Each book, chapter, and verse of the Bible is intentional in reflecting the character of God, revealing His heart to a world desperate for the success it provides. Thus, literary terms like personification, metaphors, and adjectives utilized in the Bible aren’t accidents. They are divine details, so it’s no wonder we cling to phrases like God as our “hedge of protection.” But what does that mean? Is it truly Scriptural?
In the Christian faith, a hedge of protection is an illustration of God’s possessive yet caring nature, His ability to safeguard His children. While lots of us are conversant in modern terms like financial “hedge funds,” the biblical definition of a hedge is a barrier created by thick shrubs or bushes to guard an individual’s garden or property. It’s a plant-based wall, so to talk. On a spiritual level, it’s God’s unbeatable barrier that defends our hearts and souls from the wicked one.
Does the Bible Actually Mention a Hedge of Protection?
A “hedge of protection” isn’t mentioned in Scripture verbatim. However, the prepositional phrase “of protection” is an obvious implication in Job 1:10, when Satan says God has placed a hedge around Job by shielding him from harm: “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and every little thing he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, in order that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land” (NIV).
Though “hedge of protection” isn’t explicitly recorded within the Bible, the undeniable theme of God as our protector stays steadfast, with key verses including:
- “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3 (KJV)
- “Whoever dwells within the shelter of the Most High will rest within the shadow of the Almighty. I’ll say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
- “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are secure.” Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)
- “… my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me.” 2 Samuel 22:3 (NIV)
- “But the Lord is faithful, and he’ll strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
How God Provides a Hedge of Protection for His People
As Bible speaker Clarence L. Haynes Jr. explains, God provides protection for His people through His nature—specifically, in His ability to maintain His guarantees.
In Isaiah 41:10 (NIV), God guarantees, “So don’t fear, for I’m with you; don’t be dismayed, for I’m your God. I’ll strengthen you and assist you to; I’ll uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Unlike us, God doesn’t waver. He isn’t swayed by irrational feelings or selfish intentions. His nature is pure, true, and steadfast, so when He guarantees something, it’s pretty much as good as done. It’s complete. He’s simply allowing us to see the completion unfold in present time. It sounds too easy a proof, but God provides our protection by being Himself.
Several years ago, I did a deep study on Habakkuk and shared these battle-ready thoughts about God as our great protector:
Habakkuk opens chapter one, verse one, with an iconic query all of us ponder sooner or later in our lives: Why, God, are you allowing bad things to occur to Your people? Throughout the primary two chapters, Habakkuk and God go backwards and forwards, discussing His glory and wonder and goodness despite man’s limited definition of graciousness. By the start of the third and final chapter, Habakkuk has reflected on God’s relentless presence. Habakkuk now knows God as a fierce but loyal Father who would never abandon His children, even within the face of the Babylonians.
Habakkuk 3:8-11 (NIV) encapsulates Habakkuk’s latest vision of God, this mighty warrior of word and deed:
“Were you offended with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the ocean while you rode your horses and your chariots to victory? You uncovered the bow, you called for a lot of arrows. You split the earth with rivers; the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves high. Sun and moon stood still within the heavens on the glint of your flying arrows, on the lightning of your flashing spear.”
What a wonderful biblical picture of the character of our compassionate yet fearless God!
A Hedge of Protection and Spiritual Warfare
In Ephesians 6:10-18, we see the hedge of protection God provides for us through His armor. Faith, truth, righteousness, etc., are characteristics of His protective, all-powerful nature, strong enough to have everlasting victory over Satan, sin, and evil. In His graciousness, He has granted us access to His weaponry, which is, actually, His triumphant character.
In a fallen world, spiritual warfare is unavoidable. Evil will try to know the upper hand by keeping the lost from God’s light and by wearing down the believer. This heavy reality should call us not only to reflect on Ephesians 6 but additionally to encourage us to raised understand God’s nature and higher reflect Jesus, rebuking Satan with Scripture and confidence within the Almighty.
Hedge of Protection Scriptures
More Bible verses showcasing God’s hedge of protection for the believer include:
- “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.” Exodus 15:3 (NIV)
- “Who is that this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Psalm 24:8 (NIV)
- “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great enjoyment of you; in his love he’ll not rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
- “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is known as Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Revelation 19:11 (NIV)
How to Pray for a Hedge of Protection
I actually wouldn’t consider myself knowledgeable at praying, but I’d prefer to share a prayer of protection that I actually have found myself whispering over my family and my home. It’s inspired by Exodus 12, when the Israelites are told to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so the angel of death doesn’t kill their firstborn son:
“Father, I pray that you simply cover every doorpost, every window, and each crack and cranny of my home within the blood of the Lamb. I ask that you simply cover the doorposts of my sons’ and my husband’s hearts and souls within the blood of the Lamb. I ask that you simply cover the doorposts of my heart and soul within the blood of the Lamb. I ask that you simply cover the hearts and souls of all and sundry who comes and goes from our house within the blood of the lamb.”
This prayer might sound easy, repetitive even, but there’s nothing stronger than our God, nothing more powerful than the sacrificed blood of His Son, which paved the best way for our salvation. Praying this truth over the partitions of your house and the souls of your family members is a surefire method to make the enemy flee.
Even greater than any prayers I could muster, though, consider quoting Jesus when He rebuked Satan within the desert:
“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it’s written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’ Then the devil left him, and angels got here and attended him.” Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)
In imitating Jesus, we have now access to His nature, the very weapon that destroys sin, once and for all, and the best hedge of protection for our lives.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/BrianAJackson
This article is an element of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are a few of our hottest articles covering Christian terms to assist your journey of data and faith:
The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of “Selah”
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples
