Of Badges and Shields

 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. ~ Proverbs 30:5

A badge is called a shield.  Symbolic and historic, shields are often worn on the left side of a uniform, over the heart.  When pinned on a shirt, shields have symbolic meanings.

Shields have actual meanings.  We take refuge from wind, snow and rain behind windshields.  Symbolic shields may be flawed but actual shields need to be flawless.  

When we look through windshields, we know immediately if there are flaws.  Dings, cracks and chips immediately render shields flawed.

When the writer says, "Every word of God is flawless," the image is of silver tried in a fire.  As silver is tried, so is meat tried by fire.

Boiling raw meat, briefly, produces a scummy film.  Think about the grease on the top of a pot of hot dogs.  As with meat, so with silver.  When brought to the boiling point, silver produces a scummy film called dross.  Silversmiths skim the dross from a batch of boiled silver in preparation for flawless jewelry.

Flawless jewelry is purified seven times, rendering it flawless. 

Every word of God is flawless because each word has been tried.  Most of Proverbs stem from 1000 BC.  If protection is sought, betting on something that's worked the last 3,000 years isn't a bad idea.  Each of us needs protection.

We need protection from the wind, rain and snow.  We need refuge to be able to sleep soundly at night; to eat meals in peace; to wash away the stink of the day.  The Lord is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Older than 3000 years, the Lord offers refuge.  He's more dependable than windshields and offering the refuge of the Lord is a privilege.  Accepting God's offer of refuge is a privilege.

The Word is full of symbolic and actual language.   The Bible speaks of shields.