The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
Psalm 28:7 (NKJV)
Series: Standing Strong
Size and strength have their benefits! While navigating crowds, my 5’1″ frame may squeeze through tight places, but I also risk being pushed and knocked down. I’ve been grateful for my husband’s 6’2″ presence while maneuvering through people-packed venues.
Crouching behind him, while each of us held firmly to the other’s hand, his body would shield mine, protecting me from random shoves and hits, and would lead the way to our destination each time. His presence made the way for me to sail close behind him almost effortlessly. I just needed to hold on and move my feet in the direction he moved.
To me, this picture of my husband being a living shield for me reminds me of how God watches over us and guards us. Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) declares:
Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Thank you, Lord! He is our refuge and our strength! He is our shield. And just as I need to cooperate with my husband in crowded areas to benefit from his protection, we are to take up this shield of faith to enjoy security and safety only God provides.
Let’s look at Ephesians 6:14-16 (NKJV):
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
The foundation piece of the Armor of God is the belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness is connected to the belt of truth and protects our hearts from deception, bitterness, and evil. The preparation of the gospel of peace is our shoes. Peace is to be our footing and is our guide. The next piece of armor is the shield of faith.
The Romans constructed their shields with layers of wood, canvas, and leather. The center umbo, or boss, aided in deflecting arrows, spears, and swords. The shields provided shoulder-to-knee protection and were designed for tight, shoulder-to-shoulder formations. Roman soldiers sometimes soaked their shields in water before battle to prevent them from catching fire when hit by fiery arrows. The leather covering of the shield would absorb the water, providing a protective, damp layer that extinguished fire upon impact.
Paul, in Ephesians 6:16, instructs us to take up the shield of faith, which we will quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. These fiery darts include spiritual attacks, accusations, and temptations that fuel doubt, unbelief, pride, anger, and despair. The enemy’s primary goal is to weaken, hinder, destroy, and/or cause division. The fiery darts target emotions and passions and invoke fear, anxiety, and doubt. Satan is the accuser of people, and his accusations create shame, guilt, and insecurity.
I love the parallel of the Roman shields and the shiels of faith. The Roman soldiers dipped their shields in water to quench the enemy’s fiery arrows. We pick up our shields of faith to do the same.
In Ephesians 5:26, Paul teaches that the washing of the water of the word sanctifies us. The word is truth. When we allow the word of God to wash over us, we become saturated in truth. And that truth becomes a shield for us that quenches those fiery darts.
The qualifier here is faith. Do we believe what the word of God says? Do we believe in God, and do we believe He is faithful to perform His promises? Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) says:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
If what we hope for is not rooted in the word of God, then those hopes have no foundation, no root, no surety. It is when our hope is set upon the character and promises of God that we will grow in faith and realize the fulfillment of God’s promises.
But how will we know what to believe if we never seek Him and His truth in His word? Romans 10:17 (NKJV) states:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
And Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB) teaches:
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
Faith in God is the firm trust, assurance, and confidence in God’s existence, character, and promises, even without physical evidence or proof. It goes beyond intellectual belief, requiring a personal, daily commitment to follow God’s will, rely on Him for salvation, and act upon that conviction.
I’m grateful to have the shield of my husband in crowded situations. He’s bigger and stronger, and he watches out for me. I trust him to help me and guard me from harm. How much more can we trust our great big Father God to shield us from harm!
When was the last time you picked up your shield of faith? Is it sitting in a corner somewhere?
This week, blow the dust off that mighty piece of armor and pick it up. Practice holding it in front of your body. See how it covers you head-to-toe. Dip it in the water of God’s Word. Maybe even lock shields together shoulder-to-shoulder with another believer. Then move forward through the crowd, deflecting the fiery darts, and reach the destination God has for you.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Psalm 5:12, 28:7; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 6:10-20; Hebrews 11:1-6
