My God and My Country

Word of God

But he answering, said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

Psalm 18:35

Prefaced & Edited by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand hath stayed me, and thy loving kindness hath caused me to increase.

Geneva Bible Translation - 1599

Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation, and Thy right hand hath holden me up; and Thy condescension* hath made me great

JPS Translation - 1917

Brethren:

We are reminded here of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians**, wherein he writes of taking on the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. In either case, both speak of being armored against attacks by the enemy, that is to say Satan and his minions. However, David goes on to write and speak about the loving kindness, or as the JPS translations says “condescension”, meaning gentleness or in the objective form as noted below in Strong’s clemency, that is to say mercy and grace, and how it upholds him and has lifted his horn from humble shepherd, to become a great king.

Dr. Riktor Von Zhades - Devoted servant of our Redeemer Christ Jesus.

“Meaning either temporal salvation, which was a shield to him when he had no outward one, as when he fought with Goliath; and was what preserved him in all his battles at other times: or spiritual salvation, which is of the Lord, of his contriving, effecting:, and applying, and in which his glory is concerned; interest in which is a free gift of his, as are the knowledge, application, and possession of it; and this is as a shield, which saves from sin, from all sin, and the damning power of it; keeps off the curses of the law, secures from wrath to come, and repels Satan's temptations; the words may be applied to Christ, who, though he was not saved from dying, yet was preserved in the day of salvation, and was not suffered to see corruption in the grave, and was quickly delivered from the power and dominion of it

Christ; the right hand of God, being as dear to him as his right hand; and being exalted at it; and because by him he communicates all good things to his people, and with him upholds and sustains them; or else it designs the mighty power of God, which is often signified by it, (Read Psalms 20:6, 44:3, 118:15-16); and may be understood of the sustentation of David, both in a providential way, with respect to his being, the preservation of it, the supplies of life, and support in times of trouble and distress; and in a spiritual sense, maintaining the principle of grace in him, furnishing him with fresh supplies of grace, and bearing him up under and through every temptation and exercise; so upholding him that he stood firm in the true grace of God, in the exercise of it implanted, and in the doctrine of grace, so as to go forward in the ways of God, and follow hard after him, and so as not to fall and utterly perish; and which is true of all the saints. (Read Psalm 63:8, 37:24). The words [are likewise] to be interpreted of Christ, who, as man and Mediator, as God's righteous servant, was upheld by him, so that he failed not, nor was he discouraged; the hand of the Lord was established with him, and his arm also strengthened him ( Read Isaiah 42:1,4; Psalm 89:21 )” - John Gill - 17^th Century Theologian

* 6038 `anavah an-aw-vaw - condescension, human and subjective (modesty), or divine and objective (clemency):--gentleness, humility, meekness - Source - Strong’s Concordance
** 11 Clothe you with the armour of God, that ye be able to stand against the ambushings [or the assailings,] of the devil. 12 For striving, or battle, is not to us against flesh and blood, but against [the] princes and potentates, against governors of the world of these darknesses, against spiritual things of wickedness, in heavenly things 13 Therefore take ye the armour of God, that ye be able to against-stand in the evil day; and in all things stand perfect. 14 Therefore stand ye, and be girded about your loins in soothfastness, and clothed with the habergeon of rightwiseness, 15 and your feet shod in making ready of the gospel of peace. 16 In all things take ye the shield of faith, in which ye be able to quench all the fiery darts of him that is most wicked. 17 And take ye the helmet of health, and the sword of the Ghost, that is, the word of God. - Ephesians 6:11-17 - Wycliffe Bible translation circa 1382-1395

Also note - 17. He wears righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation is upon His head, and He wears the garments of recompense - Isaiah 59:17 - Aramaic Translation