A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 1 · Subpart 19
God a Shield.
Psal. 84.11.
The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield.
Psal. 18.2.
The Lord is my Shield.
THis Term Shield is Metaphorically attributed to Princes and great Men, Psal. 17.10. Hos. 4.18. because they protect and defend their Subjects or Dependents from Injustice and Violence, as a Shield does the Body from Blows. For this reason God is called a Shield, because he protects and secures his People from the Attempts of Spiritual Adversaries, as well as Temporal.
Metaphor.
I. A Shield or Buckler is for Defence and Safeguard of the Body in time of Battel.
II. A Shield or Buckler is not only to defend and preserve one Part of the Body, but every Part; and not the Body only, but the whole Armor also that a Man hath. Hence it was made very large, and for its largeness called foreign, from foreign, a Gate or Door, denoting that which is large and broad enough to hide or cover the whole Body, and shelter it from Harm.
III. A Shield is used to keep that part of the Body that is struck at by the Enemy; 'tis a moveable Piece of Armour, that a skilful Hand can turn this way or that way, to take the Blow or Arrow, according as he sees 'tis directed against him.
Parallel.
I. GOD is the Defence and Safeguard of his Saints in all their Spiritual War and Conflicts, with the Enemies of their Souls.
II. God defends every part of the Soul, he preserves our Judgments from Corruption, our Wills from growing stubborn and rebellious, our Affections from being misled and ensnared with worldly Objects, our Consciences from Defilement, and so the whole Soul from the Venom and Poyson of Sin and Satan; and not only so, but he preserves and keeps our Graces from Decays and Witherings. Thou, Lord, Psal. 5.12.wilt bless the Righteous with Favour, thou wilt compass him about as with a Shield.
III. God keeps off the Blows and fiery Darts of the Devil, from wounding that Part or Grace of the Soul which is in the greatest Danger. Sometimes Satan strikes at the Faith of a Christian, God presently appears by his Word and Spirit, for the strengthning of that. Sometimes the Grace of Love is struck at, God then presents immediatly Divine Objects before the Soul, and shews it more and more the Baseness, Deformity, and Emptiness of this World, and thereby increases and preserves the Love of the Soul to Himself, and to Jesus Christ. Again, the Will is aimed at, some Temptations are laid to catch that: Some Commands of God cannot be obeyed without much Self-denial, because they cross us in that which our own Wills are naturally carried out very strongly to desire; so that we must deny our Wills before we can do the Will of God. A Temptation comes very forcibly, when it runs with the Tide of our own Wills, when 'tis to save our Estates, Children, or Lives, from the Danger of Enemies. What? saith the Devil, wilt thou serve God, when he thwarts thee in every thing that thou takest delight in? If thou lovest any one thing more than another, presently he must have it from thee: No Lamb in all the Flock will serve for a Sacrifice, but Isaac, Abraham's only Child, must be offered up:Gen. 22.2. No Place will content God, that Abraham should serve him in, but where he must live in Banishment from his Father's House, and all his dear Relations: Wilt thou, saith Satan, stoop to these low and contemptible Ordinances, be a Companion to these base, despised, and persecuted People? What? follow God, and yield to such hard Terms as these be? Now God directs himself strait-way by his Word and Spirit, to preserve the Soul from this terrible Arrow, shewing what reason there is that his VVill should be done rather than ours,Mat. 19.29. and that we shall lose nothing by suffering for his sake; and so makes the Soul willing to yield to all his Pleasure, as Abraham did. And this indeed of God's being a Shield unto him, was the Motive that induced him not to fear: After these things the Word of God came unto Abraham in a Vision, saying, Gen. 15.1.Fear not, Abraham, I am thy Shield; as much as if he should say, I will defend and save thee from all the Darts and Arrows of thine Enemies. By this Shield, every Faculty of the Soul, and Grace of the Spirit is preserved.
Metaphor.
I. A Shield is a Defence or Safeguard for the Body.
II. A Shield or Buckler cannot defend every Part of the Body at once.
III. A Shield may be beaten out of a Man's hand, and be rendred wholly unserviceable to a Man.
IV. A Shield can (however) preserve from Temporal Enemies only.
Disparity.
I. GOD is a Defence and Shield for Soul and Body both.
II. God is a Buckler that saves and defends every Part and Faculty of the Soul, at one and the same time; he is an universal Cover.
III. God is a Shield, that can never be rendred useless or unserviceable to a Christian that keeps close to God.
IV. God is a Shield or Defence, that preserves from the Power, and cruel Assaults and Temptations of the Devil.
Inferences.
1. IF God be the Saints Shield, let them take heed that they never engage their Enemies without God.
2. This may greatly encourage the Godly in their Spiritual Warfare, they have a sure Shield and Buckler, that will never fail them.
3. Moreover it may direct them to the right use of their Shield; 'tis a great part of Wisdom to know how to defend our selves by our Shield, from Satan's Assaults, and the Temptations of this evil World.