Shields, and Praise Hoops 
In some regions, including our own, many people refer to the tabret as a shield. While we do not have a problem with this, we personally feel they are two separate objects. Jeanette Strauss, who has been in this ministry much longer than we have, feels the same way. She said that when she sought the Lord on this question that the Holy Spirit told her the spiritual significance would be in their names. The tabret is an offensive weapon according to most of the scriptures pertaining to its use in the Word. The shield, on the other hand, is a defensive weapon in the spiritual realm. Both are necessary, and both are powerful weapons of spiritual warfare in the hands of a believer.
The purpose of a shield is to provide defense and protection. The word "shield" is used throughout the Bible - and is found in both the Old and New Testaments. One definition of a shield is "a shield, a protector, defense, to strike, a crushing". The Lord continually tells us that He will take up our cause and He will be our shield. Below are just a few of the many, many references on shields.
Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."
2 Samuel 22:3 "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."
Psalm 3:3 "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Psalm 119:114 "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."
Ephesians 6:16 " Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
It would seem appropriate to talk about the "praise hoop", also known as a "glory hoop", here. While the praise hoop is an instrument of praise and worship it is not the same as the tabret or the shield. A praise hoop does not have the symbolic cloth insert within the hoop itself, therefore it does not necessarily represent a name or attribute of God. Never the less, it is being used by the person to express their joy and love unto the Lord in praise and worship.
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