Topic: God is my Shield
Second Samuel 22 is also Psalm 18. This is a beautiful example of poetry that David writes as a testimony to God being his shield. In verses 2-4 David is not giving a random list of titles or haphazard words, but word pictures that build a meaning for him and us of Who God really is and what a shield of faith means.
The shield of faith that David describes can be understood through the surrounding parallel metaphors. Every description explains another aspect of God's protection. God is our shield because He is everything a shield is supposed to be and He allows us to “Hold the line!”
What does the passage teach us?
The faith shield is a rock:
David begins His song with the phrase “The Lord is my rock…” A rock represents: stability, permanence, strength, and something greater than ourselves. A shield of faith says to us that the world may shake, or a giant might stomp our way or life might be unfair, but our God never moves. One truth about life about which we can be certain is that life is never certain. When life feels uncertain, faith is our unchanging solid foundation. God our Rock never cracks or crumbles.
The faith shield is a fortress, stronghold, and refuge:
All of these descriptors are all feeding into one another. The next key word that David uses is “fortress.” He also uses the word “stronghold” and then the word “refuge.” Fortress. Stronghold. Refuge. When I think about shields, I think about personal protection. A fortress or stronghold or refuge is a whole building that is a shield that does the same exact thing, but on a massive scale. A fortress is a whole building meant to defend, protect, and allow us to feel strong. King David says elsewhere in Psalm 31:2-4, “Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of [strength, a stronghold to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength.”
The faith shield is our deliverer:
Verse 2 concludes with the idea that God is our “deliverer.” The One who rescues, One who preserves, and even One who carries. A “preserving rescuer who carries you” is a “deliverer.” Sometimes God protects us through an emotional or spiritual battle, but there are other times when God rescues us when life is overwhelming. He does both according to His will. Israel experienced both. David experienced both. Apostle Paul experienced both. You can experience both. God does not always prevent trouble from slamming into our lives, but He does always provide a way out and strength to stand up underneath the hurt and strain. God delivers.
D: Defends His people from what we cannot handle alone.
E: Encourages the weary of heart to keep trusting in His way which is best.
L: Leads us through danger, not always around it.
I: Intervenes according to His timing with power and mercy.
V: Vindicates those who remain faithful under pressure to be faithless.
E: Equips us with strength, wisdom, and faith to stand up in the battle.
R: Rescues us for His glory and our good.
(author of DELIVER unknown)
Second Samuel 22:4 is a challenge for us to “call upon the Lord…” Will you call on Him?
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem