Pick up your buckler

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"Pick up your buckler" By Diane Webb

Psalms 18: 30 "As for God, his way is perfect: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him".

A buckler is a small shield worn on the arm to deflect blows from an opponent. In this passage, God is compared to a shield—one that protects and deflects. A buckler has to be strapped on the arm—it won't just passively protect. The arm has to move in order to position the shield between you and the blows coming at you. The comparison of God to a buckler demonstrates God's ability to protect us and also shows our role in putting on this protection as well as using it. God designed his armor for us to put on and actively use. There are times God does protect us in spite of ourselves however, typically we have to actively use the armor and weapons he has given us. He is the armor for those who trust in him. Many people have problems with trust and even trust in God. If you have been betrayed or hurt by someone, it's possible your distrust of people translates to distrust of God. The first part of Psalms 18: 30 states God is perfect—through history his record is unblemished. He is trustworthy. Begin exercising trust in God then he becomes your shield to protect you from the blows of others. The weapons God provides are given throughout the Bible. Ephesians 6: 10-18 provide a listing of specific components of the armor of God. This includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (the Bible), and prayer. How might the word of God be used as a defensive weapon? All scripture quoting is not of God as is clear when Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by Satan who uses scripture too (Matthew 4: 6). Using the wrong scripture at the right time or using the right scripture at the wrong time will not provide the protection we need. God himself provides the scriptures we need in any specific battle we are fighting. This is why we are to put our trust in God. By studying scripture we get the words in our minds. During battle (hardship, suffering, attack) the right scripture will come to mind when needed. Some denominations call this a "word" from God. Any word truly from God lines up with scripture and is, in fact, from scripture. Have you ever had a week where you kept hearing the same thing over and over again from different people and from different sources? How many times did it take for you to realize the message was for you? How many times did God try to hand you the weapon or shield? The more time you spend with God—studying his scriptures and praying listening prayers—the more open you will be to his word. God will prove himself time and time again when you open up to him. Being open to someone is where the difficulty lies if you have problems with trust. The openness comes from developing that relationship where trust is grown. There are times God will protect us without our full participation in the process. However, for the most part, God provides the armor and weapons for us to use in order to protect ourselves actively. If your buckler is lying on the ground or sitting on a shelf somewhere, go get it and put it on. What better way to face the day than having God himself as your shield to block the arrows thrown at you?

Dear heavenly Father, I pray you will lead me to the scriptures I need today to fight the battle I am in. Give me the words to protect myself against whatever is thrown at me. Help me to continue developing my trust in you as I overcome the pain and hurt from my past. Help me Lord know it is you I can trust above all others. I ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

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