THE LORD MY SHIELD (YAHWEH MAGEN)
THE LORD MY SHIELD (YAHWEH MAGEN)
A little while ago, in the place of praise, worship and thanksgiving, I had a vision of a parent holding their child really tight to their chest, in a way that there was no doubt that they were trying to protect and shield that child. And immediately I knew God was revealing Himself to me as my shield.
A shield is a weapon of war. Though not used to attack, it is formidable in the place of defence. Sorry I have to refer to football here, (though I am not even remotely a fan) but the defenders in some teams will never allow a ball past them. They are there at every and any angle and corner. And they end up frustrating their opponents. I pray that the LORD our Shield, will frustrate all those who are seeking to oppose us, in Jesus name. A shield is used as a protection against blows, missiles and any other weapons of attack. And that is exactly what the LORD is to us.
And thus I began to call to memory the Scriptures I knew about God shielding us. “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3 KJV
“After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1 NIV
“This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31 ESV
“The LORD is good. He protects those who trust him in times of trouble.” Nahum 1:7 CEV
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 KJV
“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2 KJV
The above are just some of the Scriptures that come readily to mind when thinking about the LORD as a shield.
And so I bring these here today and as many as the LORD Himself will lead us to, in whatever situation we find ourselves needing His protection.
The LORD is a shield in the midst of the storms of life. When Joseph was sold into slavery, lied against and imprisoned, the LORD shielded him through it all as we often read in scripture: “The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.” Genesis 39:2 NLT His brothers had already treated him very badly and one would have thought it could only get worse from there. But not so when our God is involved. Joseph, even as a slave, prospered in everything he did.
When we go through trials God does not leave us to go through alone. He stays with us. The three Hebrew boys who were thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) experienced God’s divine presence so much so that not a single hair on them was singed. What heat and pressure can surpass this? Yet God was with them. “When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”Isaiah 43:2b NLT
Psalm 91:4b KJV reads thus: “his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”. And verse 5 follows saying “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” that tells me that arrows and fiery darts are flying all over the place but God shields us from them all. Glory! Hallelujah!!
And there is something called the lash of the tongue. And even from that, God is a shield unto us “Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.” Job 5:21 KJV The negative speakings of men are so lethal that the LORD needs to protect us from them.
Indeed the LORD is an all round protection for us and He keeps assuring us that we have nothing to fear.
Dear friend, where are you right now?
Are you struggling with anything at all?
No matter what it is, no matter how it looks, know that there is a truth, a promise from the Word of God that will shield you and see you through. It will come to pass.
DO NOT BE AFRAID.
THEY CANNOT HARM YOU.
THE LORD IS OUR SHIELD.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©