Psalms 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield.

A sacred solo

Note in the three sentences-there is in each that which is inward and that which is outward. “The Lord is my strength”--that is inward; “My shield”--that is outward. “My heart trusted in Him--inward; “I am helped”--outward. “My heart greatly rejoiceth”--inward; “With my song will I praise Him”--outward. It teaches us that truth and beauty of form are to be linked together: to be holy we need not to be uncouth. Slovenly preaching, doggerel verses and discordant singing are to be avoided in our worship.

I. We have here A sure possession. With double grip the psalmist takes hold of God. “The Lord is my strength and my shield.” It is not anything belonging to the Lord, but the Lord Himself that he thus lays hold on. He also can say this has a large inheritance which death cannot wither, nor space compass, nor time limit, nor eternity explore. He may be short in pocket money, as owners of large estates sometimes are; but he is infinitely rich, for he hath real property and an indefeasible title to it. Notice how God is laid hold of--

1. Inwardly, as his strength. You cannot tell how strong you are if you can say this: what marvellous capacity for endurance. Increase of burden is nothing to groan at if there be increase of strength. And with this we can, also, do anything. Then--

2. There is the outward manifestation. God is our “shield.” “Where would you hide yourself,” said one to Luther, “if the Elector of Saxony should withdraw his protection?” He smiled and said, “I put no trust in the Prince of Saxony. Beneath the broad shield of Heaven I stand secure against Pope and Turk and devil.” So he did, so do we. And many of us can attest this.

II. A definite experience. “My heart trusted in Him and I am helped.” He does not say, “I trusted” as one who makes a profession with his lips, but “my heart trusted.” Happy the man who in his “heart” trusts. Did you ever notice the middle verse of the whole Bible? It is Psalms 118:8. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” The comparison will not bear a thought, the preference is infinite. May the heart always trust, and in God alone. Then we have the outward manifestation of the inward experience, “I am helped.” Not “I was,” nor “I shall be,” but “I am.” Old Master Trapp says, faith has no tenses, because faith deals with a God whose name is “I am.” With man we trust and are often disappointed or deceived, but never so with God.

III. A declared emotion. “Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song,” etc. Some people’s rejoicing is but skin deep. They laugh: their face is surfaced over with smiles, and their mirth bubbles up with silly glee. Nothing is more sad. You may perhaps have heard of Carlini, one of the most celebrated clowns of the beginning of this century, a man whose wit and humour kept all Paris in roars of laughter; but he himself had little share of the cheerfulness he simulated so well and stimulated so much. His comedies brought him no comfort; he was a victim of habitual despondency. He consulted a physician, who gave him some medicine, but advised him by way of recreation to go and hear Carlini. “If he does not fetch the blues out of you nobody will.” “Alas, sir,” said he, “I am Carlini.” And so often men make mirth for others, but live in gloom themselves. Not so the man who has laid hold on God. “My heart greatly rejoiceth.” And we should tell out our joy. “With my song will I praise Him.” Hard-worked mothers, toiling labourers, wearied servants, sing praise unto Him. The birds, the flowers, the many-tinted shells in depth of ocean, all praise Him. Do you the same. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Lord acknowledged and praised

I. the Lord acknowledged.

1. AS the source of strength.

(1) Physical.

(2) Intellectual.

(3) Spiritual.

2. As a shield.

(1) Against temptation.

(2) Against the fiery darts of Satan.

(3) Against the attacks of personal enemies.

II. the Lord trusted.

1. With the heart.

2. For the salvation of the soul.

3. For the power to keep from falling.

4. For help in every hour of need.

III. the Lord rejoiced is.

1. Because the soul is at peace with God.

2. Because of the consciousness of security in God.

3. Because of the manifested presence of God in the soul.

IV. the Lord praised.

1. For the manifestation of His power.

(1) To give strength in the hour of weakness.

(2) To give encouragement in the hour of despondency.

(3) To give light in the hour of darkness.

(4) To give inspiration in the hour of conflict.

2. For the manifestation of His love.

(1) In cleansing the heart from all sin.

(2) In inscribing the name in heaven.

(3) In the adoption of sons into the Divine family.

(4) In the blessed assurance of an eternal home in heaven. (O. T. Adams.)

The security of those who have God for their strength and shield

He is invulnerable whom God shields. The devil might spare his arrows, for not one of them will take effect on him whom God shields. David rested in his God in the midst of trouble, for God was a shield unto him. Oh, man, what about your fortifications? The French, yonder in Paris, put out statements and bulletins about the state of the fortifications--about the condition of the chain of forts that encircle their city. Now, as you walk around the walls of your own soul, have you got God as a shield? You, young fellow, are you shielded by God? Is God your shield? Have you covenanted with Jehovah? If you have, then--oh, hear it!--you are safe, for “the Lord is thy shield.” (J. Robertson.)