With Covid-19 we have been watching a LOT of TV.
How about you?
At one point a while back, we committed to watching all of the Marvel Avenger movies and TV series in chronological order. And WOW! Is that ever a LOT of TV!
If you’re familiar with Captain America, you’ve seen the round shield that he holds and flings and defends himself with.
Last week I was praying Psalm 35 in the New King James version – not my regular NIV or NASB, and noticed the title of this Psalm of David is The Lord the Avenger of His People. Interesting since we are in the middle of watching the Avenger movies.
I have asked God many times to contend with those who contend with me and fight against those who fight against me. Meaning, as Ephesians tells me, that my fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities and powers of this present darkness and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So it is a spiritual battle.
I have prayed the second verse many times too, but this time when I read and asked for the Lord to Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help, I stopped to wonder what is a buckler? And what’s the difference between a shield and buckler?
When Paul was in prison and wrote about spiritual warfare, he was seeing the large shields the Roman Guard used. When they marched into battle the shields gave them head to toe and side to side coverage. The heavy shields were thick and could repel lances, spears, and an onslaught of artillery. And they would fit together with other warriors’ shields forming a veritable wall which they could rest or advance behind.
So that’s what I picture when I read and pray scripture. But in trying to understand more I see that the word buckler is a different kind of shield. It’s more of the Captain America type.
It is a smaller handheld round shield, for lack of a better word, that can repel slings and arrows and be used for more close personal combat. A buckler is worn on the forearm and gives the wearer the flexibility of engaging in hand and combat.
It creates a very different picture in my mind of how God defends me – not standing tall behind a shield and dispensing perfectly targeted shots – but beside me or standing back to back with me, fighting up close and personal, hand to hand. I’ve got to say, it’s an exciting way to envision it!
Now I know God is all powerful, and is far greater than I can picture or even imagine. He far exceeds a Roman soldier or Captain America.
But going deeper into His Word, investigating the Hebrew and Greek languages, understanding the context of scripture is enlightening and exciting!
As I am investigating more, there may be another layer of understanding. I looked up the word in English to get a better picture. But there are also 2 Hebrew words that seem to add an additional element to yield even more understanding of shield and buckler.
Try looking up a word in a scripture you like. Investigate the original word that was used before translation. See if that sheds any light on your understanding.
It’s one major way God speaks!
We huddled together and moved forward cautiously. At first, I thought it would be best to shine the light up ahead of us so we could see where the path curved or stopped at a curb or was cut off by bushes. But it became clear that we could walk with the most certainty and speed when the light shone brightly on the very next step we were to take.
When I am not sure which option is best, Your Word tells me “Trust in the Lord with all Your heart and lean not on Your own understanding.” So while it is wise to make a list of pros and cons and count the cost of decisions, the logic of the world is not the final answer. Trusting in You to lead me through prayer and Scripture helps me make my final choice.
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