New Page 1 THE SHIELD "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield ." Genesis 15:1 Abraham had

It is a sure defense. No hell-sent arrow ever pierced the blood-anointed shield. Use it

He alone is sent to make atonement. For He alone has worthy blood to shed

the palm-bearing conquerors of heaven, who overcame him by the blood of the

set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood." Romans 3:25 Here

but because she was the daughter of faith. It is grace , not blood —which gives acceptance with

who is like unto you, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of your

crown of glory, which fades not away. When I lay weltering in my blood, it pitied me; when

the same in His teeth." 3. "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me

sound, Was heard the world around; The idle spear and shield were high up hung

birds are brought. In number they are two. One is death-doomed. Its trickling blood descends into an earthen

at all times Unless we are upheld by an invisible arm! Grace denial A shield and deliverer

of Aaron's first-born sons. Their calling to be priests is no protecting shield. He can ascend the

overcomes the world--even our faith," (1 John 5:4.) Taking the shield of faith

down a venerable parent. In the one case, fraternal ties afford no shield. In the

forth in His behalf. The God of Jacob was His shield. The heavens

have no worthiness before Him. Blessed Jesus! we would draw near, cleansed in Your blood, fair in Your

armies threaten battle (verse 9). 4. On festive days they peal melodiously around the blood-stained altar. Such are

colors in His portrait. He is as strong as God can be. The shield of omnipotence

but His? Christ is the juice—the life—the heart-blood of Leviticus

like every holy blessing I can ask, is the purchase of that blood which You so freely

of faith, and to wrestle, not only against flesh and blood (against wicked men and

as their complete sin-offering. He pays in anguish and in blood, their every due. Their

vindicates the majesty of the Father's government, spreads its mighty shield around the Father

without intent--without one evil or revengeful thought, might stain his hands in human blood. An unaimed blow might

labors--and apostles preach--and martyrs seal the truth with blood--and each

between me and death." The enemy had pursued, athirst for blood, mad as the

like the argument of a God-man's death. The blood of Abel

in ashes? or to shed tears, than when this nation has shed so much blood? These days are called

and true light shines. You see the cross. You use the blood. You stand in

Jesus' beauty. Not they, who are wholly indifferent to His dying love—His cleansing blood—His all-atoning offerings

his reach. He will attack. He will threaten. He will affright. But Jesus will be your shield; and that

the privileges of the Christian soldier to wear the shield of faith

Giver of such unmerited distinction. How would his supplicating lips implore, that mercy's shield might ever guard him

on the battle-field. He won them in garments dipped in blood. His brow is entitled

henceforth and forever theirs: their Friend, their Portion, their Sun, and their Shield. I. Their FRIEND. I

doubt, and fear, and hindrance! God loves you! What a strong shield to ward

savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength

the land of Midian forty years. But the God who was his shield in the

Abel's blood prevailed to bring vengeance, how much more shall the blood of Christ

See this in Lamech. He tramples down the marriage-law. Then human blood pollutes his hands. He

came to this holy patriarch in a vision? "I am your shield, and your

lying prostrate on the ground, and bathed in his own blood! But did he attempt

They spare not friend nor relative. No ties of kindred or of blood screen from due vengeance

out of ruin's grasp—to cleanse their filth in efficacious blood—to fit

New Page 1 THE EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD "I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward ." Genesis

you. Know the full might, which is your full support. This God is your shield . What foes can harm

He discovers that he is called to "wrestle not against flesh and blood — but against principalities, against

live a vast host. The blessing, at first, seems a shield against diminishing catastrophe. But

exchanged for sure repose. The sword has found its sheath. The shield wearies the arm

to Jesus, that lean upon Jesus, and rest in his Person, blood, righteousness, and love

and ways. Intelligence of an opponent's warfare is a good shield. Forewarning is a

He uplifts His arm? Believer, all this power is put forth to be your shield and sword

place of a pearly gem, tipped with a drop of blood. He first introduces us

to be offered," or, as the Greek word signifies, "to have my blood poured out in

than those which arise from the relationships of flesh and blood, a life

He heard? Yes—every petition is success. He asks and gains all that His blood purchased—all that the

thus atone for all your guilt, and cleanse you by His precious blood? Do you trust Him

flow thence the means to constitute the Church. There is blood to expiate

throne He ministers. There He presents the ever-fragrant incense of His blood. There He portions out

to rejoice in You as my portion--my Husband--believing that You will shield me in temptation

Can it be that the believer, who is but feeble flesh and blood, can overmaster Him, who

of keys The life-boat of free grace! A shield and deliverer

or defect (Philippians 1:6). Look upon me, wise Creator. See how flesh and blood disorder my poor soul

not intent on Christ—the heart ceases to watch—the shield is dropped—the

the church of God appears in His cause, and loses blood in His

when heart and flesh are failing, who throws around us the protecting shield, who applies the

the beasts when I compare them to such men! Only the blood of Christ

of God; and entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus

Sorrows bears his part." You may see all along the way, the blood-stained footsteps of

with an army, and will you go forth against a gnat with shield and spear

to see — your sin, your need of Jesus, and His precious Blood. What would it profit

Apostle. For as the Lord said to Abraham, "I am your shield and exceeding

compared to wrestling . Ephesians 6:12, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood—but against principalities and

have been drowned in the depths of the Savior's blood. They sank to

God. When an Attila scourges the earth and reddens her soil with blood, his steps are ordered

there any sure provision made by the Church's great Head to shield and shelter

not true. Worth and eminency are commonly blasted by slander; holiness itself is no shield from slander. "For

carry duty in them, like the veins which carry the blood. The promises

31 All the value and efficacy of the atoning blood is derived solely and

the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling

majesty, instead of running upon the thick bosses of his shield;--to do

people so much in this sinful world — as family feeling. Community of blood is a most

command to wash in the fountain of Christ's blood. When this poor man

breaks out in sores and pimples—it shows that the blood is corrupt. When men

God, would at the same time deal kindly with poor flesh and blood, being able to

blood; your acceptance is wrought by blood, Christ's blood is heaven's key! Christ's blood is a preservative

milder mood and a gentler spirit, and therefore feeling that his blood was hot and

approaching the Lord with sacrifice, the need of atonement by blood: he laid the

race. Oh, commence this year with a renewed application to the "blood of sprinkling

the innocent for the guilty- that He should exact the blood of His

probing of your own heart, so little dealing with Him in the blood and righteousness

THE Holy Spirit teaches the believer to plead the atoning blood of Christ

Jesus Christ drank a bitter cup, it made Him sweat drops of blood to think

of My Father." The debt-book shall be crossed in the blood of the

made unto me righteousness, what more do I need? If I can find a shield, a shelter

of God's eternal love to his people, when we meditate upon redemption by blood, when we consider the

solitude, to sanctify your sorrow, to strengthen your weakness, to shield your person, to

of you." That is as if he had said: if it be so, that my blood be poured forth as

The river which they adored became loathsome to them when it was turned into blood, and yielded