Ephesians 6:16 The Amplified Bible
“Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
What example of a shield would Paul be most familiar with at this writing. Probably the shield used by Roman soldiers. The Roman shield used by the soldiers was roughly 22 lbs in weight, so it was light enough for the soldier to carry into battle and use to protect nearly his entire body. It was approximately 4 feet from top to bottom and nearly a foot and a half across. (It is estimated that the average height of a Roman soldier was 5’7” tall)It was curved to fit the body of the soldier. It was made of 3 sheets of wood glued together so the grain of each piece was at right angles to the others. The frame that held it all together was made of either wrought iron or bronze. It was covered with leather, which was soaked in water just before battle to extinguish the fiery arrows shot at them by their enemies.
This is the mental picture I believe Paul wants his readers to have regarding the shield of faith. Our faith protects us from anything the enemy throws our way. Even fiery darts or arrows can have no effect on us. “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”[1 Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible]The thing God wants you to know is that the devil is a toothless lion that has no power of those whose complete trust is in the Lord.
In reality, though Satan has great power in the world, we are not of this world. “They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”[John 17:16 New Living Translation]The “they” being spoken of here are the disciples. This is part of Jesus prayer to the Father. In verse 9 of John’s gospel Jesus clarifies that his prayer is not for the world but for those the Father gave him. We are his as well; therefore we are not under Satan’s authority. Keep your shield at the ready, for you never know when you will need it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
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