"He Has My Back"

 

“He Has My Back”

 

During my pastoral years I took a strong position on a controversial issue in the church which I documented with Scripture. The next day I received a call from a couple active in the ministry supporting my stand and assuring me, “We’re behind you all the way!” But when the situation came to a head they were nowhere to be found. It was P.T. Barnum who’s said to have coined the phrase, “Talk is cheap” (for the record he added “but whiskey costs money”) which has found its way into our everyday language as a reminder that “actions speak louder than words”. Our Lord’s brother anticipated this long ago when he wrote, “Don’t merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22).

Recently while reading through the Old Testament’s prophetic books I came across a phrase in Isaiah 58:8 (it also appears in four other places): “…The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” The NLT renders it, “…The glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.” (Emphasis added in both cases.) The Hebrew word occurs almost 200 times and has the basic meaning of gather or assemble. So the thought is that God has my back and will gather His forces to protect me from behind. Interestingly, the “full armor of God” described in Ephesians 6:10-18 offers no defense from an attack from the rear—but God is there and He has my back.

We’ve likely felt abandoned by people at some point (maybe multiple times) in our lives. So did King David: “I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.” (Psalm 69:2). But who had his back? “The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.” (Verse 33). He further states, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” (Psalm 27:10, NLT, emphasis added) and “I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will answer me.” (Psalm 86:7, NLT).

Over the years I’m thankful for Karen’s having my back in the struggles of life—and hopefully I’ve had hers. But we both praise God that He holds us “in His grip” (a long-time friend now with the Lord always closed letters with these words). And what better place could we be?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan