11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory.
Here two emblems, “sun” and “shield”, are used by the psalmist to express his most intimate thoughts about the LORD God in his special circumstance. Those symbolic designations of the LORD represent every believer’s assurance that the LORD is his provider and protector.
To all God’s people, He is like the sun that casts its light and warmth upon the earth. His favours are innumerable and invaluable, and are freely given like the light of the sun. Every day, like the sun which emits its light, God sends His blessings to all who trust Him, enlivening, enlightening and cheering them with His goodness. He is bounteous towards His people, and fills their lives with His loving kindness and tender mercies.
How blessed it is to be reminded that “the LORD will give grace and glory”. He gives grace sovereignly, readily, relentlessly, richly, appropriately and sufficiently. Under no circumstance will His people lack His grace. Nothing can prevent them from receiving His grace, for His Word declares: “the LORD will give grace”. We also note that the LORD will not only give grace, but also glory. It is said in our text that “the LORD will give grace and glory”. The little conjunction “and” that connects the words “grace” and “glory” is, as an old preacher had said, “a diamond rivet binding the present with the future.” Grace and glory are joined eternally by God. To whom the LORD has freely given His grace, He will also give His glory. All those who are saved by grace shall inherit His glory. Our present grace assures our future glory!
The LORD God is also a “shield” to His people. A shield is a defensive weapon used in wars to protect the soldier from the deadly blow of the enemy. To His people, God is their protector from every threat that rises against them. It was the LORD’s pleasure to assure His people that He will be unto them a shield. He said to Abram in Genesis 15:1, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Likewise in Psalm 5:12, we read: “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” In their adversities, God’s people often remembered that the LORD God is their shield (cf. Psalms 33:20; 84:9, 11; 115:9, 10, 11; Proverbs 30:5). It was especially so with David, as was testified in many of his psalms (Psalms 3:3; 5:12; 18:35; 28:7; 59:11; 119:114; 144:2). Let us too rejoice that God is our gracious Provider and Protector.
The LORD God is also a “shield” to His people. A shield is a defensive weapon used in wars to protect the soldier from the deadly blow of the enemy. To His people, God is their protector from every threat that rises against them. It was the LORD’s pleasure to assure His people that He will be unto them a shield. He said to Abram in Genesis 15:1, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Likewise, in Psalms 5:12, we read, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” In their adversities, God’s people often remembered that the LORD God is their shield (cf. Ps. 33:20; 84:9, 11; 115:9, 10, 11; Prov. 30:5). It was especially so with David, as testified in many of his psalms (Ps. 3:3; 5:12; 18:35; 28:7; 59:11; 119:114; 144:2). Let us also rejoice that God is our gracious provider and protector.