Favor Like A Shield

In our Monday Menu emails, I shared a sneak peek of my verse for the year.  I am always seeking the Lord for His direction and revelation for my family and for my life. As a result, there is usually a concept, topic, word or even a verse from the Bible that really grabs me while I am listening to a teaching, reading the Word or a Bible study.  And I know from the moment I see it,  that is what I will believe, pray and work towards all year long. (i.e that is how I make my personal and business goals!)

Earlier this month, I read Psalm 5:12 in a friend’s social media post, and that verse has been dancing around in the back of my mind ever since.

FAVOR

What is it about this verse that has captured my heart? The word “FAVOR.” But not just any favor… favor that surrounds me like a shield.

Wow!  What a picture!

I have been rolling that specific picture of God’s favor in my mind for a couple of weeks now. What does that kind of favor like that look like? What does favor like a shield do? Why did David (the author of the Psalm) choose to describe God’s favor that way? Do we usually think of God favoring us like that in life? Does my life reflect this favor and protection?

Thinking on these questions, asking God about them, letting my mind wander over them again and again, doing a little research and reading is what is called “meditating on the Word.”

Meditating on God’s Word is one way that I develop my relationship with Him, and it is definitely one way that He opens up His Word, speaks to me and shows me how what I’m reading fits into my life. It’s always what I need. But it’s not just about myself. I find that it is what my family needs, what others around me are needing, and it’s always right on time!

His Favor Protects And Then Some

First of all, it’s amazing to know that the word shield used in Psalm 5:12 is the same word used to describe Goliath’s shield in 1 Samuel, meaning that David was thinking about a giant-sized shield that would cover us from head to toe when he wrote this Psalm.

And think on this! If this shield David was thinking of would cover ALL of Goliath- a 9-ft giant- it would provide MORE, MUCH MORE covering than any of us would ever need!

What does that mean? God’s favor doesn’t provide JUST the protection we need; it provides everything we could possibly need with EXTRA left over!

Does God really operate that way? By providing extra? Sure he does. Just think of Jesus and the loaves & fishes. The disciples took up way more bread and fish after everyone had their fill than just the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish they started out with. Twelve baskets worth, to be exact!

What Does It Mean To Be Favored

We’re used to hearing God, Himself, being referred to as a “shield,” but this verse specifically names FAVOR as a way God PROTECTS YOU! Just think about that for a minute… (it’s so exciting!)

Just what does it mean for someone to favor you?

When I did a word search for favor, here are a few of the words and phrases that came up:

• fondness
• special
• chosen
• favorite
• selected
• pet
• to be biased towards/partial to
• approved of
• privileged
• advantaged
• elite
• fortunate

That’s quite a list!

 And if we think about it, it’s a pretty accurate list… when you’re a favorite, you’re golden. You get special attention, perks, help, benefits, provision. Being favored is a real leg up in life…

We Can’t Live In Something We Don’t Know About

So here’s the real question. Do our lives reflect this favor? Do we picture ourselves and live as favorites? What are we expecting?

If we aren’t living in God’s favor (and I know there is a lot of room for improvement on my end), then why?

I believe a huge reason is because we simply didn’t know we should be. Perhaps, no one ever told you that God FAVORS YOU and that His favor provides for and protects you! Phillipians 4:19 says our God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.

But Hosea 4:6 says “my people perish for a lack of knowledge…” We can’t live in something that we don’t even know exists!

A lot of people stop short of talking about God’s favor because they don’t want to seem presumptuous. But let’s face it. God LOVES us in a big kind of way. There are no two ways about it. He created us because He wanted to be with us. He sent His only son as a sacrifice so that we could be reunited with Him after we messed it up. For Him, it’s always been us. (1 John 4:10, Matthew 7:11, James 1:17)

Because We’re His Favorites…

Psalm 5:12 is packed with goodness for us! From it, we’ve learned that not only does God favor us, but his Favor actually protects us! It protects us from our enemies. It provides for us. It promises we won’t be put to shame! (Psalm 25:1, Isaiah 54:4, Romans 10:11)

Wow! Isn’t it great to be protected by Favor!

So, what should our response be to this great news? Well, if we believe God’s Word to be Truth, then we need to live like it’s true! We should start thinking about ourselves, acting like and making decisions based on the knowledge that we DO have God’s Favor in our lives. No more down-and-out mindsets!

Understanding That You’re A Favorite Should Make You Excited!

Secondly, we should CELEBRATE! Psalm 5:11 says,

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

The most obvious response to God’s love and favor is to celebrate! The word exult doesn’t just mean to be joyful, but to be joyful in triumph! Some other synonyms are elated, estastic, overjoyed, euphoric, thrilled, beside oneself!

True JOY is the privilege of the Believer, my friend!

I’ve already told you that I am committed to living in God’s favor this year. And now that we know that God’s Word promises it, there is nothing holding us back from living in it and celebrating it. Aren’t you ready to be set apart by God’s favor and joy? Let’s pursue it together!

A Few More Verses To Stand On

• Psalms 103:5
• Psalms 84:11
• Psalms 52:8