What is a hedge of protection? Is there a hedge of protection for Christians? Does that mean we will never be harm’s way? What are the scriptures and Bible verses that talk about God’s protection? Should we use ‘hedge of protection prayers’?
We will look at these questions and more as we research today’s topic – Hedge Of Protection.
Hedge Of Protection Bible Verse
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. (Job 1:9-1)
The above Bible verse is where the hedge of protection originates and we can always use the examples in the scriptures and apply them to ourselves to some extent.
For example… This same verse says that God has blessed the work of his hands!
Many years ago I remember this being a constant prayer in my life. I was offered a promotion to become a Foreman at my workplace, having always been a laborer it was a daunting task and I would always pray for God to bless the work of my hands – and he did.
So much so I was then offered the job as supervisor of the entire operation. This was very daunting because it involved being on call and one of the things involved my worst nightmare — mechanical things!
I was the least mechanically minded person you could ever meet!
I was actually encouraged to take the job by the current supervisor who was leaving and he even recommended me over everyone else to the Manager of the firm.
So I took the job!
Now… there was a machine that was enormous and stood 2 stories high and it was forever breaking down and for the life of me no matter how hard I tried to come to grips with all of the complexities of how it worked I just couldn’t get close to figuring it out.
Sure enough, the very first call out I got as the new boss in the middle of the night was a problem with this machine and this is important stuff because we had to meet tight shipping schedules and if it’s down all night there will be big trouble.
On my way to work I’m praying to the Lord, please bless the work of my hands!
And he did… I got to work and this machine still looked overwhelming and I was still clueless. I’m looking at it as I had done hundreds of times before trying to figure out all the things that made this machine tick.
I was still asking the Lord for help in my mind and then every clicked!
It was easy, All of a sudden I knew all of the sequences involved, the trigger switches that needed to be activated at the right time, and so on.
Needless to say that night I managed to fix that machine and became somewhat an expert at it and the ‘goto’ guy from that day forward.
From clueless to expert overnight – God blessed the work of my hands.
In the very same verse, it mentions a hedge of protection and it too can relate to us as well.
Satan Complains That God Has Protected Job And Everything He Has Inside A Hedge
A hedge is nothing mystical or spiritual it simply means a barrier of protection and it can also be translated as a fence. The simple fact of the matter is God had a hedge of protection around Job and all that he had.
And it seems Satan was not allowed to cross that barrier and hence his complaint.
Now… hedges and walls were always used to keep wild animals out of the vineyards and farmlands that the people had. So a hedge of protection is more than just a spiritual phrase and would have been something people in the Old Testament were very familiar with.
The following verse is an example of a field owned by a lazy person who allowed the walls to become broken down and overgrown with thorns and nettles.
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. (Prov 24:30-34)
Perhaps an example of what happens to us if we are slothful in the things of God – eventually there will be nothing to protect us. This ties in with putting on the whole armor of God that you can read about in Ephesians 6:11-18)
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6:11)
Anyway… the main thought we get from Job is that while ever we are in God’s hedge of protection Satan can’t get to us. There is a barrier he is not allowed to cross over.
Once you are born again, you are in the body of Christ and we no longer need to fear Satan. However, I do want to say that doesn’t mean we live in a bubble and nothing will ever come against us!
Just a light reading of the New Testament will show you that we will suffer persecution and we must be prepared for it.
All of the Apostles died quite violent deaths at the hands of men.
Stephen was stoned to death. Despite great healings and miracles some of the early disciples still got sick… Epaphroditus was sick and close to death, and Trophimus couldn’t travel because he was sick.
Paul was persecuted, shipwrecked, whipped, stoned, locked in prison, and so on.
We could talk about all of those Christians fed to the lions, all of those burnt at the stake just so we could have the Bible we have today, and on and on we could go.
Yet, all of these people would have testified of the protection of God in their life!
Do not live in fear, however, do not be deceived into thinking you live in a bubble because all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ( 2 Tim 3:12).
Promises Of God’s Protection
One well-known chapter is Psalm 91 – which has some wonderful statements about the protection of the Lord so let’s itemize them below…
- He that dwelleth in the secret place (hedge of protection?) of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
- I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
- Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
- He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust
- His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
- Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night
- Nor for the arrow that flieth by day
- Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness
- Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
- A thousand shall fall at thy side
- Ten thousand at thy right hand
- But it shall not come nigh thee.
- Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
- Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge
- Even the Most-High, thy habitation
- There shall no evil befall thee
- Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
- For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
- They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder
- The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
- Because he hath set his love upon me
- Therefore will I deliver him
- I will set him on high
- Because he hath known my name.
- He shall call upon me, and I will answer him
- I will be with him in trouble
- I will deliver him, and honour him.
- With long life will I satisfy him
- And shew him my salvation.
The promises of protection and God being with you if you love him. However, I can’t get out of my head how much this applies to Jesus Christ and he certainly showed us how to use these scriptures.
These are the scriptures Satan used to tempt Jesus. The Devil says to Jesus in Matthew 4:6 – “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
How did Jesus answer in verse 7?
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
At the time of writing the world is engulfed with the coronavirus and many are using this chapter to declare it won’t come near them and they can gather with as many people as they like and thousands will fall around them but they will be okay because they have God’s protection.
I certainly do not believe any of us should fear the coronavirus but just like Jesus I think many are tempting the Lord God, just like those Church groups that pick up snakes – we have God’s protection however we are not to tempt him either.
God Removed His Hedge Of Protection From Israel
The hedge of protection features in other scriptures as well and this time it is God removing his hedge of protection. In Isaiah Chapter 5 the entire chapter deals with Israel’s falling away and God removing his hedge of protection.
And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. (Isaiah 5:5)
Jesus continues with this prophecy in the book of Matthew…
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Mat 21:33-43)
The hedge is now around the Church – and Jesus Christ is the hedge. And in Heb 13:5 – Jesus gave us this assurance… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Should We Use ‘Hedge Of Protection Prayers’?
In its purest form, there is no problem with praying for God’s protection however I always get concerned when something becomes just vain repetition. I see lots of searches online for prayers including the hedge of protection prayers. Seeing a prayer written down can be a form of inspiration and indeed Bible study.
However, what’s wrong with just praying from your heart in your own words? Is reading a prayer – therefore reciting what someone else has written – really prayer?
If you are a child of a God talk to him as a child!
You may also be interested in You Are The Temple Of God and What Did Jesus Write In The Sand
God Bless!