God promises to be like a shield that protects and defends believers. The Hebrew word for shield, "magen", can mean shield, protection, defense, or ruler. As a shield, God protects believers from spiritual attacks through faith in His word. He also directly intervenes to shield believers from danger. Additionally, God acts as a defender for believers, ensuring no accusations against them can stand. In all things, God promises to guard and protect those whose ways please Him.

1. Magen: My Shield
by: Rhonda Jones

2. “But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me
and lift up my head.” Psalm 3:3
The Hebrew word for shield is “magen” [1]. Magen means shield,
armed, buckler, defense, ruler, scale. Thus, God promises to be all of these
things to His people.
A shield is a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm One
that protects or defends [2]. This definition of shield has two variations.
The first line describes shield as a noun, an object placed on us that
provides protection. This protection is God’s Word. Ephesians 6:16
encourages us to “take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”.
Our faith is rooted in our trust in God and His Word. The word of
God allows us to extinguish EVERY fiery dart the enemy throws at us.
If we study God’s word and speak it to the Enemy, not one flame will
touch us. This is what Jesus did when Satan tempted Him in the
wilderness Matthew 4: 1-11.
The second definition describes shield as a verb. This draws
attention to the fact that God Himself will shield us. He will protect us
from harm and danger. In Genesis 15:1 God tells Abraham (then called
Abram) “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do
not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward”.

3. Armed[3]: furnished with weapons, furnished with something that
provides security, strength, and efficiency, marked by the maintenance of
armed forces in readiness
Furnished with weapons
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On
the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” 2
Corinthians 10:4. Strongholds are areas of our lives that the enemy has
dominated. Sometimes we may unknowingly allow the enemy access into
various areas of our lives. However, God’s has equipped us with weapons
to destroy strongholds in our lives. Our weapon is the Word of God that
we are to speak in adverse situations.
Furnished with something that provides security, strength, and
efficiency
The Word of God supplies us with security, strength, and efficiency.
Not only does His Word give us security and strength, it causes us to be
efficient. This means that when we speak the Word of God it will
produce desired results. For God states that the Word that goes forth out
of His mouth does not return void, but accomplish what He desires and
achieves the purpose in which it was sent. Isaiah 55:11. The Word of
God have the same effect for us when we use it according to God’s will.
When we are speaking the Word to a situation in our life, God works to

4. bring about the best change.
Marked by the maintenance of armed forces in readiness.
When I read this I immediately thought of the heavenly host
discussed in the Bible. God’s heavenly host refers to the angels that He
has that carry out orders. God uses these angels to fight on our behalf.
“Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out His plans,
listening for each of His commands.” Psalms 103:20
Buckler[4]- a shield worn on the left arm, one that shields and
protects. "Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid" Psalm
35:2. God promises in His word that He will shield and protect us.
Another name for shield is "buckler". In Psalm 35:2, David is petitioning
God to take up His shield and buckler and come to his aid.
Defend[5]- to drive danger or attack away from, to act as an
attorney for. "The Lord hear you in the day of trouble; the name of the
God of Jacob defend you" Psalm 20:1. When God is a shield to us, it also
means He is our defense. Notice above, there are two forms of defense:
driving danger or attack away from you, and being an attorney.
To drive danger or attack away from
God promises that He will drive all danger and attack away from
us. He will direct harmful situations out of our lives and even separate us

5. from people who are trying to harm us. Harm is not always physical; it
can be mental, emotional, psychological, or even spiritual. Whenever we
are coming under attack know that no weapon formed against us shall
prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
To act as an attorney for
The Word states in 1 John 2:1 that Jesus is our advocate, pleading
our cause. When Satan tries to disqualify us, Jesus rises to our defense.
Even if we have a case in a physical courtroom, God still promises to be
our attorney. "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no
thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate: but
whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you: for it is not
you that speak, but the Holy Ghost". Mark 13:11. "When a man's ways
please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him"
Proverbs 16:7.
In conclusion, God promises to be our ruler and our scale. “I am God
the Ruler of All” Genesis 35:11. God is our King, the Holy King who
cares for His people. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom and fall under
His Divine guardianship. Our Lord also promises to be our scale. The
Word of God acts as a scale because it is the measuring stick we use to
discern a situation or circumstance. If we are faced with an issue we
cannot resolve then we go to the Word of God for the solution.

6. http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/4043.htm
2http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shield
3http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armed
4http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buckler
5http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defend
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