Don’t Be a Fool               Text Box: Everyone Welcome! We Hope You Will Come!

 

 Those who think they have no need of God have lost control of their lives. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10: 23) Those who have denied that there is a God in heaven are both wicked and foolish. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalms 10:4) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” (Psalms 14:1)

 

Anger is an emotion that requires control. “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9) “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19,20) “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)

 

God has instructed us in His word how to be godly. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (II Peter 1:3)

 

God has also warned us against engaging in works of the flesh while are contrary to godliness. (Galatians 5:19-21) But “fools make a mock at sin…” (Proverbs 14:9) Sin is far too serious to be made light of. It is not a joking matter. “a wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (Proverbs 14:16) “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool… (Proverbs 28:26) “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord… (Isaiah 55:7)

Don’t be a fool. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near,” (Isaiah 55:6)      James Groves                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                    

          "THE SHIELD OF FAITH"

             Larry Yarber

 

            "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, ... Above all, taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:13-16).

 

            The phrase, "Above all ...” (Ephesians 6:16), illustrates the importance of the shield as a defensive weapon in battle. Without this shield, the Roman soldier was virtually defenseless, and exposed to all the offensive weaponry of his enemies. Since the shield was so important to the soldier, I feel compelled to include all of the statements found below. In our next article, we will turn to the Bible and make a spiritual application to the notes below.

 

            Of this shield Lipscomb and Shepherd comment, "The shield to which reference is made was four feet long and two and one-half feet wide. It was held on the left arm and could be used to protect the entire body, and was very essential to the safety of the combatant. Joined together, these large shields formed a wall, behind which a body of troops could hide themselves from the rain of the enemies missiles" (GA Commentaries, Ephesians - Philippians - Colossians, Lipscomb and Shepherd, pg. 132, 1939). To this Coffman adds, "FAITH ... Faith comes by hearing God's word (Rom. 10:17)" (Coffman's Commentaries, James Burton Coffman, Galatians - Ephesians - Philippians - Colossians, pg. 225, ACU Press, 1984). Clarke tells us that the Roman soldier carried several different types of shields, which served different purposes, but acknowledged that the shield which is in view here, is the one mentioned above by Lipscomb and Shepherd. He lists it as a defensive weapon and says, "Of shields there were several sorts: ... the gerron ... the laiseion ... the pelta ... the scutum (the one in view here - LY) it was made curved, so as to embrace the whole forepart of the body" (Clarke, pg. 469). Clarke further writes, "... a dart, signifies any kind of missile weapon; every thing that is projected to a distance by the hand, as a javelin, or short spear; or by a bow, as an arrow; or a stone by a sling. ... It is probable that the apostle alludes to the darts called falariea, which were headed with lead, in or about which some combustible stuff was placed which took fire in the passage of the arrow through the air, and often burnt up the enemy’s engines, ships, etc.; they were calculated also to stick in the shield's and set them on fire. Some think that poisoned arrows may be intended, which are called fiery from the burning heat produced in the bodies of those who were wounded by them. To quench or extinguish such fiery darts the shields were ordinarily covered with metal on the outside, and thus the fire was prevented from catching hold of the shield. When they stuck on a shield of another kind and set it on fire, the soldier was obliged to cast it away; and thus became defenseless. ... The fiery darts of the wicked, ..., or devil, are evil thoughts, and strong injections, as they are termed, which in the unregenerate inflame the passions, and excite the soul to acts of transgression" (Adam Clarke, Clarke's Commentaries, Vol. VI, Romans - Revelation, pgs. 469 and 471, Abingdon Press, New York - Nashville). The above should serve to illustrate the importance of the shield in the arsenal of the Roman soldier, and in the Christian's fight against Satan.

            I would like to conclude this article with a brief note of interest by Clarke, "I have only to observe further on this head, 1. That the ancient Greeks and Romans were constantly armed;   2. That before they engaged they always ate together; and 3. That they commenced every attack with prayer to the gods for success" (Ibid, Clarke ... pg. 470).