Psalm 91:4 AMPC
[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
The best thing I love about the Lord is His truth & faithfulness - they are twins, so closely connected.
The hymn Great is your (thy) faithfulness has long been a favourite of mine.
But what about this shield and buckler in the verse above?
For a long time I didn't realise the meaning.
Ok, of course I've known what a shield is. It is large and protects from attacks.
What I've got wrong is the buckler...
I thought it meant a buckle, like on a belt, holding it all together.
No, the meaning is quite different. It is a small, round, lightweight "mini-shield" used in close hand to hand combat.
It can deflect the blade of a sword, reflect the sun so as to dazzle an opponent. It has sharp edges to cut and it can be used to pin the enemy's hand and render it harmless or even dispense a punch on the nose.
From this buckler comes the word swashbuckler (like the old pirates were called).
God's Truth and Faithfulness enables defence and attack.
When Satan comes to attack from afar we have a shield, when it's up close and personal we have a buckler.
I'm protected and enabled to deflect and disarm the lies of the evil one.
God's Truth and Faithfulness are embodied - displayed and tangible in the Person of the Lord Jesus.
Only in Him is found safety.
I must always learn to rightly divide (handle) His Word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analysing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skilfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
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