September 5, 2001

Reading: Psalm 11 ff

 

“The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string” (2)

 

Just as God has His arrows (Psalm 7:13), so the wicked have theirs. Paul calls them ‘darts’, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph: 6:16). The word translated here ‘wicked’, actually means ‘the wicked one’ or ‘evil one’. The devil and those who follow him have their own sets of arrows. No matter how many they fire toward the saints, their quivers are ever full. Satan makes sure if that.

For as long as we walk this life we will face the challenge of good against evil; we will always have decisions to make. There will always be decisions to be made between right and wrong.

Temptations can come in various ways, but they always originate from the same source, the devil. Some temptations are very subtle, even a fleeting thought, a feeling. If it is not of God, we need to raise our shield of faith and quench that improper thought and feeling. Sometimes we are tempted by the circumstances in which we find ourselves, through the daily activities by which we are surrounded in our work and play. If our work, by its very nature, presents us with untold temptations, then perhaps we should look for other work. In other words, remove ourselves from temptations way.

There are many other forms of temptation, such as poor health, the passing of loved ones, criticism, opposition from those we love concerning our faith, etc. Remember the words of Peter, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). There are those in this world who suffer dreadful persecution because of their faith and belief in Jesus Christ. The source is the same and the solution is the same.

David began this Psalm with the solution – “In the Lord I put my trust.” (1). Solomon, David’s son, learned well from his father when he wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov: 3:5).

For we walk by faith! Faith is our defence against the wiles of the devil. When his arrows are loosed and we are the target, we must learn how to raise our shields of faith. If we do this, his arrows will have zero effect. If we leave our shields down we will feel the effect of his weapons. Just because we are saved does not mean Satan does not attack us. He does and will attack, but praise God, He has given us the means of defence. Prayer and reading the Word are the two best ways I know of raising our shields and keeping them high.

“The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven” (4). We are the temple of God and the Lord lives within us. His throne is in heaven where He rules the heavens and the earth and all of our enemies are under His feet. One day, our enemy and his cronies will be cast into the bottomless pit and we will reign with Christ forever, in person. There will be no need for the shield of faith, for we shall see Him as He is and there will “be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads…and they shall reign forever and ever” (Rev: 22:3-5).

It does not matter how often the wicked bend their bow, for they are but temporary. They will reap their just reward, “Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright” (6,7).