The Lord God Is A Sun And A Shield

The morning was a little darker than normal. Clouds filled the sky and the colors seemed dull and dreary. There was no storm or impending doom on the horizon, but the air seemed heavy in the overcast world.

Does your heart ever feel like that? You can see what’s going on around you, but everything has taken on a gray hue? There is light in the sky, just not the brightness you’ve come to expect in the merry months of spring.

The phrase “uncertain times” is being thrown about constantly now. No one knows where the economy, the country and the world are headed. News reporters share numbers and information in the moment, but they’re not able to tell us what tomorrow or next week or next year will look like. Businesses budget, promote and hope for the best even though they don’t know how long their doors will stay open. We think about (and sometimes worry about) our health, our families and our communities. Uncertain times, indeed.

But the truth of the matter can be found in today’s psalm, Psalm 84. The people of Israel were celebrating the New Year’s Festival when it was written, and their hearts were overflowing with joy. They were about to be in the house of God, in the very presence of their living God. All they wanted was to be a doorkeeper at that house so they would never be separated from the Lord.

What a striking contrast to the world today. Panic and fear have taken hold in many hearts, as they long for strength and comfort. If the craziness would stop for just a moment, they could get their bearings. If only things would go back to the way they were, they could find a little joy again.

But does it have to be this way? I say no.

Psalm 84:11 stands out like it’s wrapped in neon lights: For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

God Himself is our sun, our brilliance in dark times.
God Himself is our shield, our protector and defender.

If we look for light and safety in the world, we’re going to be disappointed. But when we turn to God, we find everything we’re looking for even in the darkest of times.

And what are the gifts God offers? His grace - kindness and favor, and glory - splendor and abundance. These free gifts change our lives from dreary and monochromatic to bright and brilliant. The circumstances may not change, but we are changed because we choose to focus our eyes on God alone.

No good thing is withheld from the woman who walks in God’s path with Him. I pray that in these uncertain times, we will all be certain that God will light our way, protect us and bless us in abundance. He always has, He is now and He always will - be certain of that.

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