When I read David say the Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me, I realize that David knew a lot more about shields than I do.

David carried a shield and directed the use of shields in battle. I’m sure part of the Israeli defense budget paid for the construction and maintenance of shields. A shield stopped projectiles, protected its carrier from blows, and when combined with other warriors, formed a wall between them and their enemy.

Even today riot police carry shields, and body armor forms a type of shield. I once interacted with several security guards in an airport in Delhi, India, standing behind heavy metal shields as they checked IDs. Shields emerge in dangerous places.

David mentioned danger at hand—Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

A person of malice spins cordial words to get us to drop our shields. Unprotected, they go about their work, leaving us lying wounded in the process.

David reminds us of the Lord, our spiritual shield, who stops darts from the enemy and forms walls like a fortress. David’s heart leapt for joy at the thought of such a strength and shield.

May our hearts do the same.

Psalm 28 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Erik Mclean