Israelites used two kinds of shields:

1. SHIELD: A large 'door size' body shield known as "tsinnah" that was
adapted to cover the whole body.  The Greek word "thyreos" derived
from the word door "tyra."  This was carried by the heavily armed
infantry soldiers and would protect them from the initial onslaught of
arrows bombarded at the front lines.  Goliath carried a shield of this
type that was so heavy it required a shield bearer. 1 Samuel 17:7

2. BUCKLER: A small shield (magen=buckler KJV) was carried by the
archers.  This shield was fitted on the arm so that the soldier could
move about and still have the shield ready.  These small shields were
constructed of wicker or light wood and covered with either leather,
or bronze.  Unfortunately the KJV often confused the translation of
these two weapons.

In the spiritual realm Paul enlightens our spiritual warfare by
informing us that we are to use the "shield (thyreos) of faith to
quench all the firey darts of the wicked one."   It is important to
notice that the shield is not just one more piece of armor to be
attached.  He says,  "ABOVE ALL take the shield of faith."


1. It is not our shield but GOD'S shield for us.
   Psalm 3:3 "Thou art a shield for me."
   Psalm 119:114 "Thou art my hiding place and my shield."
   Psalm 5:12 "Thou wilt compass him as with a shield."


2. It is not a singular shield nor a small 'magen' it is both a body
shield and an arm shield.   He is our "Shield and Buckler."

   Genesis 15:1 "Abram, I am thy shield and great reward."
   Psalm 28:7 "He is our Strength and Shield"
   Psalm 33:20 "He is my Help and Shield."
   Psalm 84:11 "He is my Sun and Shield." *
   Psalm 119:114 He is my Hiding Place and Shield."


3. What is the shield?  It is not made by us of wood or stubble. It is
God's Truth.   It is composed of the promises of the word of God.  It
is by those promises that we must FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.

   Psalm 91:4 "His truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

* Often shields were polished to a bright shine so that the sun would
reflect off of them blinding the enemy. In the same way the "brightness
of His glory" or the Shekinah glory, so radiates from us as we pray that
like Moses' whose face glowed, so we glow His presence into the enemy's
eyes, thus blinding his attempts to aim fiery darts. 

It is with this shield of faith that we are able to QUENCH ALL the
fiery darts of the wicked on.  

What are the fiery darts that the "devil" shoots at us when we pray? 
Are they not all the thoughts and distractions to keep us from looking 
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (our shield).

Psalm 91

"1 He that dwelleth in the SECRET PLACE of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my
REFUGE and my FORTRESS: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall
deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. 4 He shall COVER THEE with his feathers, and under his wings
shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy SHIELD AND BUCKLER."  Ps 91