Word of Encouragement (04/12/2023)
Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders." (Deut. 33:12)
Moses further describes the safety the LORD provides for Benjamin in this way: “[Benjamin] dwells between his shoulders.”
Dwelling between God’s shoulders sounds strange. Eugene H. Merrill says regarding this expression, “The anthropomorphism here is suggestive of the most tender compassion and solid security at the same time. The phrase speaks not of carrying on the back but of being held close to the breast or bosom.” So, Moses is not talking about the back side of the shoulders but the front side.
Why, then, use the imagery of shoulders rather than bosom? Bosom has the connotation of comfort and warmth. Shoulders connote strength. For it is the shoulders on which we bear heavy burdens. So, the priests carried the holy things of the tabernacle on their shoulders (Num. 7:9). And as the Israelites passed through the Jordan, Joshua commanded one from each tribe to find a stone and carry it on his shoulders to build a monument for the occasion (Josh. 4:5). Also, Isaiah prophesied that (the burden of government) would rest upon the shoulder of a child that would be born as the Messiah (Isa. 9:6). In this expression, then, the ideas of strength and comfort/safety are joined to show what kind of protection God provides for His people.
We have been assured that God surrounds His beloved people. Here, we see that their dwelling place in the LORD is particularly “between his shoulders.” That’s where God placed His people to dwell. There is a sense in which we cannot get out of God’s protection, objectively speaking. For He has chosen to surround us all day long. Even so, we are safest when we dwell “between his shoulders.” God will not fail to protect those who are His according to His eternal, irrevocable decree. But in their sinful rebellion, they can stray into dangerous places. God will still protect them from falling into the abyss of damnation. But they may subject themselves to God’s severe discipline to bring us back “between his shoulders” and teach us to dwell there willingly and gratefully. God loves His people too much to allow them to live in sin or love sin, which is the most dangerous thing in all the universe. God will not spare even the severest measure of discipline since the danger of sin is far worse than the severest discipline God can apply to His people. His discipline may be severe, but it is better than the lightest of His judgment: while His discipline is motivated by love, judgment is an execution of justice.
How do we dwell “between his shoulders” gladly and gratefully? Let us remember that the expression connotes God’s strength and safety. Who would want to dwell in such a place? Only those who recognize their powerlessness to deal with the dangers they face on their own. Such people would consider it a great blessing to have their refuge and dwelling place between the shoulders of an almighty God. They would not be tempted to venture out of the dwelling place God placed them in, thinking that they could do better on their own.
This doesn’t mean that we would lock ourselves up in our prayer closet and not do anything. No, those who dwell “between his shoulders” would not be afraid to venture out and do all the good they can do by the strength of His shoulders. The difference is between venturing out from “between his shoulders” and venturing out in “between his shoulders.” Those who do the latter will be prayerful in their reliance on God and His strength. They will also be careful to observe God’s statutes to abide “between his shoulders” at all times. May the Lord keep us safe “between his shoulders”!