Shield of David

Often called the “Star of David,” Magen David translates into English as “Shield of David.” 

Recently while reading a book on the subject of occult symbols I came across the “Shield of David” listed among the many other “Satanic” symbols. The author proposed the argument that this ancient symbol originated from Egypt and was used in the sacrificial worship of an Egyptian deity. This argument is of course the zealous step-brother to the argument that says Christians shouldn't celebrate Christmas on the date of 25 December; the same argue that we shouldn't celebrate G-d on any pagan day. I find this somewhat ignorant and extremely unconvincing, due to the fact that if we were to follow this logic we would also have to discontinue celebrating the Jewish festivals outlined in the Torah, many of which take place on ancient pagan days of worship, are they also illegitimate days of worship? Let us also say as some have said that “Sunday should not be held as a day of worship because it belongs to the worship of the sun.” What utter nonsense, do the days not belong to G-d? We call them Yom Rishon (day one), Yom sheni, Yom shlishi and so on, they are numbered after the days of His creating thus signifying that all days belong to Hashem—God. Is there then a day upon which it is an error to worship G-d? Absolutely not!

Let us return to the insanity of listing the “Shield of David” as an occult symbol. If we are to determine a symbol’s current meaning from its past, we must also list the “Cross” among the symbols of the occult/false religions, as it predates Christianity by approximately 1,600 years and was used in the worship of the Babylonian deity Tammuz.

In conclusion I will say this, our Rabbis teach us that Magen David is fashioned in the shape of David’s shield and is representative of the relationship between G-d and Israel, the triangle  pointing upward symbolizing humanity and the triangle pointing downward symbolizing G-d, the unity of these triangles speaks of a right relationship between G-d and man. Surely as Messianic believers we can see a wonderful representation of the gospel of Messiah in this truly Jewish symbol of faith. In addition, Yeshua died on a cross, tree, pole; so why not use the cross as a symbol of His suffering, the empty cross as a symbol of His resurrection? 

© 2013 Yaakov Brown