SUNDAY 16 October, 2016
Shield of Salvation
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip. - 2 Samuel 22:36-37
David often described God as the shield of his salvation. Divinely, the LORD had protected David as if an invisible shield was all about him; his enemy’s weapons could not penetrate the Lord’s powerful barrier. Many enemies sought David’s life, but God––his shield, caused him to be unafraid. He wrote:
Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lordsustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.(Psalm 3:1-6, NIV).
David mentioned that God’s gentleness had made Him great. This is an attribute of God that is not often realized. Imagine, the incredible power of God and how gently He had worked in David’s life. God strengthened him, took him from being a shepherd boy to become a hero––the King of Israel.
Jesus is the Creator of the universe––all powerful, yet He exhibited His gentleness and meekness on earth. During Palm Sunday, a week before His death, He entered Jerusalem. Matthew 21:5 described Christ’s character: “Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
Imagine, the gentleness of God working in my life––it is so cool. He has led my life, taken me from fury to freedom. The Lord took an angry youth and through His gentleness, made me into a Pastor––amazing, amazing!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
~Philippians 4:5~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!