Deuteronomy 33:12-17: a reflection

12About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.” 13About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by the LORD, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath, 14for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things that the moon can yield, 15for the best things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. 17Majesty belongs to the firstborn of his herd. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”

In Moses' blessing on the tribes, the words over Benjamin are especially tender: The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety by him; he shields him all day long, and he dwells between his shoulders. It is an image of intimate, protective love: the beloved carried close, shielded continually, resting between the shoulders of the one who bears him, as a parent carries a cherished child or a shepherd carries a lamb.

Notice the tenderness of the picture. To dwell between his shoulders is to be carried close against the one who bears you, in the safest, most sheltered place, held near the heart of your protector. The beloved is not merely defended from a distance but carried, close and secure, shielded all day long. It is a picture of God's protective love not as cold guardianship but as intimate, tender nearness, the beloved held close and safe.

That tender image is meant for all who are God's beloved. You are not merely watched over from afar; you are, as it were, carried close, held against the heart of God, shielded all day long, dwelling between his shoulders. When you feel exposed and unsafe, remember the picture: the beloved of the LORD dwells in safety, carried close, shielded continually. That is the love God has for those who are his, an intimate, protective nearness that carries and shelters. Rest there, as the beloved, carried close and safe between the shoulders of the God who loves you.

Lord, your word over Benjamin is tender: the beloved of the LORD dwells in safety; he shields him all day long, and he dwells between his shoulders. Thank you that your protective love is not cold guardianship from afar but intimate, tender nearness, carrying your beloved close, shielding them continually. When I feel exposed and unsafe, remind me of this picture, and let me rest as your beloved, carried close and safe between your shoulders. Hold me near your heart, and shield me all day long.