THE SHIELD OF FAITH

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.


Since my younger years, I have always had a problem. I have tried many times to hide it, but somehow it always comes forth. It isn’t a major issue, but it does carry the potential to cause destruction. It seems to be more pronounced during the summer and winter seasons, but spikes of it can be seen working their way out in both the spring and fall as well. What exactly is my problem, you ask. Well, simply put, I am a pyromaniac. Yes it is true, I like fire. I like burning things, which is one reason why I was so quick to build a fire pit in my back yard when we moved. While I did have reason to burn the moving boxes and such, the bigger reason was so that I could play with fire.
As a kid I poured gasoline on Hotwheels and struck matches, watching the rubber tires produce their black smoke. This is a trait I later got in trouble for when I taught it to my younger brother. And if that wasn’t enough, I helped my best friend set his club house on fire as I drenched the wood with lighter fluid and dropped the match. In college I doused my hand with hairspray and lit it on fire just to make a sermon illustration come alive. And in past 4th of July celebrations I have gone a little crazy with the ways in which I have lit my crackers on fire.
While I may be a little overboard in my love for setting things on fire, I do also have a hatred for fire. You see, fire is hot, and, well simply put, I sweat easy. Getting too close to the flames at times can even get a little too hot for me. But more importantly, as I am now a dad and have bigger responsibilities, I hate seeing my children play with fire. Even though I know the limits of fire, they do not. Their judgment scares me and I have to play the mean dad role in protecting them from the flames by telling them to step back, or not to throw things into the fire.
I think the same is true of God in that there are times in our life when God has to tell us to step back away from the heat and flames. But God goes one step further in His ways of protection in that He gives us a shield. Knowing that our enemy has our demise in mind, God has given us the shield of faith with which we can block and extinguish the flaming arrows of our enemy. But what do we really know about this shield? And furthermore, do we know how it works?
Depending on what translation you read, Ephesians 6:16 may start out as ‘In addition,’ or ‘Above all’. In the Greek the term is EPI PAS, meaning before, but fully included within. Before we are finished dressing in the armor, there is still an important piece that needs to be included. What is that piece? It is none other than the shield of faith. This piece is extremely vital.
In the Roman dress there were two different shields used. The first shield was a round, metal shield no larger than the size of a large pizza. This shield was great for some close combat, but was mainly used for decoration, boasting on it the awards and honors given to the soldier.
The second shield was known as the scutum, and was the main shield Paul was referring to in his description of the armor. The scutum was built with two layers of wood strips, worked in 90 degree angles, heated and pressed like modern day plywood. The shield was then covered with at least six layers of animal hide on the front, and given a handle on the back. Its pattern was set based on the shell of a turtle, and in times of combat would be joined with the shields of other soldiers to form a shell of protection for the army. Despite the number of arrows that were cast into the sky, the shell of shields offered protection as the army forced its way forward.
However, there was an anointing that also was placed over the shield. If the shield was to be drafted of only wood and hide, it would be easy to overcome with the use of a flaming arrow. How easy would it be for the fire to work its way through dried skins and splintered wood? Bearing this fact, the soldier learned the importance of oil and as a result would carry with him a horn or small container of oil which he would use to rub into the skins to keep them from drying out.
In this verse we read of the shield of faith we are to carry, but we also read of the arrows of the wicked one that we are to quench. Let us spend a minute or so looking at these arrows.
History shows us that there were three different types of arrows used in combat at this time. The first was a tipped arrow. These arrows are reminiscent of the arrows used by the Native Americans. The purpose of these sharpened rocky points was to simply maim and kill, depending on where the arrow actually penetrated. Likening this arrow to Scripture, we can see how 1 Corinthians 10:13 makes a match. The verse reminds us that no temptation has seized us except what is common to man. In these times of temptation, though, God makes a way out for us. These arrows represent for us then those moments of temptation, be it a temptation toward lust, depression, telling a lie, or what have you. As is the enemy’s way, he works to maim and kill us with the arrow of temptation. When we give in to temptation, whatever it is, we are injured. Therefore, we must hold up the shield of faith.
The second arrow was the flaming arrow. In watching many Medieval movies, it is common to see a sequence of the battle where the night sky illuminates with a hosts of fiery specks before landing and causing a miniature forest fire. And this thought is exactly how it would have looked during Rome’s reign as well. These arrows, dipped in a tar-like substance, were ignited before being launched in the air and released to cause damage. This again shows reason for the shield to not be dried up. But these arrows also represent a spiritual factor. The enemy aims at us his arrow of uncleanness, whether in our thought life, our dreams at night, or our everyday occurrences. If we fail to hold up the shield of faith to these arrows, we again become victim.
The third type of arrow was the combustible arrow. This arrow was filled with a highly flammable liquid that, when smacked with pressure against its target, would explode and send fiery flames in all directions. These arrows were the most dangerous for the solider just as they are the most dangerous for you and me. One way this arrow could be represented is in the impact of a bad situation, decision, or path. Consider one who tells a lie, then another, and then has to continue to cover his lies with more lies. The end result of this explosion is a greater mess than perhaps taking the blame for the first lie, and certainly greater than simply telling the truth. So it is again that to block these arrows we must raise the shield of faith.
How do we know, however, if the arrow is quenched? In a practical sense it would be easy to tell. As long as my shield is not on fire and my arrow is not smoking I can assume it is quenched. But how can we do this in the spiritual realms? If a negative thought comes at me and I begin to ponder revenge or destruction against someone, I can assume I have been hit with the arrow. The right thing at that moment would be to lay down that thought and bless the person instead. But if hours later I am still meditating on revenge, I have then allowed the fiery dart to continue to burn. This can be seen easily as well in the areas of sexual desires. If I have a lustful thought come at me, I would do right to quench it by taking that thought captive. However, if I continue to play the thought over and over in my head, and then act on it at some point, I have not quenched it, but rather have let it burn. The fiery dart that burns long enough will indeed become a stronghold. It is in those times we should raise our shield by reading/quoting Scripture, listening to worship music, praying, or even by sharing our trial with another believer.
Jude 20 tells us to build ourselves in the most holy faith. May I suggest to you that this is our anointing oil. The soldier would smoother his shield with oil so that the arrows would slip off, or have to work harder to stick. So we, smothering our shields with the Word of God places a coating on them that will leave the enemy’s arrow sliding off. The greased shield is a strong weapon. So then, let us pray in the Spirit (1 Cor 14:15,18) and build up our faith in who God is, and who we are in Him.
Faith, PISTIS in the Greek, is the inward confidence, assurance, trust, and reliance on what God has placed in our hearts. If we don’t know this confidence, then now is a good time to start getting in His Word and seeing what He has to say so that we can be built up. As we are reminded in 2 Samuel 22:31, “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried; he is a buckler [shield] to all them that trust in him.” (KJV).