For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor: no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Exodus 84:11 NIV)
I’m still meditating on Moses and the Israelites up against the might of Egypt. I suppose it’s a strong type for us in this season of Corona; a Savior leading His people out from under the enemy. This psalm tells us the God is a Sun and a Shield and I can’t help but picture the cloud that stood between the Egyptians and the Israelites that long night spent by the Red Sea.
“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling with in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side’ son eight went near the other all night long.” (Exodus 14:19-20 NIV)
God stood between His people and their enemy as a sun and a shield. He lit up their path forward (though it was scary and required extreme trust) and He protected them from their enemy at the same time.
The psalmist goes on to say that no good thing is withheld from the blameless. How do we live blameless? We live in step with our Sustainer. The Israelites learned this in the wilderness – as long s they walked out their faith with God, they experienced blessing. But when they wandered, the bottom fell out.
In this pandemic, we remember that He is our Sun and our Shield. He lights up our way and has our back. Our obligation? To keep walking toward Him; to stay in step with His divine stride, determined to honor Him with our thoughts, words and actions.
Oh Lord, forgive us for the this when we’ve fallen out of sync with You or frozen in fear. Absolve us for our many complaints, bad attitudes and excuses. Show us how to stay in step with Your holy gait. Be our Sun and our Shield; stand between us and the enemy. Amen.