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The Lord is My Strength and My Shield
Remember that scene in Star Wars (Episode IV) where Luke discovers the holographic message hidden in R2D2? In the hologram Leia says “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope!” In times of trouble where do you turn for help? Who is your only hope?
In Psalm 28, we see David cry out to God in time of need. David specifically names the trouble he’s in, what he’s afraid of, what he wants. We too should be direct with God during our anxious moments and take our concerns to him in prayer. Whether it be our children, our careers, or evildoers, the Lord will hear our prayers.
David’s anxiety lessens and his prayer turns to the praise and glory of the sovereign God. He proclaims that “The Lord is my strength and my shield.” (v 7) We have so much to be thankful for…our spouses, our children, our careers, our health, even our very lives. But things are far from perfect.
We are in a world of hurt and we have great need. We are rebels. Our sins and the guilt they bring cause lots of anxiety. Only a perfect savior could propitiate the wrath of God. Our good shepherd died for his people like a lamb that is led to the slaughter (Is 53:7). The anointed one poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Is 53:12 ESV). He is the only hope in this world of hurt. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the answer to our greatest need.
Who is your only hope? Can you proclaim “The Lord is my strength and my shield”?
I have always known that GOD is my Strength and Shield but as I get older and grow with him I see all the ways he has protected me and my family. Over this last year I have seen GOD work in my life in ways that I am unable to say thank you enough. It is true that if you had a thousand tongues we would still not be able to thank HIM enough!!
This is fantastic - thank your Eric..for these words and for your ministry.
Propitiation…you like that word don’t you?!
The Lord IS my strength and my shield…all the days of my life.
Thanks for the kind words. Keith, you have inspired a new post on the use of theological words. Look for it in the coming days on my blog.