SHIELD OF HELP, SWORD OF EXCELLENCY

Verses 28 and 29 of this chapter promised rich temporal blessings for Israel, a ‘people saved by the Lord’. There was the promise of safety, the promise of sustenance, the fountain, the corn and the wine, and the promise of satisfaction, ‘Happy art thou, O Israel’. All these have their spiritual counterpart for the child of God today, but enemies would rob us of the enjoyment of the inheritance. It is so good to know that there is One who is the Shield of our help, and the Sword of our excellency. He not only provides protection as our shield, but also repels the assailants. ‘One bear- inga shield’ went before Goliath, 1 Sam. 17. 7, but that protection was totally inadequate! Ahab too was vulnerable, despite his armour, 1 Kgs. 22. 34. The Shield of our help gives comprehensive cover! He is ‘a shield about me’, Ps. 3. 3 margin. The shadow of His wings gives protection from the ‘enemies against the soul’, Ps. 17. 8-9 margin.

In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus was often the shield of His own dear people. When men first plotted to destroy Him, He ‘withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea’, Mark 3. 7. He was a shield to these novices on the pathway of discipleship. When His opponents criticised Him through them, and objected to His companions at the table, He intervened as the shield of their help; ‘I came not to call the righteous’, Mark 2. 16-17. In the cornfields He was not only a shield, but He applied the sword of the Word, ‘Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred?’, Matt. 12. 3. In the garden, He instructed His captors, ‘if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way’, John 18. 8. There were no arrests despite Peter’s attack! He was the shield of their help. Caiaphas enquired of His disciples and His doctrine. He referred to His doctrine, but spoke no word to incriminate His disciples, John 18. 19-21. Once more, He was the shield of their help.

In every generation God has been the shield of His people. He limited Satan’s activity in Job’s life, Job 1. 12; 2. 6. He placed horses and chariots of fire around Elisha, 2 Kgs. 6.17. His angel closed the mouths of lions in Daniel’s day, Dan. 6. 22. ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’, Rom. 8. 31.