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 them that walk uprightly.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Divine Attributes and Covenant Faithfulness
The imagery of God as "sun" was particularly significant given ancient Near Eastern sun worship. Egyptians worshiped Ra, the sun god. Canaanites venerated Shamash. Yet Psalm 84 declares that Yahweh—not a created celestial object—is the true source of light and life. God created the sun (Genesis 1:16) and uses it to reveal His glory (Psalm 19:1-6), but He Himself is the ultimate light. Isaiah prophesied that in the new creation, "the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:19), and Revelation declares that New Jerusalem needs no sun because "the Lamb is the light thereof" (Revelation 21:23).
The promise "no good thing will he withhold" must be understood within covenant relationship. It doesn't guarantee material prosperity regardless of behavior but promises God's faithful provision for those who walk uprightly. Throughout Scripture, walking with integrity characterizes those who genuinely know God (Genesis 17:1, Psalm 15:2, Proverbs 10:9, Micah 6:8). This isn't works-righteousness but recognition that faith produces obedience. Those who truly trust God demonstrate it by walking in His ways.
Paul quotes this principle in Romans 8:32: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" If God gave His greatest treasure (Christ), He won't withhold lesser gifts. Yet "all things" means everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), not every desired luxury. God's "no good thing withheld" operates according to His perfect wisdom, not our finite preferences. What He gives is always good; what He withholds would harm us even when we think we want it.
The early church experienced this paradox. While facing persecution, poverty, and martyrdom, they testified that God withheld no good thing. Paul, imprisoned and facing execution, wrote: "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). The supreme "good thing" is knowing Christ; everything else is relatively worthless. When God gives Himself (sun), protects His people (shield), confers grace and glory, He has given everything truly valuable.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God function as both "sun" (giving life) and "shield" (protecting from danger) in believers' experience?
- What does it mean that God "will give grace and glory," and how are these gifts related to each other?
- How should the promise "no good thing will he withhold" be understood when believers experience hardship, loss, or unanswered prayer?
- What does it mean to "walk uprightly" (with integrity), and how is this related to receiving God's promised blessings?
- How does knowing Christ as the ultimate "good thing" help us trust God's wisdom when He withholds things we think we want or need?
Analysis & Commentary
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. This verse provides theological foundation for the psalm's confident trust, listing four aspects of God's character and provision. First, "the LORD God is a sun" (Yahweh Elohim shemesh, יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים שֶׁמֶשׁ) presents God as source of light, warmth, and life. The sun was universally recognized as essential for existence—without it, plants die, cold dominates, darkness rules. Similarly, God illuminates truth, warms hearts with love, and sustains spiritual life.
Second, "and shield" (umagen, וּמָגֵן) presents God as protector in battle. A shield deflects enemy attacks, protecting vulnerable soldiers. This military imagery appears throughout Psalms (3:3, 18:2, 28:7, 33:20, 115:9-11). While "sun" emphasizes God's generosity in giving life, "shield" emphasizes His protection from threats. Together they present comprehensive care—provision and protection, blessing and defense, nourishment and safety.
Third, "the LORD will give grace and glory" (chen ve-khavod yiten Yahweh, חֵן וְכָבוֹד יִתֵּן יְהוָה). Chen (חֵן) means "grace, favor, kindness"—unmerited, freely given divine blessing. Kavod (כָבוֹד) means "glory, honor, weight"—suggesting both God's glory conferred on believers and the honor/dignity He grants His people. The imperfect verb yiten (יִתֵּן, "will give") indicates future certainty: God WILL give these gifts. His generosity is guaranteed, not speculative.
Fourth, "no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (lo-yimna tov la-holekhim be-tamim, לֹא־יִמְנַע־טוֹב לַהֹלְכִים בְּתָמִים). This is sweeping promise: God withholds NOTHING good from those whose walk is tamim (תָּמִים, "upright, blameless, with integrity"). This doesn't promise worldly success but affirms that whatever God withholds wasn't truly "good" for us. His sovereign withholding is protective love, not miserly reluctance.