God is My Shield

During the trials of life, especially when I become anxious or fearful, I need to remind myself that God is my shield.

Understanding the Meaning of a Shield

During Bible days, shields were mostly used for protection, especially during battles.  A shield was an important piece of equipment for soldiers. Since combat was mainly done with swords, spears, and arrows, having a shield was a lifesaver. If a spear was zooming toward you, you could hold up your shield to block the spear from hitting you.

So when the Bible was written, followers of God could make the connection with verses that talk about God being our shield.  They understood that it meant that God is our protector.

Today we are not well acquainted with shields.

During modern warfare, there was no reason for soldiers to carry shields.  A shield could not protect a soldier from getting run over by a tank or from bombs. However there is still a use for shields today. Police who enter riot situations may carry riot shields to protect themselves from things being thrown at them.  Shields are not a common a sight to us.  Although there are several references in the Bible about God being our shield, it may be difficult for us to relate to without understanding the purpose of a shield .

David, who fought in many battles, knew all about using shields.

That is why he often called God and God’s Word a shield. Here are a few Scriptures where he mentions this:

Psalm 18:30  God’s way is perfect: His Word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 119:114  You, Lord, are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope and trust in Your Word.

Psalm 18:2  The Lord God is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Applying these verses to our spiritual battles

These wonderful verses show us that we should run to God when we sense that we are coming under the enemy’s attack. By using His Word, we reinforce our faith in Him. We take shelter in our Mighty God. It is easy for Him to thwart the attacks of the enemy.  He is our safe place. He is our shield.

Think about the various times in the Old Testament when God turned the enemies of Israel against themselves, and battles didn’t even have to be fought. When God’s people sought Him, praised, Him, and worshiped Him, they saw Him work miracles to protect them They believed in His promises and did not allow fear to take over.

The New Testament makes it clear that we are in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 explains that we are in a battle against “principalities and powers.” In other words, we battle daily against demonic spirits that try to tempt, discourage, or distract us from our walk with Jesus. If we understand that this battle actually exists, we can pray against these forces and bring the victory that Jesus won for us into every situation.

The well-known verses in this chapter tell us of the spiritual armor that we can wear to protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. The shield is the shield of faith. As we exercise our faith, it protects us Then we can swing our mighty swords of the Spirit, the Word of God. Our faith, combined with God’s Word, protects us.

Yes, God is my shield!   

Isn’t God good to protect us with His shield?  When you start to fear, speak these words out loud:  “God is my shield.  I trust in Him.  I will not fear.”

Your positive confession of faith will help you overcome fear.

by Karen S. Roberts