“My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” (Psalm 7:10).

 

Psalm 7

The lyrics to Erik Nieder’s well-known worship chorus opens a picture window into a room filled with valuable heirlooms and treasures from the pages of scripture antiquity. The feature of the priceless treasury is a map to The Shepherd’s heart of protection for the lambs in His personally-adopted flock of believers.

 

“Faithful”

Where can I go from your spirit

Where can I hide from your face

Where can I flee from your presence

Where would I go, where would I go

If I rise to the heavens you’re with me

If I fall to the depths of the sea

Even there it’s your hand that will lead me

Wherever I go, wherever I go

Another window into this hallowed room is provided by this worship song.

 

“A Shield About Me”

Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me

You’re my glory

You’re the lifter of my head

Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me

You’re my glory

You’re the lifter of my head

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

You’re the lifter of my head

 

1. 2 Samuel 22:3 – “My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from violence.”
2. Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.’”
   Picture Jesus standing with The Shepherd’s staff on His unshakable, unmovable foundation and the rod of His infinite power. Before Him is His flock, His church, the people of His inheritance. As one of His lambs, continue to picture Satan’s army of demons attacking the flock. Describe your dependence upon Jesus alone to protect you from the attack.
3.   Ephesians 6:14-16 – “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
   What is the “shield of faith”, and how do you use it to protect you?
4.  What makes faith such a powerful weapon?
5.  Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
   Psalm 18:2 – “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
   When tempted by Satan with lust, bitterness, pride or anxiety, you can choose to run toward The Shepherd or toward temptation. How is that going for you personally?
6. John 10:4 – “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
   Psalm 33:20 – “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.”
   To follow Jesus is to “wait on the Lord”. How do you need to “wait and follow” today?

 

1. John 13:15 – “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
   From today’s scripture, how does THE Shepherd inspire you to shepherd your flock?

“I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17).

 

Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication