But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
- Psalm 5:11-12
In the movie, 300, about the Spartans holding Thermopylae, there is a scene which depicts this verse graphically.
The arrows of Xerxes are coming in droves blocking out the sun. The Spartans take a certain trained position — a formation — with shields overhead and surrounding them. In the movie, the spartans were safe, providing they remained in the practiced stance, alert, allowing the shields to do their work.
They were encompassed with the shields which worked like one large shield from above.
Often God wants to protect us the same way, but we get scared and lose faith during the raining of the arrows, and run out from under the protection of the shield, out from the formation we have been told to keep ( Having done all to stand, stand!)
We run into the open land of the enemies arrows, and then blame God for not protecting us, as His Word states He will.
It is righteousness to stay in and let the Lord do His work. We can rest and rejoice, and put our trust in Him because HE IS our shield.
We fight a different Xerxes; one whose arrows are flaming arrows of the mind, convincing us that there is no hope, or there is no strength in righteousness and holiness, or a little disobedience is fine so long as we keep most of what God says.
These arrows of fire set alight our minds if we run out from under the shields.
Putting on God's armour is a part of the formation, and includes the shield of faith.
Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for all the protection you have given me that I have not realised. Please help me to see this strategy of safety, and the fact you love to protect your people in times of trouble.
Comments