* God wanted to teach His kids that He was their defender.

* vs 1-3 open up with God telling His kids not to put their trust in His “things” but Himself.

* He then gives two analogies that point out two laws that reveal why He protects us:

* 1) The Law of Possession - vs 4.

* The lion doesn’t back down from shepherds when he stands over a sheep he just killed. Why?

* Because it is HIS!

* We are God’s and He will protect and defend us!

* Note - the sheep was dead.

* We need to die to ourselves if we want God’s protection.

* 2) The Law of Priority - vs 5.

* What’s more important to a mother bird than her little babies in the nest? NOTHING!

* We are the most important thing to God. He loves His image-bearers more than we love our own kids!

* God says to us:

* “I will protect you because you’re MINE (possession) and you’re the most important thing to Me (priority).

* Now we can stand on this promise!