Keep—What a lovely word is recorded for us so many times in the Scriptures and how much it means to the Lord's people. As we journey along our earthly pilgrimage, the difficulties to be encountered are too great, the burdens too heavy, the snares too powerful, and the evil in this present world of corruption too overwhelming—yet what strong consolation is ours, by grace! Our Lord Jesus Christ not only saves, but He keeps even the feeblest of His saints.
Let us remind ourselves of the promises concerning the Lord's keeping power. He guarantees to meet every need, and His presence is our unfailing comfort. How beautiful is the promise in Gen. 28:1515And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (Genesis 28:15)— Behold. I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou guest." The psalmist gives us a blessed prayer. "Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of Thy wings." Psa. 7:66Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. (Psalm 7:6). Again in Psa. 121 (RV) we have assurance that He that keepeth thee will not slumber, the Lord is thy keeper. He shall keep thee from evil. He shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall keep thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
In Prov. 6:22,22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. (Proverbs 6:22) we read that. "When thou guest, it [the Word of God] shall lead thee: when thou steepest, it shall keep thee: and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.”
Another jewel we find in Isa. 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.”
At all times and in all circumstances we are kept. In our Lord's great intercessory prayer, we have the promise of a two-fold keeping. "I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are." John 17:1111And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11). Here we have the Father keeping us. In verse 12 we have the Lord Jesus keeping us: "I kept them in Thy name: Those that Thou gavest Mc have I kept, and none of them is lost." Our Lord also prays, "Not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil." What a comfort it is to know that our exalted Lord ever liveth to make intercession for us!
The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, assured him he had made a deposit, and had entrusted his present and eternal interests to the Lord, the keeping of his soul for time and eternity. With confidence he writes. "I ... am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." 2 Tim. 1:1212For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12).
We cannot keep ourselves but truly we "are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." 1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5). 'O Lord keep me pure within.'
The Apostle Jude assures us in that lovely doxology, verse 24: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." May we know more of the glorious reality of the saving and keeping power of our Lord Jesus Christ moment by moment, till we are safe in the glory with Him. H. Spence