The Bible As ...Our Shield
Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV) "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. {13} Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Psalms 91:4 (NIV) "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
There are many different symbols used to describe the Bible. In Psalm 119 it is the Light and the Way In Jeremiah it is a Fire and a Hammer, In Ecclesiastes it is a Nail and a Goad, In Deuteronomy it is Food, In Luke it the Seed, In Ephesians it is our Sword. Let's look at another symbol of the Word of God. It is our Shield of protection.
We are in a battle! We are warned that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The forces of our enemy seeks to destroy us and hinder our effectiveness in this world. The very world in which we live is hostile toward those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Our sinful nature pulls and tugs at us wanting to draw us into sin. But God did not leave us here helpless and unarmed.
He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us,
He has given us the Sword of the Spirit to do battle. He has provided us
with armor. I want us to look at God's Word as our Shield
What makes the Bible different from all other books in the world? God is the author. He used men to write the words. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit. 2 Tim. 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
The Word teaches us what is right, what is wrong, how to get right, and
how to keep right! The Bible has stood the test of time. No other book has
survived the centuries as the Bible. It has survived empires, kingdoms,
wars, civilizations, the dark ages, the Renaissance, modernism,
skepticism, all attacks on its authority and accuracy.
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the Word of our God shall stand forever. The Bible is our shield because God Himself is our shield.
There is a unique relationship between God and His Word. His Word takes on the attributes which are ascribed to God. God is holy, His Word is Holy. God is indestructible, His Word is proven to be indestructible. God is trustworthy, His Word is worthy of our trust. Never hesitate to trust the Word of God. Men will fail you, but God's Word will never fail!
Our Shield Is Indivisual.
It gives us identification. Each Roman soldier had his name inscribed on his shield. Our shield also identify us. Our position on this Book identifies who we are, what we believe, how we operate! Others may try to convince us that the shield we carry is obsolete and worn-out. Take courage and hold up the precious Word of God without shame.
It will outlast its critics and its adversaries! It gives us complete protection. There are two ways to look at protection; One is from the barnyard and the other is from the battlefield. There is the picture of the mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings to protect them. The Truth is our shield and buckler on the battlefield.
The shield was large enough for the soldier to stand behind and be completely protected from the enemies arrows and spears. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
Our protection is complete! John Bunyan said, "This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book"!
Our Shield Must Be Used.
There are commands given to soldiers in reference to their shields. Each
of these commands have significance as to how we are to treat our shield,
the Word of God. Gather the shields... Jer. 51:11. Be prepared for battle.
Paul instructed Timothy to study the Word. God challenged Joshua to meditate
and observe the Word. James told us to be doers of the Word and not hearers
only! We must gather it and appropriate it for our lives.
Uncover the Shield. When not in use, the shield of the ancient soldier was protected by a leather covering. Prior to battle the covers were removed. This signified a readiness to do battle. How often do you uncover your shield? Some are covered for weeks and months at a time. Unfortunately, many are covered by dust!
Anoint the shield
Before entering into battle soldiers would anoint their shields so that they would shine brightly. Imagine the impact of an army approaching with shields that are bright and shiny reflecting the sunlight into the eyes of the enemy. The challenge is to keep sharp in our ability to use the Word of God. The Word should be our strength and power of the Holy Spirit. Failure to use our shield of protection will result in failure and defeat.
God has blessed us with His Word. It is our shield of protection for this life. The Bible declares that "whosoever will may come". Jesus looked down upon the city of Jerusalem and cried, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not!"
Christian, are your prepared for battle? God has provided us with all we need to be successful. Gather the shields, uncover the shield, anoint the shield!
Do you need to recommit yourself to the Word of God? His Word will bless you, will guide you,
It will never fail you.
Trust Him and His Word.