Psalm 3 - I Need a Shield

A shield is a defensive weapon.  You hold it up in front of you as you careen, sword drawn into battle.  In Psalm 3, David calls the Lord the One who is "the shield about him."  I tried to picture this.  A shield that surrounds your whole body.  God has his back.  He knew this, of course, from his many years of battle.  Think Goliath.  King Saul's armor did not fit David. He was a small boy, and King Saul was head and shoulders taller than his men.  So, the shepherd kid went out with only the shield that his Lord provided and sliced off the head of the giant with the giant's mighty sword.

I have not mounted my steed and, fully armed in clanky maille, faced gritty, sweating, feral warriors racing toward me on their mounts, ready to decimate me and leave me bleeding on the battlefield.  But, trust me, I have been left bloodied on a battlefield just the same.  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day.....take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish the flaming missiles of the evil one." (Ephesians)   Flaming missiles!!!?  There are flaming missiles coming at me daily and I don't know it?  What happened.  No wonder some days I feel laid low.  Watch out!  You are in a war.  Why are you not winning?

Number One:  You don't know you are at war.  You just think the kick in the stomach stuff that happens throughout your week, your day, your year is "just life."  Watch out!!!

Number Two:  You forgot your armor.  So much the warrior who leaves the tent in his pajamas in the morning.  Easy prey for a missile, I would think.

Number Three:  You have your own outfit to wear.  Why should you have to put on that old stuff?  So, you have come into the battle ill fitted with a custom made panacea to war.  It won't be long until you discover that it melts in the fire.  Then what?

Number Four:  This is the saddest of all.  You do not have any armor at all.  You do not even know where to get it.  You see the war, so maybe you join the other side because fighting wears you out.  It is only for the brave of heart.

Armor, you say?  What armor?  The helmet of salvation - it covers your head, silly.  You can't think correctly - you can't fight well.  The breastplate of righteousness - covers your heart with His righteousness so you don't have to worry about being a worthy soldier.  He shares His.  The belt of Truth - might want to know you are on the side of truth.  He is the way, the TRUTH and the life.  You have to read about and wear the truth in  order to stand up to the enemy. The shoes of the gospel of peace - for running into battle with a message:  He loves your enemy, too.  And last of all the sword of the Spirit - which is the Word of God.  Oops.....do you know what it says?  How can you bellow truth into the grimey ears of your enemy if you do not even KNOW it?  The Spirit makes the Word come alive and cut because it is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing so it divides the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)  Mmmm...sharper than a two-edged sword.  Use it with the enemy.  Jesus did. (Luke 4)  Finally, use your shield.  Let Him protect you.  Look to Him.  He is a "safe tower and the righteous (us...by way of Christ) run into it and are saved"!(Proverbs 18:10)