There are 41 times shield is used in relation to God and we will briefly look at 3. We will spend most of our time is Psalm 18. We will find that God our shield, Jehovah Meginnah, is our protector, defender and provider. God actively delivers us. He provides protection and provides us with all that we need to contend with whatever foe we encounter, from with and without. First of all, we will look at Genesis 15. God Himself reveals Himself as Jehovah Meginnah to Abram. It is not a feeling or an inference but a revelation from God Himself. Second, we will look at a victory song of King David where David describes God as my shield, my defense, the One who rescues and is a refuge. This song is found in two places: 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18. And lastly, we will look at Ephesians 6 and the protection God provides for us today.
Let us look at the setting of Genesis 15 before we look at the use of Jehovah Meginnah found here. Abram has defeated four Midianite kings and rescued his nephew Lot. He has given all the bounty from these war exploits to Melchidezek. We can infer that is it night from the text since God takes him out to look at the stars. Abram is probably concerned about reprisals from the Midianites, and he is still childless. Abram is afraid and worried.
God begins by addressing Abram's fear and tells him not to be afraid. And the reason Abram doesn't need to fear? That is the revelation that God will be Abram's shield and very great reward. God will be Abram's defender, protector, and provider. A relationship with God Himself is the highest reward. Look at verse 6. Abram "believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness."
In this short paragraph God reveals Himself as a shield and promises that He will actively protect and provide for Abram. God assures Abram that He will keep His covenant to bless all the nations of the earth through him, through a son from him and no other. Abram can be confident in God. Abram is confident and his belief is counted as righteousness. As we peek through the salvation timeline, we see our righteousness and shield comes through the promised seed, Christ. Jehovah Meginnah is our righteousness.
The second use of Jehovah Meginnah that we are going to look at is in a thanksgiving song of King David's. This song is recorded twice. Once in 2 Samuel 22 as David sings to God, and the second time the entire song is in the psalter. This psalm is a victory song after many big wins. Wins are something to celebrate! We know a little bit of what is it is like. Chicago has been celebrating a unique victory of one of their baseball teams after not winning the pennant for 108 years. Celebrations include THE BIG "W" paraphernalia bought and displayed by many fans, the Cubs huge celebratory parade, and many parties. There was much self-congratulation.
David's song is so different. It is exuberant, enthusiastic, ecstatic praise of God. It gives vivid descriptions of God and of his own intense, life threatening battles. The heading which introduces Psalm 18, the setting for this song of praise, is the same as the opening verse of 2 Samuel 22. Through this introduction, we learn the timing of the psalm. David probably sung this as it is recorded in 2 Samuel 22 after he had defeated the enemies of Israel and was delivered from Saul and established as king of Israel. It is an earlier psalm, coming at the beginning and not the end of his reign. Psalm 18, this same song, is taken up and included in the psalter, and sung by the whole nation of Israel. It is a Messianic psalm that looks forward to the inclusion of the nations. David will describe God as his shield, Jehovah Meginnah, and recount many experiences of protection and deliverance.
Reflect for a moment on David's life up to this point. He was chased by Saul, who was intent on killing him. David despaired of life and was discouraged as he hid from Saul in a cave. He celebrates that he has been delivered from Saul and also delivered from the temptation to kill Saul. He engaged in many battles fighting the enemies of Israel and faced temptations. Some he describes and alludes to many other situations. This song is a relational, personal psalm. It is a psalm characterized by personal pronouns: You, I, and my. David recounts his cries, his prayers, and his pleas to God, but the focus of this psalm is God. David describes all that he has learned about God and leads us to look forward to the forever King.
David opens with a passionate declaration of love and vivid enthusiastic praise, "I love you, O Lord." The word for love that is used denotes that love experienced and reciprocated by a mother and child, one of experiencing compassionate care. Jehovah Meginnah is not an in animate unfeeling shield, He is One who cares and loves. Jehovah Meginnah, our defense, is a safe and secure place. He is my rock, fortress, and stronghold. These are descriptions taken from David's own setting of the dessert rocky land forms in Israel and describe God's protection. They are the passive provisions of God. But God our shield is more that passive. God is active. Look at these provisions: my strength, my deliverer, my shield, my horn of salvation. "Horn of salvation," in verse 2, theologically refers to God's vertical, powerful intervention. Verse 3 summarized David's experiences. He calls out to the Lord. God answers and David is saved. But notice how God-centric David is? In the middle of this sentence is God, who is worthy to be praised.
Verses 4-6 are a dramatic recounting of dire, life threatening events and God's response. In verse 4-5 we see Death staring David in the face. David response by crying out to God in prayer. Through out his life, David has built the practice of responding to fear with prayer. God actively hears and listens to cries for help. David says "My cry reached His ears," showing that God always hears.
Then we are given a look behind the scenes. David recounts God's holy, righteous response. Look at the anger of God and His willingness to intervene. The poetry is vivid, dramatic, and includes many references to Moses and the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, and the book of Job. We see God in action as David recounts his experience of God's loving rescue. Again note how God centered this is. He reached from on high, which emphasizes the relational aspect of God's response. This is no impersonal dispatching of mechanical assistance. This Jehovah Maginnah, our shield and our defense, coming to David's aid. In the face of strong enemies and the earth reeling and rocking, the Lord is David's support.
Finally let us look at Christ as our protection, shield, and armor. Christ took the full expression of God's wrath on the cross so that He could give us His righteousness. The shield of God is Christ, our righteousness. For those who believe, we are now clothed and covered by the blood of Christ, and when we come before our King and Judge at the end of time, we will be robed in white, Christ's covering for His chosen people.
In the closing portion of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he urges them in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God." In the list of armor we are to put on is the shield. "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." Jehovah Meginnah is our shield, our righteousness, our very great reward. He does not leave us weak and defenseless but lovingly gives us protection and provides us with all that we need.
I asked you at the beginning, what you are afraid of: circumstances, people, situations, temptations. Do you feel that you are facing a strong enemy, calamity, or are surrounded by many waters? Are you worn down by the mini battles of daily life? Are you feeling vulnerable? I want us to listen, join in this psalm of adoration and lift what is weighing us down to our Jehovah Meginnah.
by Ruth Scharf
Trinity Wives Felloship
Faculty Wife Advisor
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