They were natives of Georgia and Kansas, and presumably crossed paths in or around 1980. We might also guess that Donn Thomas (the Georgian) and Charles Williams (from Kansas) were both reading from the same set of texts when they collaborated to write “A Shield About Me”, drawing on the poetry of the famous Israelite King David, one anonymous writer, and perhaps even God, for their inspiration. What was it these two 20th Century poets-musicians were facing that prompted their own coordinated thoughts? Could they have also been drawing on the moods and events that were in progress for others surrounding them? Something drew their attention to ancient verses, something that they thought spoke to peoples across the centuries trying to live with the things that just won’t go away. What is it about troublesome issues that I cannot resolve? Am I too dependent on what ‘me, myself, and I’ can control? What does someone do, or where can one turn when the realization dawns that my control is really not mine? ‘Better start hunting for the source of real control’, someone might advise.
Donn was apparently the one who learned of God’s protection, His shield, at an early age, making one think that his may have been the encounter that provided a spark for the song that he and Williams later wrote. He had an illness (spinal meningitis) that doctors said was terminal at the age of nine, and yet he recovered. His mother’s prayers and a call to ministry that Donn said he heard delivered personally from God were the major factors that he would tell us allowed him to survive. A friend (LaVoughn, later his wife by 1972) also provided encouragement that reportedly was a key to his recovery. Although Charles had no such obvious and momentous life-threatening event in his early years, his musical skills were honed early and often, such that one might say God was likewise preparing him for what was to come. His experiences in high school under the guidance of two instructors were the stepping stones to performing with many noted musicians, as well as his entry into music ministry in multiple venues in the Kansas City area. Donn’s musical career was also guided with help, like Charles’, and he eventually produced albums and likewise grew into formal music ministry in his native area. The poetry the two men accessed for ‘A Shield…’ reflected their deep and abiding reliance on scripture. Both of them likely knew of David’s psalms (3, 5, 7, 18, 28, 59, and 144), in which this poet-king called out to his Divine Shield in one episode after another. An anonymous poet (Psalm 91) and even God’s own testimony (Genesis 15:1) could also have spurred Donn and Charles to mimic their poetic predecessors. Something in both their experiences spoke to them and said He was ‘a shield about me’, and ‘the lifter of my head’. This ‘glory’, they felt, was Him as their ever-present protector, the One whom they lauded with a recurring ‘hallelujah’.
A shield says two things, when I use it, that Donn and Charles must have implicitly recognized. I can expect something to test me, even try to destroy me. And so, I may know that I’m not strong enough to counter this threat, if I am wise – or scared – enough to admit it. Then, I can either cower or call upon my Protector. Donn and Charles, drawing upon their own experiences and those around them, must have on more than one occasion reasoned with their hearers and fellow worshippers that using the Shield is the only option that makes sense. I cannot stop what is coming, namely health challenges and eventually life’s end. He’s real, and this universe’s testimony and all those who’ve staked their lives on His truth are firm, reliable evidence of Him. He’s got the shield. Will you use it?
Biographies on the two authors are here: https://hymnary.org/hymn/LUYH2013/382
Some background documents and scripture references for the song are here: https://hymnary.org/hymn/LUYH2013/382
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