Each book, chapter, and verse of the Bible is intentional in reflecting the nature of God, revealing His heart to a world desperate for the fulfillment it provides. Thus, literary terms like personification, metaphors, and adjectives used in the Bible aren’t accidents. They are divine details, so it’s no wonder we cling to phrases like God as our “hedge of protection.” But what does that mean? Is it truly Scriptural?
In the Christian faith, a hedge of protection is an illustration of God’s possessive yet caring nature, His ability to safeguard His children. While many of us are familiar with modern terms like financial “hedge funds,” the biblical definition of a hedge is a barrier created by thick shrubs or bushes to protect a person’s garden or property. It’s a plant-based wall, so to speak. On a spiritual level, it is God’s unbeatable barrier that defends our hearts and souls from the wicked one.
Does the Bible Actually Mention a Hedge of Protection?
A “hedge of protection” isn’t mentioned in Scripture verbatim. However, the prepositional phrase “of protection” is an obvious implication in Job 1:10, when Satan says God has placed a hedge around Job by shielding him from harm: “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land” (NIV).
Though “hedge of protection” isn’t explicitly recorded in the Bible, the undeniable theme of God as our protector remains steadfast, with key verses including:
- “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3 (KJV)
- “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
- “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)
- “... my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me.” 2 Samuel 22:3 (NIV)
- “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
How God Provides a Hedge of Protection for His People
As Bible speaker Clarence L. Haynes Jr. explains, God provides protection for His people through His nature—specifically, in His ability to keep His promises.
In Isaiah 41:10 (NIV), God promises, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Unlike us, God does not waver. He isn’t swayed by irrational feelings or selfish intentions. His nature is pure, true, and steadfast, so when He promises something, it’s as good as done. It’s complete. He’s simply allowing us to see the completion unfold in present time. It sounds too easy an explanation, but God provides our protection by being Himself.
Several years ago, I did a deep study on Habakkuk and shared these battle-ready thoughts about God as our great protector:
Habakkuk opens chapter one, verse one, with an iconic question we all ponder at some point in our lives: Why, God, are you allowing bad things to happen to Your people? Throughout the first two chapters, Habakkuk and God go back and forth, discussing His glory and wonder and goodness despite man's limited definition of graciousness. By the beginning of the third and final chapter, Habakkuk has reflected on God's relentless presence. Habakkuk now knows God as a fierce but loyal Father who would never abandon His children, even in the face of the Babylonians.
Habakkuk 3:8-11 (NIV) encapsulates Habakkuk's new vision of God, this mighty warrior of word and deed:
"Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory? You uncovered the bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers; the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves high. Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear."
What a beautiful biblical picture of the nature of our compassionate yet fearless God!
A Hedge of Protection and Spiritual Warfare
In Ephesians 6:10-18, we see the hedge of protection God provides for us through His armor. Faith, truth, righteousness, etc., are characteristics of His protective, all-powerful nature, strong enough to have eternal victory over Satan, sin, and evil. In His graciousness, He has granted us access to His weaponry, which is, in fact, His triumphant character.
In a fallen world, spiritual warfare is unavoidable. Evil will try to grasp the upper hand by keeping the lost from God’s light and by wearing down the believer. This heavy reality should call us not only to reflect on Ephesians 6 but also to encourage us to better understand God’s nature and better reflect Jesus, rebuking Satan with Scripture and confidence in the Almighty.
Hedge of Protection Scriptures
More Bible verses showcasing God’s hedge of protection for the believer include:
- “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.” Exodus 15:3 (NIV)
- “Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Psalm 24:8 (NIV)
- "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
- “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Revelation 19:11 (NIV)
How to Pray for a Hedge of Protection
I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a professional at praying, but I’d like to share a prayer of protection that I have found myself whispering over my family and my home. It’s inspired by Exodus 12, when the Israelites are told to place the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so the angel of death doesn’t kill their firstborn son:
“Father, I pray that you cover every doorpost, every window, and every crack and cranny of my home in the blood of the Lamb. I ask that you cover the doorposts of my sons’ and my husband’s hearts and souls in the blood of the Lamb. I ask that you cover the doorposts of my heart and soul in the blood of the Lamb. I ask that you cover the hearts and souls of every person who comes and goes from our house in the blood of the lamb.”
This prayer might seem simple, repetitive even, but there is nothing stronger than our God, nothing more powerful than the sacrificed blood of His Son, which paved the way for our salvation. Praying this truth over the walls of your home and the souls of your loved ones is a surefire way to make the enemy flee.
Even more than any prayers I could muster, though, consider quoting Jesus when He rebuked Satan in the desert:
“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)
In imitating Jesus, we have access to His nature, the very weapon that destroys sin, once and for all, and the greatest hedge of protection for our lives.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/BrianAJackson
This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:
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