Psalm 27:1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
It was a quiet, peaceful, Sunday evening in our cozy, little mobile home.
I was sitting at my computer methodically answering the incoming emails that were interrupting the Bible study that I was working on, when suddenly my cell phone rang. LOUDLY!!! I was so busy concentrating on my studies that the phone startled me when it rang.
I didn’t recognize the number on the caller ID, so I answered it expecting to hear someone tell me that they had the wrong number. (We get quite a few of those kinds of calls.) Instead, a gruff- sounding, young, black man with a VERY heavy, Southern-slang accent rudely said, “I have ur pizzas and I don’t know which house is urs.”
I was surprised, because neither my husband nor I had ordered any pizza, so I tried to politely explain to the caller that he had the wrong number. He ignored me, and very threateningly stated, “You ordered these pizzas fir ur party, and I need to know ur address so I can deliver ‘em to you.”
I tried to interrupt him to let him know that he had the wrong number, but he just ignored me and continued to threaten me. “You ordered these and ur gonna’ pay for ‘em. I can see ur house. Wur gonna’ git this thing settled. You ordered 20 pizzas, 3 bottles of soda and a bunch of breadsticks for ur party, and ur paying for ‘em.”
He was obviously quite agitated, but I could sense that something was not right, so I simply told him quite nicely that he had the wrong number and then hung up the phone while he was still yelling obscenities at me.
I then went on the Internet to a website where people can file reports about calls like the one that I had just received. I filed a written complaint on that website, and then called the police to report the phone call to them.
The officer to whom I spoke told me that sometimes people will make random phone calls to a residence whose phone number (and address) is listed in the local phone book, so that they are able to determine whether or not anyone is at home. He went on to tell me that the purpose for this is to rob the house if it is empty.
Scary thought!!!!
(But since this was our cell phone, and cell phone numbers and addresses are NOT listed in our local phone book, I wondered if the caller might perhaps have one of our ministry cards, which DO have our cell phone number and address printed on them. Probably not, but just a thought anyway…)
The officer took my report over the phone, including the name of the website where I had filed the complaint, which, by the way, had another “obscene threat” complaint reported about the same number less than a month ago! He also told me that he would swing by our house while on patrol in our neighborhood later that night, just to make sure that there was “nothing out of the ordinary going on.” (Whatever THAT meant?!)
I thanked him for his help, hung up the phone, and my husband and I immediately began praying that God would surround our house with a hedge of protection and keep us safe. (I have never thought about anyone robbing us, especially since we don’t have anything much of value in our modest, little mobile home. BUT the police officer had now given me food for thought!)
And then my mind started racing…
What if the caller really WAS near our house? And what if he really DID want to rob us? He surely sounded angry enough to do something violent to me- if given the chance.
And where was the officer who was on duty for our section of town? 12 miles away at the police station talking to me on the phone… that’s where!!!
As I prayed and pondered all of this in my mind, I came to the realization that the police are NOT REALLY the ones who protect us.
GOD IS!
So I went to the Holy Bible and started reading.
(NOTE: ALL scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.)
Psalm 121:1 (A Song of degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psalm 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Psalm 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Psalm 46:1 (To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
According to ALL of the above scriptures, it is GOD who protects His people. The police can only be in one place at a time.
Whereas our almighty, powerful, God- YHWH- is EVERYWHERE… at the same time!
And how do we know this? From reading the following passages of scripture:
Psalm 139:1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psalm139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psalm 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psalm 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
The psalmist states that there is NOWHERE to hide from God, because God is EVERYWHERE!
God is in both heaven and hell at the same time, (verse 8);
He is in both the east and the west at the same time, (verse 9, take the wings of the morning- which refers to going as far east as possible; dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea- which means to go as far west as possible.)
And God does not differentiate between day and night. He is awake at all times, (verse 12.) Look also at this verse:
Psalm 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
(he that keepeth Israel refers to GOD!!!)
If Jesus Christ is not the Lord and Savior of your life, please ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart today. Ask Him to lead, guide and direct you, and to keep you safe!
And please remember where our REAL help and protection comes from.
May God richly bless all those who seek Him.