During our Torah teaching this week, we looked at The Priestly Blessing. Today, I want to look at Numbers 6:24 but at a different aspect of that protection.
Numbers 6:24 CSB “May the LORD bless you and protect you.” The word protect is the Hebrew reference number 8104 in the Strong’s Concordance and means “to hedge about (as with thorns) i.e., guard, protect, and attend to…” Last night, we looked at this in the context of the 91st Psalm; today, I want to look at it from the angle of protection during temptation.
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, part of that prayer concerned temptation, “And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matt. 6:13 CSB).
The Phillips New Testament says, “Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from evil.”
The Wuest New Testament reads, “And do not lead us into the place of testing where a solicitation to do evil would tempt us to sin, but deliver us from the Pernicious One.”
With that in mind, look at James 1:14-15 (Wuest): “But each one is being solicited to sin when he is taken in tow and enticed by his own craving. Then when the aforementioned craving has concieved, it gives birth to sin, and this sin when it is full grown brings forth death.”
We know that the desire for sin originates in the flesh, and as new creations in The Messiah, our spirit now has dominance over the flesh.
Galatians 5:17-25 CSB “For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
The law being discussed here is the law of sin and death1, not the law of God; it is the law of God that keeps us away from sin.
Psalm 119:9-11 AMPC “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. 10 With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. 11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
Just as much as we need protection from plagues and all the other things mentioned in Psalm 91, we need protection from the onslaught of the enemy where stepping out of righteousness is concerned.
Second Corinthians tells us to guard our minds by casting down thoughts that are against the knowledge of God. Ephesians 4:27 tells us not to give an opportunity to the devil. As we have seen, that opportunity begins with the mind, and that is where we must stop it. We need to take the words of Psalm 119 to heart, and not just the passage we read, but the entire Psalm. It is the Word of God that will protect and keep us from every temptation. Let us give ourselves to the Word and walk in victory over every scheme of the enemy.
- Rom. 7:7-8:2; Psa. 19:7-14
Casey D. Bell 
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