Favor Shield
It may sound like a corny title, but it really should sound like a super power… because it is! I pray that this entry ministers to you as much as it blessed me today.
Scripture – Psalm 3:3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalm 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
Observation – “God is a shield for me”, David writes. Did David know something about shields? Yes, he did! As a soldier, he knew how a shield could protect him and how to use one. Not only that, he probably understood the value of many shields brought together and how they could shield one another. He no doubt had experienced the shields of other protecting him.
The cross reference of Psalm 3:3 referred to Psalm 5:12 and Psalm 28:7. From these verses I can observe that God is a Shield for me and that shield is glorious and lifts me up, especially when I am cast down or feeling overwhelmed by the many people or issues I am facing.
Psalm 5:12 shows me that He blesses the righteous. I may not “feel” righteous, but my righteousness is in Christ, not in my performance. My shield is His favor. This is an expression of His grace toward me! Since the definition of grace is the Spirit of God moving on the spirit of man, to help that man walk in a way that God can favor; His grace, His favor, is a shield that surrounds me!
Psalm 28:7 again says the Lord is my strength and my shield! But this shows me that this shield, this favor, this grace, is activated by my trusting in Him and seeing His help as a result of my trust. The natural outflow of His favor and His grace is to rejoice and to sing!
Application – The favor of the Lord is a shield that surrounds me as I actively trust in Him and walk in His righteousness. While it is certainly Biblical to pray for “a hedge of protection” (I have recently heard people complaining about the “hedge of protection” prayers often prayed for others as being unbiblical – look it up… it’s not unbiblical), I love the imagery and the interconnectedness of His favor, His shield, and His grace related to my trusting Him. This trust requires believing I am righteous enough to receive from Him. Thankfully, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, my righteousness comes from His ability (MY TRUSTING HIM) and thereby activates a shield that surrounds me, to further lead me in a way that He can favor (HIS GRACE IS MY SHIELD).
Do you see it? His grace is Him actively helping you to walk in a way that He can favor you! The first step in this process is trusting in His salvation, His payment for your sins! That, His salvation, is Him shielding you from the penalty and payment for sin! He is leading you to that place of recognizing your need of His salvation purchased with the blood of Jesus on the cross. But it doesn’t stop there! He continues to lead you in ways that He can favor, to be a shield to you because He loves you and wants you to know Him. Trust Him and activate His shield around you! You may be facing overwhelming issues and problems today. Look to Him and trust in Him and activate His Favor Shield around you. He will be found faithful to minister to you today
Prayer – Father, thank You for this word today! It is an amazing encouragement to me and I pray You would use it to help others as well.
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