As our world gets darker and it seems as if evil reigns, let us encourage one another as we walk in the light of Christ. John wrote that the light (Jesus) shines in the darkness, and darkness will never overpower the light (John 1:5). However, we need to walk in wisdom and cling to God’s protection during these last days. You may or may not be familiar with Psalm 91 – a declaration of God’s protection. If you aren’t acquainted with the Psalm, I suggest you read all 16 verses. The verse I am commenting on is the end of verse 4, which states:
“His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”
Much of Scripture is illustrated by things in the natural world of the day in which the books of the Bible were written. Psalm 91 is no exception. We read over words and many times don’t receive the full impact of what the words mean. Do you know what a buckler is? I didn’t until I looked it up. The Hebrew word for buckler means something that surrounds a person, as in a shield that goes all the way around someone. It’s protection, a defense against the evil. It’s not just in front or behind but surrounds all of you!
Where this verse gets more interesting is in the meaning of the word shield. The meaning is a hook, as in a pointed hook. It’s a large shield but a prickly one. It comes from a word that means a thorn, the thorn of a cactus. Most images of a shield from the past are heavy metal things a soldier would carry in front of him. But we would likely not think of a shield as pointed or prickly.
Also, notice it’s God’s truth protecting us – by being prickly and surrounding us on all sides from our enemies. How is God’s truth a shield and buckler, especially given what the two words mean? As I meditated on this, it came to me that when we walk in the truth, speak it, believe it, and otherwise live in God’s truth, it is our Spiritual weapon. Ephesians 6:17 calls God’s Word the “sword of the Spirit.”
Now, that doesn’t mean it’s all peaceful and calm when we tell people the truth (or tell ourselves the truth). Jesus met with scorn almost every time He opened His mouth to speak the truth. Jesus knew it would be the same for us, so He prayed for us many times in the gospels. When we talk about the truth and believe it, it is often prickly to people who are either ignorant of the truth or refuse to accept the truth. Our shield protects us but can prick the conscience of others – and they don’t like being pricked!
But here’s the best part of this verse in Ps 91: God’s truth, even as Hebrews 4 says, “is sharper than a two-edged sword,” is really protecting us. So even when we are in a battle, and the truth is marching on, we are protected from the enemy. When we come under fire and are attacked on every side, God still surrounds us with His truth shield and bulwark. We aren’t left exposed on any side!
So, let’s rejoice that God’s truth is our prickly shield, our surrounding bulwark in every situation we may find ourselves in – we are protected! When we are in the midst of the fire, it doesn’t feel as if we’re being protected – it feels just the opposite. But consider that God has your back. He surrounds you with His care, just like he did the four godly men with Daniel in the fiery furnace. Speak the truth into each battle you find yourself in, and allow His truth to go to work for you, protecting you and enabling you to escape that situation without even a hint of smoke on your clothes. Sometimes, it’s a struggle to speak or believe the truth when your circumstances seem like God has left you vulnerable on one side. Rest assured, He has NOT left you and will never forsake you – not ever. Don’t depend on your own ingenuity or strength to protect you. Rest on His word, truth, and love for you in any situation.
Receive from Jesus 