“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Ephesians 6:18
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Ephesians 6:18
The Roman shield, the scutum, was a very large curved rectangular with a large
metal knob called a boss in the center. It was an impressive line of defense and
it’s size (3’x3.5’) gave the soldiers protection from enemies. The slight curve
made it useful to deflect attacks with flaming missiles and the boss could also
deflect blows as well as knocking an enemy backwards. Another use was to form
a shell of protection by soldiers closing ranks and huddling together so those
on the outside created a wall and the middle linked shields together overhead to
protect everyone - it was known as the testudo or “tortoise” formation!
The shield of faith is our first line of defense. It guards our spiritual lives in the
middle of trials, it deflects the fiery missiles of fear, doubt and worry plus it
produces action which can give the enemy a good shove backwards! Faith
involves trust and is something we must take up and use or it doesn’t do us any
good. Strengthening each other by exercising our faith, building each other up
and serving together makes us an unstoppable force.
Joyce
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