Spurgeon PS0512
EXPOSITION.
Jehovah has ordained his people the heirs of blessedness, and nothing shall rob them of their inheritance. With all the fullness of his power he will bless them, and all his attributes shall unite to satiate them with divine contentment. Nor is this merely for the present, but the blessing reaches into the long and unknown future. “_Thou Lord, wilt bless the righteous_.” This is a promise of infinite length, of unbounded breadth, and of unutterable preciousness.
As for the defence which the believer needs in this land of battles, it is here promised to him in the fullest measure. There were vast shields used by the ancients as extensive as a man’s whole person, which would surround him entirely. So says David, “_With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield_.” According to Ainsworth there is here also the idea of being crowned, so that we wear a royal helmet, which is at once our glory and defence. O Lord, ever give to us this gracious coronation!
EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.
Verse 12.–When the strong man armed comes against us, when he darts his fiery darts, what can hurt us, if God compass us about with _his lovingkindness as with a shield_? He can disarm the tempter and restrain his malice, and tread him under our feet. If God be not with us, if he do not give us sufficient grace, so subtle, so powerful, so politic an enemy, will be too hard for us. How surely are we foiled, and get the worse, when we pretend to grapple with him in our own strength! How many falls, and how many bruises by those falls have we got, by relying too much on our own skill? How often have we had the help of God when we have humbly asked it! And how sure are we to get the victory, _if Christ pray for us that we do not fail_! #Lu 22:31|. Where can we go for shelter but unto God our Maker! When this lion of the forest does begin to roar, how will he terrify and vex us, till he that permits him for awhile to trouble us, be pleased to chain him up again!–^Timothy Rogers, 1691.
Verse 12.–“_As with a shield_.” Luther, when making his way into the presence of Cardinal Cajetan, who had summoned him to answer for his heretical opinions at Augsburg, was asked by one of the Cardinal’s minions, where he should find a shelter, if his patron, the Elector of Saxony, should desert him? “Under the shelter of heaven!” was the reply. The silenced minion turned round and went his way.
Verse 12.–“With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield_.” The shield is not for the defence of any particular part of the body, as almost all the other pieces are: helmet, fitted for the head; plate designed for the breast; and so others, they have their several parts, which they are fastened to; but the shield is a piece that is intended for the defence of the whole body. It was used therefore to be made very large; for its broadness, called a gate or door, because so long and large, as in a manner to cover the whole body. And if the shield were not large enough at once to cover every part, yet being a movable piece of armour, the skilful soldier might turn it this way or that way, to catch the blow or arrow from lighting on any part they were directed to. And this indeed doth excellently well set forth the universal use that faith is of to the Christian. It defends the whole man: every part of the Christian by it is preserved. … The shield doth not only defend the whole body, but it is a defence to the soldier’s armour also; it keeps the arrow from the helmet as well as head, from the breast and breastplate also. Thus faith, it is armour upon armour, a grace that preserves all the other graces.–^William Gurnall.
HINTS TO PREACHERS.
Verse 12 (first clause).–_The divine blessing upon the righteous_. It is ancient, effectual, constant, extensive, irreversible, surpassing, eternal, infinite.
Verse 12 (second clause).–A sense of divine favour a defence to the soul.