‘In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ (Eph 6:16)
The Roman shield was called a scutum and was as large as a door. It covered the soldier entirely and therefore protected the soldier’s whole body. When fighting as a group, a phalanx of soldiers could position their shields so that they made an enclosure around themselves (called a ‘testudo’, or ‘tortoise.‘) In doing this, the whole group was protected from the flaming arrows launched from the walls of the cities they were attacking.
Faith is our best defence against the schemes, tactics and strategies of the enemy. Our temptation is to rely on our own skills and ingenuity in times of trouble, but God wants us to live by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) Faith looks for the invisible and believes God’s promises, even when we do not understand His actions or ways. One translation has brought the idea of flaming arrows up to date by talking about missiles – launched afar off and not seen until they come exploding into our lives, shattering our peace and disturbing our certainties. Faith protects us in difficult times and helps us to see life as God sees it, secure in His sovereignty and goodness.