Trusting God

"In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one" (Eph. 6:16).

An on-duty Roman soldier was always dressed for battle but didn't employ his shield, helmet, and sword until the fighting started. But we as Christians must be ready for battle at all times because our enemy is relentless. We can't afford to overlook a single piece of armor or slip into complacency or neglect.

In that regard, Ephesians 6:16 says in effect, "Now that you've prepared for battle by girding your loins with truth, protecting your vital organs with the breastplate of righteousness, and securing your feet with the gospel of peace, don't forget to take up your shield."

Two types of shields were commonly used by Roman soldiers. One was a small, lightweight, round shield that was strapped to the soldier's left forearm and used to parry blows during hand-to-hand combat. The other, which Paul refers to here, was a large shield measuring about four-and- a-half-feet high and two-and-a-half-feet wide. It was made of sturdy wood covered with metal and a thick layer of oil- treated leather. The metal deflected arrows while the oily leather extinguished the fiery pitch that arrows were commonly swabbed with. That type of shield was ideal for full-body protection.

In the initial stages of a battle, the front-line soldiers knelt behind their large shields to protect themselves and provide a defense barrier for the troops behind them who were firing offensive weapons. The goal was to inch their way forward as a human wall until they could engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.

As a believer, the shield that protects you is your faith in God. If you never question His character, power, or Word, you'll never fall victim to Satan's attacks. That doesn't mean he won't beseige you—but when he does, his assaults will be ineffective.

Faith is a precious gift from God (Phil. 1:29). Thank Him for it and ask for wisdom to apply it properly when spiritual struggles come (James 1:5).

Meditate on the victory you have in Christ. What effect should that have on your daily living?

The smaller shield mentioned was called, in Medieval times, a “Buckler”. That is the word that is used in the Psalms in the KJV. So, while the big Roman shield is the one St. Paul speaks of, the little round one is useful too.

I envision the Buckler quite useful for the thousand tiny cuts of vague little insults, double entendres, sneering little quips or expressions, and those hard-to-define attacks that happen every day in families, workplace, and even the church. Stuff you can’t pinpoint or even call attention to, as a reaction to such an insult would seem petty or hypersensitive.

One of the reasons liberals are so hypersensitive about what they call “microagressions” is that since they DON’T have the assurance of the Lord, they don’t have either the big shield OR the little one. The Buckler protects your heart against these offenses. As a result, these folks lash out blindly, flailing at every perceived insult, real or imagined. They transfer their own inadequacies onto the person they PERCEIVE to be the attacker, most of the time unjustly.

Sometimes the attacks are real, and sometimes not. A nice sturdy little Buckler helps protect the place where even a little cut could cause one to bleed out.

those hard-to-define attacks that happen every day in families, workplace, and even the church. Stuff you can’t pinpoint or even call attention to, as a reaction to such an insult would seem petty or hypersensitive.

And that's why they employ their"win-win" Gotcha! trap. Say something, and be attacked as petty and hypersensitive; say nothing and be attacked. They don't dare approach straight on, so they attack from behind and underneath. It's the spirit of Amalek.

Of course, what kind of people go around seeking and delighting in such malice and injustice? That's where it is all flipped on their heads, for by their subterfuge and guile they prove over and over again exactly who they are. What kind of idiot wants to win the prize that goes with that particular game?

Haman building his own gallows...

Hard for them to do any real damage, when their victims view things clearly from the perspective of the Judge in the Heavenly Court. Trusting in God.

David was on to that:

Psalm 140

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

Proverbs 25

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

The Golden Rule. It's the Law for a reason. Remember the old Smokey the Bear commercials?

"Only YOU can prevent forest fires."

Some folks, though, are intent on burning their own neighborhoods down. Kind of like Sodom. What to do? Maybe offer a match? ;)

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