measures. Jesus gives us what one Bible commentator refers to as “the surgical cure.” We need to cut passion-arousing images out of our lives as if they were a cancerous tumor. (Col. 3:5) When we apply that counsel, we safeguard our friendship with Jehovah.

14. How can holy spirit help protect us?

¹⁴ His holy spirit. Jehovah also uses his spirit to help us in our fight against our sinful flesh. If we keep praying for holy spirit, he will give it to us. (Luke 11:9-13) How can holy spirit protect us? The apostle Paul says: “Keep walking by spirit and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.” (Gal. 5:16) The study note on this verse explains: “A person who walks by spirit seeks the direction of God’s spirit and allows it to influence his thoughts and actions. Though he may have sinful desires, he rejects them immediately, refusing to entertain them.” Jehovah’s spirit does not eliminate wrong desires. But it can help strengthen our resolve to do what is right and to avoid acting on them. And that resolve will help protect us spiritually.

15. How has Jehovah’s organization safeguarded us spiritually? (See also pictures.)

¹⁵ His organization. Through his organization, Jehovah provides timely publications to safeguard us spiritually. Consider: Because of our imperfect, sinful nature, we may at times struggle with negative thoughts and feelings. For example, we may fight unrelenting guilt, extreme insecurity, or undue anxiety. Satan, “the Tempter,” exploits such feelings, trying to get us to give up. (Matt. 4:3; 6:13) God’s organization has provided us with spiritual food designed to assure us of Jehovah’s forgiveness, to convince us of our worth in his eyes, and to strengthen our confidence in his promise to care for our needs. (Ps. 86:5; Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 12:28; Heb. 13:5) Can you recall reading something in one of our publications that touched your heart and caused you to think, ‘That was written for me’? Remember that Jehovah provides such timely information that can protect us spiritually.

16. What trials has Jehovah allowed some of his worshippers to face, and of what can we be sure?

¹⁶ Jehovah protects his people as a group from physical harm at the hands of their enemies. However, Jehovah has at times allowed individual worshippers to face persecution and even death at the hands of opposers in order to prove Satan a liar. (Rev. 2:10; 6:9) But Satan is not content with these relatively few deaths. Enraged, he would like to see opposers exterminate all of God’s faithful people. (Matt. 24:9; Rev. 12:9-12) However, that will never happen! We can be sure that Jehovah is using his angels to protect his people as a group so that pure worship continues uninterrupted on earth.​—Heb. 1:7, 14.

17. What reason do we have not to expect that Jehovah will protect us from all physical harm at this time?

¹⁷ Jehovah does not protect us as individuals from all physical harm. When we live by his principles and standards, we are protected from many practices and situations that could hurt us physically. (Prov. 14:29, 30; 22:3; 2 Cor. 7:1) Still, we do not expect him to protect us from all physical harm at this time. If He were to do that, Satan would surely promote the lie that we serve Jehovah only because of the protection that He provides. (Job 1:10, 11) We understand that because of the great issue involving the sanctification of his holy name, Jehovah has “tolerated with much patience” wicked people who oppose and mistreat his worshippers. (Rom. 9:22) However, his toleration of such injustice is nearing its end. Meanwhile, he will help us to endure whatever trials we face so that we may protect our precious friendship with him.​—1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Pet. 5:10.

HOW WILL JEHOVAH PROTECT US IN THE FUTURE?

18. How will Jehovah protect us in the future?

¹⁸ During the great tribulation, Jehovah will continue to protect his people spiritually. What about physical protection? When the nations launch an all-out assault on his people, Jehovah will not allow his worshippers to be exterminated as a group. (Ezek. 38:1, 2, 10-16) This will lead to the war of Armageddon when Jehovah will unleash his executional forces​—Jesus Christ and his heavenly armies. They will take action against God’s enemies. (Rev. 17:12-14; 19:11, 14, 15) How will Jehovah protect his people during Armageddon?

19-20. Why do we not need to fear the coming execution of divine judgment at Armageddon? (See also picture.)

¹⁹ We do not need to fear the coming destruction of this wicked world in the war of Armageddon. Why not? We trust in Jehovah as our refuge and our stronghold. So we can be absolutely sure of this: When Jesus and his heavenly armies execute divine judgment at Armageddon, not one of God’s enemies will be left standing. (Jer. 25:33; Zech. 14:12) But during that war, not one of God’s precious sheep will be killed at the hands of his enemies​—human or demonic.​—Luke 21:28; 2 Pet. 2:9.

²⁰ During the war of Armageddon, the psalmist’s inspired words may literally prove true: “A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but to you it will not come near. You will only see it with your eyes as you witness the punishment of the wicked. Because you said: ‘Jehovah is my refuge,’ you have made the Most High your dwelling.” (Ps. 91:7-9) Once Armageddon begins, we can expect that Jehovah will provide complete physical, emotional, and spiritual protection for his people not just as a group but also as individuals. Because you say: “Jehovah is my refuge,” Jehovah promises: “To you it will not come near.” Let us, then, face the future with confidence, knowing that we can fully trust in Jehovah for protection.