FIERY DARTS

I was reading in a couple of different places and the subject of this discussion came to mind. Did you know that in the Bible Jeremiah wrote a book with his own name and another that he called Lamentations. Another word for a lamentation is a Jeremaid. It's an interesting word. This discussion or treatise could be called a Jeremaid -- a complaint with a lesson.
I read the following Scripture in the book of Ephesians,.. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
And in other Scriptures -- the Book of Mormon… "And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."
And further in the Doctrine and Covenants… "Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble."
"Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; "
What exactly are fiery darts? I have given quite a bit of thought on the subject. For that reason I am writing this Jeremaid. I'm not sure many people are worried about fiery darts. Are they just simply parables or imagery or are they based in actual fact -- and then what?
I want to discuss what I found out and what I believe about fiery darts. I did like a lot of other people do -- Google the Internet. I got a few hits, people's opinions, but not what I was looking for. Some authorities on the subject, thought a fiery dart would be like a flaming arrow. In fact, that was the most prevalent idea or thought. In times past I read of another possibility. I know that I have read it in more than one place, but I must apologize that I do not know to whom to give credit for the idea that I like the best. It was a writer of Western novels. His fiery darts were described in excruciating detail while explaining and illustrating how one tribe of Indians tortured a captured individuals from another tribe, a different tribe. The captured enemy man/warrior was tied to a tree, stripped of garments, and mercilessly tortured and harassed -- the worst of it being "fiery darts".
The captors searched out a tree full of oozing pitch, cut out little "darts" -- small pieces of wood saturated with pitch,and prepared to torture and torment their captives. They probably had a cooking fire upon which they prepared their meals and it became perfect for the following scenario.
Grab your bow in one hand, placed a pitch saturated stick into the cooking fire, and when it bursts into flame, shoot it into the flesh of their captive. It depends upon the force exerted on the bow as to how far into the skin and flesh the fiery dart would penetrate. It really didn't matter how deep because the flames would consume the dart and sear and scorch the flesh! Even after the dart burned down to the skin it would smolder and cause the flesh to erupt in burns and boils! Time and again fiery darts would be shot into the captive. It only made things better for the captors if the captive screamed and howled and cried for mercy. Imagine the scene in your mind's eye. A captive warrior stripped naked, tied with arms bent back, wrenching the shoulders backwards, standing with as much dignity as possible, leering at his captors. Them holding their bows and dancing, hollering vile insults and shouting with glee at their captives pain and suffering. Wouldn't that get under your skin, even if the fiery dart didn't? You gotta know that those captors are the adversary, the wicked. At that moment they are the foe. And at that moment they are getting under your skin -- annoying, bugging, inveigling their way into your thoughts and actions, perhaps even changing your behavior. They are your enemy. They are not trying to make you comfortable. What should you do to avoid the fiery darts?
One of the above quoted Scriptures states that you should put on the armor of faith. Armor would stop little tiny fiery darts that is true. Having tough skin would help a little bit in stopping slurs and barbs and invectives hurled in your direction. The armor of faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ can turn away those fiery darts. Being strong in the gospel of Jesus Christ and walking in the steps he would have you follow can keep those irritating little fiery darts from getting under your skin. Ward off the fiery darts of the adversary and the wicked by following the true Savior of this world, Jesus Christ.