The Shield Prayer
Psalms 35:1-17
“O Jehovah, contend with those who contend with me; fight with those who fight against me.” (Psalms 35:1)
There is a figure named Augustine who built a monument in the history of early Christianity. It is no exaggeration to say that he laid the foundation for biblical doctrine. He was the first to use the term “original sin” and also theoretically established the concept of “grace.”
However, in his youth, he had fallen into a heresy called Manichaeism, and his life was very dissolute. Then, in August 386, he heard the voice of God through the singing of children playing in a garden in Milan.
“Tole Leguí! Pick up and read!” When he opened his eyes, a Bible lay before him. The passage he opened and read was Romans 13, and those words struck his wandering heart with deep conviction and resonance.
**The Shield Prayer** “Let us walk properly, as in the daytime, not in debauchery or drunkenness, not in sexual immorality or lust, not in quarreling or jealousy, but clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:13-14).
Augustine heard these words as the voice of God speaking to him and experienced great repentance. He recorded his feelings at that time as follows: “My heart was filled with the light of conviction, and the shadow of doubt vanished in an instant.”
He immediately visited Bishop Ambrose, was baptized, and began a life of knowing God through prayer in seclusion. But did his repentance end completely there? No.
How easy would it be if overcoming temptation could happen in a single moment? However, even for a ‘holy saint,’ overcoming temptation is not as easy as it sounds. Augustine confesses that his repentance continued throughout his entire life.
It is said that Satan constantly whispered into Augustine’s ear. “Friend, where do you intend to go, leaving us behind? How do you plan to live without us?” His colorful ‘past record’ tormented him.
Our perspective and understanding are swayed by desire. Because people pursue happiness, they first seek what will make them happy. At this point, past habits tempt us with ‘false happiness.’
Our lives are no different. If we simply learn to fight and win against temptation, we will be able to easily escape from difficulties. That is why learning the skill to win the battle against sin is so important.
It is said that whenever such temptation came, Augustine prayed even more earnestly. He said there was no other effective method. Prayer is stopping looking at the earth and looking at the heavens.
It is stopping talking to the self and conversing with God; stopping desiring worldly things and desiring the Lord. It is forgetting my existence and recognizing that He exists within me.
As such efforts grew, the devil’s whispers diminished, and eventually, the voice of an angel was heard. “Do not be afraid, but cast all your worries and anxieties upon God. Entrust the past to God’s mercy, and the future to the hand of God’s providence.”
“Then you can rejoice in the present within God’s grace.” This means practicing entrusting the past and the future to God. Then, the command to “rejoice always” will be fulfilled in the present time.
This is an explanation of the words of the Apostle Paul. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer is entrustment. David is the one who best understood and utilized this “prayer of entrustment.”
In today’s passage, David appeals to God, saying, “O Lord, contend with those who contend with me; fight with those who fight against me” (Psalm 35:1). He entrusts all spiritual battles within prayer.
His prayer becomes more specific. “Pull out your spear and block the way of those who pursue me, and say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation’” (Verse 3). He did not attempt to solve his own problems directly, but entrusted the authority of judgment to the Lord.
Psalm 35 is a psalm in which David appeals to God for righteous judgment and salvation amidst unjust slander and attacks by enemies. He entrusts his righteousness to God, using Him as his ‘shield.’
When temptation and difficulties come your way, do not try to solve them by your own strength; instead, practice entrusting them to God’s justice through prayer. Then you can guard your heart. Break the vicious cycle of retaliation and seek righteousness.
Then your emotions will shift from fear to joy. Paul also says, “Then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
In a world that does not acknowledge your grievances, are you rashly trying to solve them by your own strength? The more unjustly you feel, the more you should make God your ‘shield’ (Verse 2) and offer a prayer of surrender. The Lord will protect you.
God the Father,
The temptations of the world are trying to bring us down.
Suffering and adversity are tearing us down.
Take hold of your shield and hand shield, rise up,
and help us.
Let us move forward with a prayer of surrender.
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Translated by Rev. Jaewoong Chang
