1. Chapter 30 was written by a man named Agur, who introduced himself by stating that when it comes to the knowledge of God and spiritual things, on his own, he does not have any wisdom or knowledge of the Holy One, God. (vs. 3)

2. Then (vs .4), he asked a series of rhetorical questions designed to demonstrate that God is infinitely above us. And unless God reveals truth to us, we cannot know Him.

3. Then in verse 5, Agur states (in contrast to what he just said) “Every word of God is pure.”

4. Next (also in vs.5) Agur states that not only is God’s Word pure (tested and reliable), but God Himself is a shield.

God is a Shield

1. Ancient soldiers used two different kinds of shields.

a. There was a large shield which looked very much like a large wooden door.
• The large shields were used almost like a moving wall.
• The soldiers in the front line would connect their “doors” together and form a long line before an advancing army.
• When clipped together, the large shields became a wall for the front line as the soldiers advanced upon their enemy.
• This “moving wall” was a shield for the whole army.
• This wall of shields would stop the arrows and fiery darts that were shot at the army—especially when advancing upon a fortress of some type.
• It was the first line of defense and protected all the soldiers in the front lines.

b. There was also a smaller shield called a buckler.
• The buckler was much smaller and was attached to the arm…usually round.
• The small buckler would be used to protect against the blow of a sword from an enemy in hand to hand combat.
• This was a personal shield for the individual soldier.
• The term translated “shield” in Proverbs 30:5 is the word for the small, personal shield—not the large door shaped shields.

2. The concept of a shield was used in both a literal and a figurative sense in the Scriptures.

a. Clearly, it is used in a figurative sense in Proverbs 30:5.

b. Note that while Agur was speaking about God’s Word, the pronoun changes to “he”, not “it.”
• He switches from talking about the Word of God to talking about the God of the Word.
• The Proverb states that HE (God) is a shield.

c. This is a metaphor. God is not literally a round piece of wood and metal to be strapped around one’s arm.
• But God does provide protection—AS a shield does.
• The main point of this figure of speech is to demonstrate the fact that God protects His people.
• In that sense, God is like a shield.
• God provides protection, safety, and a defense for His people.
• He shelters His people from spiritual danger and from our spiritual foes as a literal shield shelters from physical danger.

God is a Personal Shield

1. The term Agur uses for shield is not the large door-shaped shield that protected the front lines of the army.

a. It is the term for the small, round shield, worn on the arm that protected the individual soldier – called the buckler.

b. The small shield protected the soldier in his own personal battle – in hand to hand combat.

c. The small buckler shield protected the individual soldier from blows of a sword, a battle ax, or an arrow that was aimed at him personally. Every soldier had his own buckler.

d. Yes God protects His people in general; but He also protects each one personally.

God is a Protective Shield by Faith

1. God is a shield to His people; but not to ALL of His people.

a. He is only a Shield to those who trust in Him.

b. God’s protection is offered to all of His people; but this protection is not experienced by all of His people.

2. God is a shield—but only “unto them that put their trust in Him.”

a. God is omnipotent and omnipresent. He is able to function as a shield and a protector at all times to all of His people.

b. But He Himself has limited this offer of protection to those who are consciously trusting in Him.

c. And God knows the heart of each one of us.

d. Prov. 3:5 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” We are not to trust in our own wisdom.

e. Jer. 9:23-24 – “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: ²⁴But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

f. The fact that someone glories in something indicates that he is trusting in it. People glory in and trust in their own wisdom, might, and riches. They trust in those things for their security and protection.

g. Isa. 31:1-3 – “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! ²Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. ³Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.”

h. It is folly to trust in anyone or anything other than the LORD; yet it is ingrained in our fallen nature to do so.

i. God is a shield—but only to those who trust in Him. There is no protection offered to those who trust in other things: self, our own wisdom, might, riches, other men, earthly things, etc.

3. Think of how obvious this truth ought to be.

a. God is a shield. If you believe that… if you are trusting in that fact, then you will stand and remain very close to that Shield and you won’t step out on your own. You would realize that once you step out from under the protective Shield, you are in a vulnerable and dangerous place.

b. The protection God provides for us is available to us at all times, BUT there is a personal responsibility: TRUST.

c. And if you trust in a shield, you will stand behind it. You won’t leave it at home. You won’t cast it aside. You will wear it—religiously!

d. But once we start getting puffed up and begin to think we can handle the battle on our own, we will tend to wander away from the Shield… but we do so at our own peril.

4. Our adversary is just waiting for that moment when we let down our guard and wander out from the protective shield.

a. THEN his fiery darts can harm us. Behind the shield we are safe.

b. Eph. 6:16 – “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

c. Note how Paul describes faith in God as a “shield” that protects us from the darts of the wicked one.

d. That shield of faith is able to quench ALL the fiery darts.

e. But when we are not walking by faith – but are trusting in our own resources, we are vulnerable to those darts and attacks of the Devil.

f. He seeks to devour us but cannot harm us when we walk by faith… unless the Lord gives him permission to do for the purpose of bringing us forth as gold—as with Job.

g. Who knows how many times the devil wanted to sift us as wheat… and because we were close to the Lord… trusting in Him, God did not permit that attack.

h. God’s protective shield is not always recognized by us because we fight against invisible foes… principalities and powers.

i. But it constantly DOES protect us whether we are aware of it or not. God says so.

j. Living a life of faith is like living under a protective shield.

5. Proverbs 30:5 – Note the connection between the Word of God and the God of the Word.

a. It is because God is the Author of and stands behind His Word that every word of God is pure, it can be TRUSTED.

b. There are no errors in anything the Bible says on any subject about which it speaks: promises, history, science, origins, psychology, anthropology, salvation, and prophecy—when rightly divided.

c. When God makes a promise to us we can trust HIM by believing what He says in His Word it—and acting upon it… trusting that God will always honor His Word.

d. No one who trusts in God’s pure word is ever disappointed. God never fails; He always keeps His Word. He always holds up those who take a step of faith based on His Word.

e. Trusting God and trusting His Word is essentially the same thing.

f. When we trust what God says in His Word and act upon it, GOD Himself will be our shield, protector, and shelter.

g. Ps. 91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” He is our total defense in our spiritual battles.