Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) — 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
NOTE: The first
three pieces all use 'effort' verbs; fasten, having put on, and having shod.
And I do think the first three are built through effort and obedience. Now we
switch to "take up" and also two "takes." The phrase in all
circumstances is not an easy set of words to translate.
"Circumstances" is not there, just "in" and
"all," and together they are translated quite often into this idea of
everything or every situation, but it could also be, "to all this"
(NIV) or "to all of these" (NLT) or "above all" (KJV),
which is a very different thought. But I am not convinced that the key is found
here.
The Greek word analabontes, translated "take up"
means to lift up and carry; take/bring along; take aboard. Constable translated
it as receive or accept, but I could not find any Greek resource that suggested
the idea of receive. We don't receive faith, we must exercise faith.
The Roman shield was
a very long oblong device. It protected most of his body and in conjunction
with others could protect the whole unit. It was wood with an outer leather
covering for fireproofing.
Extinguish, which is
the Greek word sbesai, means to stop
burning. The enemy uses flaming darts. These weapons are designed to burn. 2
Cor 11:29 translates sbesai as indignant
as a result of attacks, fears, and the pressures of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:28–29 (ESV) — 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily
pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not
indignant?
It is a shield of
faith (the Greek word pistis) and is
translated in Strongs as a conviction of the truth, …, in the NT of a
conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things.
The shield of faith
is trusting God that he is in control, he is in charge, and he cares about me,
despite all the evidence to the contrary that worries us. Circumstances may
argue against it. Answers or lack of answers to prayer may argue against it. What
we want versus what God is doing may argue against it. But we believe that he
exists (is in charge, is powerful) and that he rewards those who seek him (he
cares).
PRAYER: God, it is hard to trust when life does not
work the way we want it to work. We are quite selfish. Help us to see life from
your perspective and not from ours. Help us to see the opportunities you are
given us to make an impact for real good, not our material good. Help us to
learn to really trust and have faith in you.
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