I love the word “compass” which appears many times in the King James Bible. Sometimes, it’s translated, “surround” in newer versions.
The King James Bible page defines compass as, “To stretch round; to extend so as to embrace the whole;” or “To surround; to environ; to inclose on all sides;” or “To go or walk round.”
Psalm 32:10 says,
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalm 5:12 says, For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
The Lord walks around us. His embrace is on all sides. It is protective like a shield, a barrier through which the enemy’s arrows cannot penetrate. The Lord compasses us with mercy and favor, surrounding us with His blessing.
When the people of Israel compassed Jericho, the Lord broke down the walls of the city. (Joshua 6)
When we intercede for others with movement, we can circle them, either with an embrace, wrapping our arms around them, or by walking or dancing in a circle about them. Sometimes when I’m praying for a friend, I will envision them before me and walk around them as I pray. So often, when we pray for someone in bible study, we gather around them to lay hands on them. They are compassed about.
Try this: Compass your child as she or she sleeps. Compass your home as you pray. Take an early morning prayer walk and compass your neighborhood, your office building, your City Hall. As you compass, intercede. through your prayer and your walking, you make a barrier through which the enemy may no longer pass. Embody the Lord’s favor and mercy.
Take a look at these verses as well: Psalm 139:3, Psalm 118:10, Psalm 116:3