God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 2 Samuel 22:31
We hear about God being a perfect shield over and over in scripture, so this week I wanted to really think about what a shield is and its purpose.
Wikipedia says this about a shield. “A shield is a piece of personal armor held in the hand or mounted on the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of active blocks, instead of providing passive protection.”
Now, let’s put the power, protection, love, and provision we have at our disposal as Christians into perspective.
Our God loves us so much that He sent His Holy Spirit to be a part of us. A part of our own personal armor that is so close we can hold it in our hands. As our shield and defense, He will stand between any attack that is thrown at us from close-range or from fiery arrows that travel at fast speeds to try and surprise us. As a shield, He takes quick action to defend His beloved children. His protection is active, as He moves quickly and precisely to defend and protect.
And this isn’t just a cute little way to take a definition and turn it into a God thing… Look at all these scriptures that back up this incredible truth.
Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand
Psalm 18:2 – The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold
2 Thessalonians 3:33 – but the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
And these verses are just a small sample. Take some time to search for other verses that back up this truth. The power of the Lord is real! He can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). I pray we all realize His power in new ways this week. That we lean into it, accept it and trust it with all of our hearts.
Blog Art is provided by my friend and sister in Christ Polly Jo Green. She is an artist based in Cary, North Carolina. Visit her website at pollyjogreen.com.Her art ranges from doodle creations to mixed media pieces. In addition to commissioned original art, her art is available on notecards.