What Is Your Shield?

Eph 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

One of the most interesting stories in the Bible is the account of David slaying Goliath. It can be a very simple story if you choose to just look at the events themselves and a lot of people have used the expression of David defeating Goliath as a metaphor of the underdog coming out on top against unbelievable odds. But, there is so much more involved. One of the facts that few ever consider is that Goliath had all of this armor to protect him, which included a shield bearer. There was actually someone that went out in front of him, holding a shield to defend him, until he got into hand to hand combat. King Saul offered David the use of his armor, which was a rather ridiculous thing to do, since Saul stood head and shoulders about everyone else, and David was but a youth. This armor of Saul would also have included a shield, tho David would have to carry it himself. David tried on the armor and decided that he couldn't use it. Not, because it was entirely too big, but because he had not "proved it". So, David proceeded to do battle with the giant having only a sling and 5 stones he had picked up in the brook. It seems odd to the average onlooker that David would approach such a feat as this with no protection. But, what we find is that he indeed had a shield. It was one that the Holy Spirit would inspire Paul to write about hundreds of years later. It was the "Shield of faith" (Eph 6:16). David had not proved the protection that was made by man, but he had proved the protection provided by God. David did not stand before Goliath or the Philistines as a soldier of Israel, but as a soldier of God. He was not defending the ground that Israel possessed, but the Name of God that he possessed. No doubt there will be times when you will be facing giants and will need some protection. Will it be the devices made by man or faith in God. What is your shield in times of danger?