Shield

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Psalm 18:30

God is called a shield 24 times in the Old Testament including 17 times in the Psalms alone. To those who used them and knew how they worked with armor, “Shield” was an appropriate title for the Lord of Hosts. Much more than just something to hide behind, a shield projected power as well as protected.

Most people today are almost clueless in regards to ancient warfare. Most sword fights on television are without shields. In those conflicts, if one of those contestants had just a buckler (a small 10 inch shield) they would have a huge advantage over someone without one. The curved surface is for deflecting the enemies’ sword or arrow. Instead of simply absorbing the force of a blow, a good shield will knock the enemy’s blade out of the way and make him vulnerable.

The Christian life is fraught with conflict. Criticisms, persecutions, physical sufferings, the stresses of modern life, and even satanic oppression can attack the believer daily in one form or another. The Lord Jesus is our Shield, but He doesn’t just stand in the way so bad things don’t happen, He deflects them so we’re not brought down by them. We can continue to advance and overcome the enemy – not hide and hope he’ll go away.

We rest on Thee, our shield and our defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

                                          Edith G Cherry (1897)

(The song above was sung by the five missionary martyrs of Ecuador just before they died in January of 1956).