My Shield
Background Story: David was constantly on the move and under attack from Saul and others. Understanding the danger he was in and the fear he must have lived with, helps us see the significance of David’s prayer to God.
Read Psalm 115
Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.
14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to mankind.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore.
Big Idea: God’s word is a shield.
David compared the idols of the world with the God of heaven. He said, “They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.” They are lifeless, unable to hear, see, speak, or respond to worshipper in need. In comparison, three times David called God his help and shield.
A shield. Why is God compared to a shield? A shield in battle serves two purposes: defense and offense.
1-Defense: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16 (see Ephesians 6:10-17)
As attacks come through words, circumstances, and discouragement, we can take refuge in faith behind God’s word. Unlike the false gods of this world that change, fail, and wear out, the Bible is the constant, unchangeable truth we can trust and rely on. As arrows of attack fall around us, Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word. “
2-Offense: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
God’s word is for offense as well. Not only can we rest in the unchangeable word of God, but we can take His word to attack negative thinking and assaults on our mind. Our minds are a battleground and the Bible says to “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.”
How do we do this? What better example do we have than Jesus? In Matthew 4: 1-11, Satan tried to tempt Jesus through different kinds of attacks. Each time, Jesus came back with, “It is written.” Taking Christ’s example, when I am battling temptation, anxiety, or any thought contrary to God’s word, I search the Bible and find verses. Then I write those Bible verses on a slip of paper or 3×5 card, and I carry it in my pocket all day. Every time that thought or temptation comes back to mind, I pull out that card and read it. And I keep reading and believing it till my actions and mind line up with His word. In this way, we are using God’s word as an offensive shield to fight off the arrows of the enemy!
Takeaway Verse:
Song for Today:
Looking For More?
Dig Deeper: Psalm 1, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 2:1-8, 2 Samuel 22:1-3, Psalm 20:7, Psalm 119:103-105, Psalm 3:1-6, 1 Kings 8:56, Isaiah 55:10-11, 1 Timothy 4:16, Romans 12:2
Similar Devotions: Which Path?, What’s Growing?, Because You Say So, The River (Pt 1), The Responsive Heart, Looking For Water, Training For Godliness, Equipped, Leaning Forward, I Know, Daily, Breath of Life, Always Better, Just Enough For Today
Devotions4Teens Video: 3 Tips to Help You Grow Closer to God!, Help Reading Your Bible, Sneakiest Sin, Where is God in my Trials and Pain?
