“For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His truth is a shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:3,4
Devotional Thought For The Day
In these verses the psalmist compares us to a bird – with a mighty, powerful parent guarding and shielding us from all harm as we wing our way intrepidly through the perils of this life. I like that – thinking of life as an adventurous flight, filled with wonders, joys, and exhilaration – but also many dangers, troubles, and toils. I also like it when I am pressed to the dictionary – a fowler is one who hunts birds, especially wildfowl; a pinion is “the outer rear edge of the wing of a bird, containing the primary feathers, a primary feather of a bird”; and a buckler is a small shield, like one that can be attached to one’s arm. The image presented to us is that of a mighty eagle protecting us and watching over us so that most of our enemies are scared off, and those who dare to attack us are confronted by God Himself, a powerful protector Who cannot be defeated by anyone. I like that vision of God as well – that we can take off and do all that we are called to do, all that is in accord with His will as revealed to us in His Word, Holy Scripture, the Bible, without fear of what man can do to us, knowing that regardless of how things may appear to be, always God has our back and is insuring our safe landing. “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” [Rom. 8:28] “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.” [John 3:36] Under His wings we will indeed surely find refuge and safety.
The last phrase changes the imagery. Birds obviously do not utilize shields or bucklers. In the verses that follow the psalmists shifts to military imagery – the vulnerabilities that prevail in war and battle: perils, terrors, disease, and death at the hand of the enemy. These are the worst experiences any human being can have, so that all sane people understand that war should be avoided except for the most grave and important matters. The psalmist was well seasoned in armed conflict and uses these most terrifying and dismaying circumstances to highlight the wonders of God’s love and protection. If He is with us to protect us and preserve us in these dire situations He is surely able to watch over us and protect us in all others. So we are encouraged to put our faith and trust in God in all situations and circumstances of life, regardless of what we may be facing or what may be threatening us. God is flying along with us, over us and above us, discouraging threats, protecting us from those who seek to harm us, and taking vengeance on those who dare to attack His dear children of faith. We are protected and preserved forever, so that whenever we leave this troubled world of sin and violence we will be with Him forever in His heavenly kingdom.
It is important to take note of what the psalmist identifies as the “shield and buckler” that God has provided for us: “His truth is a shield and buckler.” We do not ordinarily think of “truth” [words that accurately describe reality] as being anything more than symbols and concepts, whether breath [spoken] or scribbles [written]. This is a serious miscalculation on our part, especially when the truth is uttered by God, is His Word. The chief battlefield of human existence is not physical but spiritual. You remember Eve’s great battle, and Jesus’ great battles with the devil, and Paul’s admonition that we “put on the whole armor of God.” [Eph. 6:11] “The belt of truth” is the first thing mentioned, from which all the other armor and weaponry is derived, including “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” [Eph. 6:14,17] You remember that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” [Rom. 10:17] and Jesus prayer that the Father would “sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” [John 17:17] “His truth is a shield and buckler.”
The whole record of Holy Scripture is a description of the great cosmic spiritual warfare between God and the devil, between good and evil, between children of God and the spirits of evil, between faith and unbelief, between truth and error, misinformation, and misbelief. Our lives are part of this same battle and warfare. We are involved, participants and warriors, and we need the protection of God and the armor and weapons He supplies. The chief armor is always “His truth,” what He has given to us in His Word, Holy Scripture, the Bible. It has ever been so, for all human beings. Adam and Eve should have known this. The psalmist did know this. The prophets and apostles all knew this. Jesus taught this. And the chief Word of truth that God has given to us, the chief “shield and buckler” that we need and have, is the assurance of His gracious love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation provided for us in the cross of His beloved Son Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29] It is our greatest privilege and joy, as we soar through life in this fallen world, through the great cosmic battlefield, to learn more and more each day just how “His truth is our shield and buckler.” Blessed are you if you have His truth; pray God to bless us each day with increase of faith and trust in His truth!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be realistic about the dangers of life in this fallen world of sin and deception. Thank You for being our great Savior, our Protector and Defender. Thank You also for the blessed gift of Your Word of truth, our shield and buckler. Grant us to grow in learning the art of war, using Your truth, salvation, and Word to achieve Your will and purposes – until You bring us into Your kingdom. Amen.