Protect the Oppressed

Psalm 28:6–7 “6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

Our unit has a long and storied history, as the shield of the nation in 1918, protecting Americans from the tumult of the Mexican Revolution, through World War II in the Pacific at Guadalcanal, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. We wear the shield on our uniform today in recognition of this reality. When the oppressed called out for help, we have responded.

Today, we have the opportunity to respond again to that call for help, as one million displaced persons flee from the aggression threatening their families and homes. The Lord is our strength and our shield, and now you can be the shield for these women and children.

Psalm 144:1–2 “1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” (ESV)

Let’s now take up our sword, which is the Word of God to hear what God has to say for us today. Lord God, open our hearts and minds to hear your Word preached faithfully, your Spirit to move powerfully, and for these your faithful to be equipped and transformed. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, Our Rock, and Our Redeemer, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Ephesians 6:14–18 “14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Brothers and Sisters, there is a clear Spiritual application for this text. But today, we have the opportunity to wear this armor for others. With the belt of truth, you have the opportunity to show the enemy the error of their ways with speed, surprise, and violence of action. With the breastplate of righteousness, you will demonstrate your ethical backbone, being defended from the spiritual blows of the evil one as you strive to walk in righteousness. With the gospel, you have the cure, the solution to sin and shame, the good news that is the ransom, redemption, and reconciliation found only in Christ Jesus.

Shields are fascinating things. They protect the wielder as a mobile piece of armor, deflecting blows or missiles, but they also announce something about those who wield it. The shield of a noble will be painted with a crest, the shape of a Roman shield says the soldier will be hard to kill. But the shield of faith extinguishes the flaming darts of the evil one. You will be the shield of faith for these people as you execute your mission.

The helmet of salvation protects your most sensitive part, but it is yet given to you by God, signed, sealed, and delivered to you and for you, now crested upon your head as your ACH is now.

The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. Your weapon, be it the M4 or 249, will win this day. But the sword of the Lord will win every spiritual battle, every day, so lock it in your heart today.

Let’s pray. Lord, we pray for your hand to equip these brothers and sisters for the battles, missions, and struggles ahead. Equip them with your armor, watch over them in your providence, let them bring salvation to the oppressed, a bulwark against the oppressors. Watch over them now, go with them, go before them, that their actions bring glory to you, for the sake of Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.