God is our Shield! I Know!

A Shepherd’s Musings Devotional: Week 25 – God is our Shield

Well, so far this year we have been considering who our Creator God is.  This is what we have found thus far: God Is!, God is Light, God Is Beyond Us, God Is Knowable, God Is Near!, God Is Merciful!, God Is Holy,  God Is Perfect in Justice,  God is Righteous!,  God is Judge,  God Is The Lawgiver,  God Is King, God Is Sovereign!,  God is Good!, God is Faithful,  God Is True,  God is True-2 ,  God is Wise, God is Powerful!, God is Spirit!, and God Is our Father.  I now must add, God is our Shield!

A person who, as Jesus said, “Has eyes to see and ears to hear” can recognize these attributes of God daily.  However, there are some days, specific times, and special situations when you might experience or see one or more of these attributes in powerful ways.  On Father’s Day, shortly after 10 p.m. on a dark highway in Montana was such a time for me.  I was driving around 70 miles an hour and seemingly out of nowhere, a cow moose was directly in front of me.  I just had time to recognize her head before impact. Perfect peace come over me as the windshield exploded in my face.  No doubt by God’s grace the Jeep was brought to a slow stop on the right-hand shoulder of the road.  It was still running and the Keith Green CD was still playing.  I was still alive and worshipping God on earth.  The steam from the engine began flowing by this time and jarred me into action. I shut the Jeep off and thanked my heavenly Father for His goodness and protection.  I got out and eventually took these pictures:

Earlier that night, after I had prayed with Tammie before leaving Helena, and after I had prayed with my Dad on the phone in a parking lot, for some strange reason, the thought of hitting a moose head-on came into my mind.  I prayed to God and said, “Lord if that ever happens, I’m ready to be in your presence.”  I never do what I did next.  I raised the head rest to its highest setting in my seat and then moved the shoulder strap to its lowest setting snug against my shoulder.  About 40 minutes later I drove through a moose and by the grace of God I am able to write about it.  To God be the glory. He is everything the Bible reveals Him to be.  I know by divine revelation and by human experience.

I can certainly enter into praise with David the Psalmist of Israel for God being my shield:

For you are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 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. “For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? (2 Samuel 22:29-32),

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12).

Is God your shield?  He is my shield.  My Father God must have more for me to do on earth for Him!

With Prayer, Mark                                            © June, 2011  Scripture quoted: ESV – Emphasis added

Selected Verses on God as our Shield:

Genesis 15:1, After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Psalm 3:3, But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 18:2 & 30, The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold . . . 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.

Psalm 28:7,  The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 33:20-22,  Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Psalm 84:11,  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 119:114, You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Proverbs 30:4-6,  Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.