Shakan! Doesn’t that sound like some word that explodes from the screen when a Power Ranger knocks down the enemy! I admit, I used to watch Power Rangers with my son when he was a little boy. He would put on his Power Ranger suit and then jump out in front of his little sister, thrusting his arms and fists mightily before her and say, “Stop, you will never get past me!”
Moses used this powerful Hebrew word shakan when he prayed for the tribe of Benjamin in Deuteronomy 33:12.
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest (shakan) secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests (shakan) between His shoulders.”
Notice that in one sentence he used shakan twice: “shakan secure in Him” and “shakan” between His shoulders. In Hebrew, the word shakan means rest, to dwell, to settle down, to abide, to set in place. Think of the last time you used super glue to set something permanently in place. Within seconds, it fastens two objects together preventing them from ever separating again (an unfortunate quality when we accidentally super glue our two fingers together!).
Moses prays for Benjamin’s tribe to rest (shakan) securely in God. The word secure in Hebrew is betach. It is defined as “safety, security, a place of refuge, related both to the fact of security and the feeling of trust, a place of assurance, without care, confidence, and hope” (The Hebrew Interlinear Bible online, Blue Letter Bible.org). What an encouraging phrase for us all as the world is experiencing so many calamities. We can confidently trust in Him, knowing that He is in control and has supernatural power!
A Moment to reflect:
How are you currently experiencing rest in the Lord? If you feel you aren't, what is hindering you from rest?
Re-read Deut. 33:12 “Let the beloved of the Lord rest (shakan) secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests (shakan) between His shoulders.” What is one attribute about God that is clear here; what is one way that truth about God can impact your life this week?
Pray for the Lord to help you apply this truth to your mind and heart.
By Sue Corl - an excerpt from For Such A Time As This: Walking Through Crisis
*A moment to reflect is added for this post.
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