A Sun and Shield
Today ended up being a full day. I began my morning with a meeting concerning an opportunity to engage in an area of interest to my and one that fits my political background.
I was able to make it to Greeley in time for most of the funeral service for Doris Buxman. Doris was a part of First Assembly in Greeley for the vast majority of her 90 years of life. The Buxman family were close friends of my wife’s family. Debbie and I were part of Doris’ Sunday School class when we were in college (a class she taught for 36 years) and I’m sure that she took credit (undoubtedly deserved) for connecting me with Debbie. She represents a life well-lived a great legacy of impact on her family and generations of others she treated like family.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The Lord God is like a sun and shield; the Lord gives us kindness and honor. He does not hold back anything good from those whose lives are innocent. Lord All-Powerful, happy are the people who trust you!” Psalm 84:11,12 (NCV)
These verses are found at the end of Psalm 84. A Psalm that begins with extolling the value of the presence of the Lord.
“Lord All-Powerful, how lovely is your Temple! I want more than anything to be in the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. My whole being wants to be with the living God.” Psa. 84:1,2NCV
So we see the Psalm begins and ends with a declaration to the “Lord All-Powerful.”
In ancient times there was nothing more powerful and mysterious than then sun. This ball of fire captivated mankind from the beginning. It became the object of worship of many cultures, most notably the Egyptians. That is why we see “darkness” as one of the plagues the Lord visited on the land when the Hebrews were captive slaves.
The sun was consistent, it came up every morning. The sun was vital for life. The sun was your greatest friend and in the desert could be your fiercest enemy. The Psalmist declares that the Lord God is “like a sun” in all its brilliance, majesty, mystery and power.
The Psalm also declares the Lord God is a “shield.” A shield is an obvious form of protection. It could provide shade from the heat of the sun, as well as protection from the attack of the enemy.
In both of these metaphors we see the Psalmist uses them in a declaration of the kindness and honor the Lord bestows on those who honor Him. Honoring the Lord, trusting in the Lord is the path to receiving the good things that come from His hand. We don’t understand all that there is to know about the majesty and greatness of our God. But as sure as you can trust the sun will rise in the east, you can trust in the faithfulness of the Lord God. As much as a soldier would trust in his shield in battle to spare his life and give him victory over his foes, you can trust in the strength and protection of the Lord in your life.
He is the Lord “All Powerful” and He is prepared to bestow His grace and honor on your life as you seek His presence and commit your life to His ways. Remember the Lord does not hold back, from those who do not hold back from trusting Him.