Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16
The Roman shield – the scutum – was a very large, slightly curved rectangular shield featuring at its center a large metal knob, called a boss. The scutum was an impressive line of defense. Because of its sheer size – some were more than a meter tall and almost a meter wide, soldiers were provided a great deal of protection from enemies. Its slight curve enabled it to deflect attacks without transferring the full force of the assault to the man holding the shield. The boss enabled the scutum to deflect even the more vicious blows and to function in a limited offensive capacity as a way to knock an opponent backwards. As long as the Roman soldier carried his shield, he was relatively safe from most of the enemy’s attacks, just as a Christian, armed with faith, is able to quench all of the fiery darts of the devil.
Remember the account of the three Hebrew lads who challenged the Babylonian decree to bow down to the image of gold. Even when faced with the burning fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were unshaken in their confidence that God would protect and preserve them. Their shield of faith enabled them to confidently face the king and his wrath, even if they were to die. Down through the centuries, faithful saints have used the same shield to meet the attacks of cruel enemies, and untold thousands have died as martyrs, counting their trust in God of greater value than their own lives. They have not been the losers, despite the enemy’s apparent triumph over their mortal bodies; Heaven’s array of eternal prizes includes a glorious Martyr’s crown for all who have died for their faith. You and I may never face circumstances that place our lives on the line for Christ. But we face many daily circumstances when the shield of faith can be brought into play to preserve our testimony and protect us from evil.
The shield of faith is not only an individual item of protection but also a device that is effective in a group. The Roman military had an inventive and very effective tactic that made use of their large shields. When enemies would begin firing arrows and other projectiles at the army, the soldiers would close ranks into a rectangular array – called the testudo, or ‘tortoise’, formation – and those on the outside would use their shields to create a wall around the perimeter. Then those in the middle would raise their shields over their heads to protect everyone from airborne missiles. The result was a formidable human tank that could be stopped only through a tremendous effort. That is how a family, united in faith, can withstand the evil forces that are destroying family structures all around us. That is how an Assembly, united in faith, can thrive despite the worst assaults of the enemy.
The shield of faith – simple but total trust in God – will quench the devil’s darts and preserve our lives for Christ. -Jim MacIntosh