What does Psalm 36:11 teach about God's protection from the wicked? The Cry for Protection “Let not the foot of the proud come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.” (Psalm 36:11) What the Verse Says • David asks God to stop two specific threats: – “the foot of the proud” (arrogant people advancing, trampling, overpowering) – “the hand of the wicked” (active hostility, violence, or manipulation) • The request rests on God’s proven character revealed earlier in the psalm—His steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice (Psalm 36:5-6). Picture of Hostile Advance • Foot = pressure from above, intimidation, forced submission • Hand = grasping, pushing, displacing, uprooting • Together they portray the total assault of evil—physical, social, and spiritual. God’s Protective Boundaries • The plea assumes God can literally set limits that no enemy may cross. • Psalm 91:3-4 — He shields with “feathers” and “wings”; the danger remains real, yet cannot penetrate His refuge. • Psalm 121:3 — “He will not allow your foot to slip.” The proud may lift a foot, but God keeps His people steady. • Job 1:10 — Even Satan recognizes a divine “hedge” around God’s servants. • 2 Thessalonians 3:3 — “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” Living Under His Shield Today • Stand on His promise of immovable protection rather than on personal strength. • Pray specifically; David names the threats. Clarity in prayer reflects faith in God’s precise intervention. • Trust God’s timing. David prays while danger looms; he expects God to act before harm lands. • Walk humbly. God opposes the proud (James 4:6) but gives grace to the lowly who seek refuge in Him. Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 5:12 — “Surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with favor as with a shield.” • Isaiah 54:17 — “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” • John 10:28-29 — No one can snatch Christ’s sheep out of the Father’s hand. Takeaways for Daily Walk 1. Identify the “foot” and “hand” you face—pressures, injustices, temptations. 2. Bring them, by name, to the Lord who alone can restrain the wicked. 3. Rest in His comprehensive care: He blocks what steps on you and halts what pushes you away. 4. Continue following Him boldly, confident that His unfailing love draws an impenetrable line the enemy cannot cross. |
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