“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in the LORD.” Psalm 34:7-8
I remember as a child, my parents would kneel beside my bed with my brother and me saying our night time prayers. After the prayers, my parents would say good night, tuck us in, turn out the lights and leave the room.
Even knowing my brother was in the twin bed on the other side of our small bedroom, I found myself fearful of the dark. I tried desperately to talk myself out of being afraid. It worked for a few minutes, but then an overwhelming fear would overcome me. I was unequivocally and definitively afraid! After I could take it no longer, I yelled out through the darkness to my Mom and Dad, “I’m scared!”
From their bedroom my Dad would say something like, “Son, there is nothing to be afraid of.” I disagreed vehemently and did not find comfort in those words.
After what, I now realize, was a nightly conversation ritual between parent and child, my Dad would say, “Ken, your Mom and I are right here.” To which I replied, “But I can’t see you.” Then Dad would say, “We’re still here, even though you can’t see us.” Somehow it was that phrase that dispelled my fear and I would eventually drift off to sleep.
I am not afraid of the dark any longer and I easily drift off to sleep, exhausted, after a long day. However, make no mistake. There are many days when I find myself in the “proverbial darkness” of life. My innermost being cries out, “I’m scared.” And in the midst of those situations, I find comfort in words like, “the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”
The word “encamp” is defined in this manner: to settle in or establish a camp, especially a military sense.
So the text really says, “Don’t be afraid of the situation; don’t fear the darkness, the angel of the LORD settles in and sets up camp like a military installation around you.”
Eugene Petersen, the author of The Message, who died recently, translated the verse in this manner: “God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us.”
So friends, regardless of what you may be facing and no matter how dark the darkness; rest assured and don’t be afraid, God’s angels have set up camp around you. You are not alone. The darkness will not overwhelm you.