Psalm Photos - 115 - Shield
Psalm 115
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats.
Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.
O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
he will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great.
May the Lord give you increase, both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings.
The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord from this time on and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
I have to admit that my comic geek side came out with this Psalm. I thought immediately of Capt. America and his shield as I read about the Lord being our help and our shield. His shield made of an unbreakable metal and used for the strongest good. It made me think of God's shield before behind and around us. Yet there's still the struggle I face when it feels like things get around the shield - what does that mean for us? What does that say of God? But our calls to trust that God has her backs – or all sides as the blessing attributed to St. Patrick's says…
The Breastplate of St. Patrick
Christ as a light, Illumine and guide me! Christ as a shield, o'ershadow and cover me! Christ be under me! Christ be over me! Christ be beside me, On the left hand and right! Christ be before me, behind me, about me; Christ this day be within and without me!