If you are a Christian seeking guidance and protection in your life, you may have heard of the phrase “hedge of protection.” This phrase is a common prayer used by many believers to ask God for His protection over themselves, their families, and loved ones. The idea of the hedge of protection comes from the Bible, where it is mentioned in a few different verses. The most notable mention is from Satan, who complained to God that Job was only righteous because God had put a protective hedge around him. However, throughout scripture, we see numerous examples of God’s provision and care for His people, and we are encouraged to trust in His promises and seek His protection through prayer. In this article, we will explore the concept of the hedge of protection, its biblical origins, and how we can pray for it in our own lives.
Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land. (Job 1:10 AMP)
Surprisingly, this quote is from Satan himself. He was complaining to God that Job was only righteous because God had planted a hedge of protection around him.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 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. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:6-12 KJV)
This is even more proof to me that God’s hedge of protection is real and effective. Even Satan complains that it protects people.
But we don’t have to trust Satan to know that God has promised to protect his people with a hedge of protection.
Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up, gathered out its stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in its midst, and also cut out a winepress therein. He looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. “Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes? Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it will be eaten up. I will break down its wall of it, and it will be trampled down. I will lay it a wasteland. It won’t be pruned nor hoed, but it will grow briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.” For the vineyard of Yahweh of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry of distress. (Isaiah 5:1-7 WEB)
- The providence of God (Psalm 32)
- Taste and see the Lord is good (Psalm 34; 1 Samuel 21:10-15; Psalm 52:1-9; Psalm 56:1-13)
- So the Lord surrounds his people (Psalm 125)
- You have searched me and know me (Psalm 139)
He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'” (Luke 13:6-9 WEB)
In conclusion, the concept of a “hedge of protection” is a powerful reminder of God’s care and provision for His people. While the origin of the phrase may have come from an unlikely source, it serves as a testament to the effectiveness of God’s protection. Throughout scripture, we see numerous examples of God’s provision and care for His people, and we are encouraged to trust in His promises and seek His protection through prayer. Whether we are facing physical danger, emotional turmoil, or spiritual attacks, we can have confidence that God hears our prayers and will provide a hedge of protection around us. As we continue to seek God’s guidance and protection in our lives, may we be reminded of His faithful provision and the power of prayer.
Have you asked God for a hedge of protection around you, or your family, or a loved one? You can have confidence God hears your prayers.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. (James 5:16-18 NLT)