(_a_) As to outward evils, His protection assures us, not of
absolute exemption, but of His entire control of them, so that men and
circumstances are His instruments, and His will only is powerful.
Chedorlaomer and all the allied kings are nothing; 'a noise,' as the
prophet said of a later conqueror. All the bitterness and terror is
taken out of evil. If any fiery dart pass through the shield, all its
poison is wiped off in passage. So there remains no reason for fear,
since all things work together for good. Behind that shield we are safe
as diver in his bell, though seas rave and sea-monsters swim around.
(_b_) As to inward evils, our Shield assures us of absolute exemption.
'Shield of faith.' Faith is shield because it takes hold of God's
strength.
3. The ground of the call in the Revelation of God as Reward. Abraham
had refused all share in booty, a large sacrifice, and here he is
promised, A Reward in God, _i.e._ He gives Himself in recompense for
all sacrifices in path of duty. 'The Lord is able to give thee much
more than these.' This promise opens out to general truth that God
Himself is the true reward of a devout life. There are many recompenses
for all sacrifices for God, some of them outward and material, some of
them inward and spiritual, but the reward which surpasses all others is
that by such sacrifices we attain to greater capacity for God, and
therefore possess more of Him. This is the only Reward worth thinking
of--God only satisfies the soul. With Him we are rich; without Him
poor; 'exceeding great'--'riches in glory,' transcending all measure.
The revelations of God as Shield and Reward are both given in reference
to the present life, but the former applies only to earth, where
'without are fighters, within are fears'; while 'the latter is mainly
true for heaven, where those who have fought, having God for their
Shield, will possess Him for their Reward, in a measure and manner
which will make all earthly experiences seem poor. Here the 'heirs of
God' get subsistence money, which is a small instalment of their
inheritance; there they enter into possession of it all.