"Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20
In himself man is weak and vulnerable; therefore, he often needs a shield to protect him. Today we hear of the special equipment which is necessary to preserve human life in atomic plants and in space travel. We're also told of a radar shield, consisting of many military bases encircling American territory, which is needed to warn us of approaching danger from enemy attack. Everywhere there is talk of the envelope of air that guards the earth and its inhabitants from deadly rays and meteors that bombard us from outer space. Spiritually, too, man is certain to fall before the onslaughts of the powers of evil unless he has a "hedge" built about him by the love and providence of God. When we are saved we may claim the promise of Christ's abiding presence and protection, and we may confidently say, "He is our help and our shield." Nothing can touch us that is outside His perfect will."
There is a sweet story that illustrates what it means to have Christ between us and everything else. A lady in England tells of being awakened one morning by a very strange noise. It sounded like the pecking of a bird. When she got up she saw a butterfly flying back and forth inside the windowpane in great fright. Outside a sparrow was frantically pecking and trying to get in. The butterfly did not see the glass, and expected every moment to be caught; the sparrow did not see the window either and expected every minute to catch the butterfly. Yet all the while the butterfly was as safe as if it had been miles away, because of the glass which came between it and the sparrow. So it is with Christians who are abiding in Christ. His presence is between them and every danger. How blessed to be able to look into the future confidently and say with assurance, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield" (Psalm 119:114).
"Bread For Each Day"
