Time in the Word ~ Psalm 7:10

Remember several years ago when the nation talked about “star wars”, the term used for the ballistic missile protective shield which was planned to prevent incoming missiles from getting to targets? The concept was easy enough to understand; that we would have a protective shield that could prevent missiles from penetrating our air space and exploding on our people. The only problem was that the system was unproven, expensive, and politically controversial, which caused the program to lose favor and eventually fall under the budget ax.      

Unlike man’s protective shield, which is unreliable, in Psalm 7 we have David bearing up under attacks and slander that was not justified, and turning to God’s protective shield. David’s practice in these situations, as ours should be, was to turn to God and him alone for protective relief. David states in faith that his God is his protective shield who will save the upright in heart. David had great confidence in God, sufficient to protect him from his enemies in this world and let no harm come to him. The protective power of God to sustain us through treacherous times, hurtful people, and our own mistakes is a great blessing of being in Christ. If we can stand firm in our faith and not cut and run from God’s protective shield, we will thrive untouched in the circle of the will of God.

Very importantly, there are three mistakes that we must guard against if we are to be protected by God’s shield.

1. First, we cannot take matters into our own hands in a feeling of spite or retribution. We must follow the example of Jesus described in 1 Peter 2:23: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” We cannot get out in front of God on these matters and still receive the benefits of his protective shield.
2. Second, we must resist the devil by standing firm in our faith. If we do not submit to God, we will compromise with the world system and be vulnerable to satanic attack. James 4:7-8 make it clear that we resist the devil by coming near to the protective power of our God.
3. Third, we cannot wander off and get lost in this dangerous world. Far too often Christians lose their way because of inattention to the true priorities of life. They begin to listen to wrong voices and follow into dead-end paths and wrong places. How do you combat this tendency we have to listen to the static of wrong voices? Jesus tells us in John 10:27 that his sheep listen to his voice. That’s the answer for each one of us; we must listen to the voice of Jesus as transmitted through the eternal, unerring, and life changing word of God. We all will listen to voices, make no doubt about that; the question is, whose voice will you choose to listen to?

Always remember that you are safest close to the heart of God. Paul puts it perfectly when he states in Colossians 3:3: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

TODAY, MY FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTIVE SHIELD, AND I PRAY THAT I WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT WISDOM FOR EACH DAY TO SEEK YOUR BLESSED FACE. AMEN!

Article by Mike White @ Summit Church of Christ