“A Shield About Me & the Enigma of a Gentle Rock”

Psa. 18:2  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

Psa. 18:30 ¶  As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Psa. 18:35  You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great.

In Psalm 18 David introduces a new word to the description of the Shield About Us – Salvation. What do we know of this word in this context and what does it teach us about how we may think of this word today?