Fringe Benefits--Our Sun and Shield

Chapter Fifteen
Fringe Benefits—Our Sun and Shield

Psalms 84: 11. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

I have heard it termed of service for our Lord, “The pay isn’t all that great, but the fringe benefits are out of this world”. How true that catchy little phrase is! Although we are the benefactors of YAH’s goodness, we are not guaranteed the best life can offer all the time. We must be willing to accept the bad with the good. There is great truth to the observation of our Lord through Matthew in 5: 45. “YAH makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Even so, while we are in this life, Yahweh, the majestic God of Israel, is our light. He is ever-shinning His light to brighten the paths we walk according to His leading. He is ever-protecting us along the way as our Shield and Defender. Yahweh is as He promised Abram in Genesis 15: 1. “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward”. He truly is as the Psalmists literally mean—our “splendid shield”.

While we are in this life, Yahweh bestows upon us His “glorious grace”. He blesses us with His gracious kindness. We are precious in His sight, His little children. We have the beauty of His favor. The presence of His Spirit is pleasant indeed. We are well favored in His sight. He rains down upon us His majesty, splendor, and honor—in abundance. For those that truly call upon His name, the splendor of His favor is according to His words through John in 10: 10. “I came that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.”

While we are in this life, Yahweh doesn’t fail to bestow upon his upright anything that is good. Over and over, He has been quick to reward these with His benevolent providence. It is David that sang in Psalms 34: 9-10, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

But, when this life is over, and our work on earth is done, when our trials are forever behind us, we will become the recipients of our “out of this world”, fringe benefits. We will no longer trek through our “Valley of Baca”. Sorrow, tears, and pain will be a part of a distant past. It will be as Isaiah wrote in 65: 17. “For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”

For those of His faithful, remnant few, our Inheritance will be as Isaiah spoke of in 60: 19-20. “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you and everlasting light, and Yahweh your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.”

In that day, the land of promise will be ours for eternity. Yahweh will be our eternal shield. For His faithful, remnant few, the reward will be as Isaiah continued in vv. 21-22. “Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation. I, Yahweh, will hasten it in its time.”


In that day, it will be as Isaiah wrote in 66: 22-23. “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, says Yahweh, so shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says Yahweh.” So, live uprightly in His presence in all humility of heart, without false pride and self-piety, and be gloriously encouraged, from now throughout eternity.

Click Here For More Psalms 84 Treasures