The Lord's shield was His God. He had faith in Him. Even though He was dying, He was still HIS GOD. He trusted in His word, His promises, and His faithfulness to His promises. "He is a shield to all who trust in Him" (Psa. 18:30). 

Because He did, nothing could kill Him. He rose from the grave victorious, to live forevermore. 

Job had this kind of faith, and because he did, he could say after losing all his possessions, all his children, and then struck with a deadly disease, "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him -- He also shall be my salvation" (Job 13:15-16). "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God; whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another" (Job 19:25-27). 

We must have THIS SHIELD OF FAITH, the faith that the Lord gives, HIS FAITH, that enables a person to trust in Him, regardless of the terrible circumstances in their lives (Gal. 2:20, Phil. 1:29). 

The scripture says, "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which YOU WILL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Eph. 6:16). 

There were two kinds of shields in biblical times. One was a large oblong door-like shield, four feet long and two feet wide which could cover the whole body. This is the one that is meant in Eph. 6:16. Then there was a small round shield called a buckler which was used for close combat. This was worn on the left arm. These shields were made of metal, and sometimes of gold. The larger ones were also made of wood covered with leather. Solomon made his shields of gold. This speaks of great riches, authority, and power (I Kgs. 10:17). 

When David captured his enemies, he would bring back their golden shields as memorials to the power and grace of His God to him, in giving him so many victories over his enemies and God's. He trusted in the Lord as his buckler and shield (II Sam. 8:7, 22:31, 36). 

The Lord has planted us in this land with all His heart and with all His soul, and He rejoices over us continually to do us good (Jer. 32:39-41). Let us not grieve Him with our sorrow and unbelief so that He will have to say to us, as David said at the death of Saul and Jonathan, "The beauty of Israel is slain. How the mighty have fallen." -- all because of the unbelief of Saul (II Sam. 1:19,21). 

Let us begin to look more and more at all the painful things in our lives as opportunities to "bring home" the golden shields of our greatest enemies, winning them as the Lord won His. 

We are the Lord's bride. May His description of our beauty be proven true in our lives. He says, "Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men" (S.O.S. 4:4). 

The tower of David was a tower made of white marble which stood on a summit of Zion. It was adorned with the shields and arms of the mighty that he had conquered, and was a beautiful sight to behold. Its ruins can still be seen. 

May you and I bring this truth to mind, now, as we fight our daily fight of faith, and know that each time, when by His grace and power we bring home another golden shield, we will be glorifying our Lord and shall hear Him say, "Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair!" (S.O.S. 4:1)