MARCH 29, 2024
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Several years ago, the county in which we live experienced an outbreak of several tornadoes, most of which were quite destructive; unfortunately, some resulted in deaths. That evening my family were preparing a candlelight dinner (the power had gone out earlier in the day) when the weather radio we were monitoring issued an imminent tornado warning and told us to take shelter. In just the short time it took us to get from the kitchen to the bedroom closet, the storm was upon us. The house shook; we could hear leaves and other debris slapping the side of the house. Needless to say it was a scary moment or two and all I could think to do was to sing a psalm.
When the storm had passed I went outside — it was pandemonium. Several neighbors had lost everything in just a matter of seconds. Sirens were blaring, people were shouting; just a few hundred yards away, one family was trapped in their basement underneath the ruins of their former home. As I surveyed the devastation around me, my attention turned to my own home and property — no damage whatsoever. Downed trees and other signs of destruction surrounded our property but everything on our lot was spared. It was then I recalled what had transpired several hours before. Sensing that the storms would pass our way, I walked the perimeter of our property praying over and over, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”
Never in my life had such a promise been so real; with my own eyes I could see the promise of the Lord being manifested before me — and for me. I saw no angels but I knew they were there watching over my family because, respecting His might and power, we had placed our trust in Him. For us, His deliverance was as significant as it was for Daniel when an angel was sent to muzzle the lion's mouth or for his three friends when they were rescued from Nebuchadnezzar's fiery pit. No books will be written about our experience but it doesn't negate the fact that the Sovereign of the Universe looked upon a small frightened family who believed in Him, and sent His angel to surround them and deliver them from destruction. If He did it then, He will do it again; if He did it for us, He will do it for you.
