Psalm 23:1 THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
He feeds us, guides us and also shields us. To shield means to serve as a protection or act as a defense. Our Shepherd prevents us from being harmed or damaged. He keeps us safe and secure. I love what David said in Psalms 3:1-3 1LORD, HOW they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 2Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 3But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Not only did David recognize that God was his defense, but he had complete and utter trust that the Lord would come through for him every time. He said, you are my shield- my glory and the lifter of my head. Read it another way- O Lord you are my protection and defense, my success and my triumph, the reason I can confidently stand with my head held high in the midst of adversity!
Throughout the Old Testament you can read the account of David’s life. Not only was he a mighty king, but he was also a man of war. He was constantly out fighting the Amalakites, or the Hittites, or some other Ites. Many times he was in real jeopardy of not only losing his own life, but the lives of his family and his people. However, if you read things from his perspective in the Psalms you will see that no matter how pressed he was, no matter what kind of trouble he was in, he always relied upon the Lord to be his shield and strength. Even if he starts off, “Many are they who rise up against me” he ends with “But you, O Lord, art a shield for me.” He trusted in the promises of God that he would be protected even in the midst of peril and danger.
The pressures and trials that we experience in this day and time are quite different than the ones faced by David. Instead of worrying that some neighboring king is going to come and kidnap our children, we may have to deal with our kids being sick. Instead of being concerned that an army is going to come and loot our houses taking all of our possessions, we may have the worry of wondering how we are going to make ends meet. Instead of being anxious that we are going to be captured and enslaved by an enemy, we may have to struggle to stay free in our thoughts and minds. In spite of the challenges we face, we too can use the words of King David found in Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.
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