UNDER HIS WINGS

He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises

are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:4 NLT

We raised chickens on the SD farm where I grew up. They freely roamed wherever they wanted to during the day and then spent the night in the chicken coop where most of them also laid their eggs. But often there would be one or two hens that would be missing for about three weeks or so and then show up with a brood of little chicks. They had laid their eggs in the weeds somewhere and hatched them. Little chicks out in the open were in danger of hawks. But when the mother hen spotted the hawk she would sound an alarm and the little chicks would come running to hide under her wings. This is a symbol of God’s protection for His children, and is used repeatedly in His Word.

The first reference to coming under God’s wings for protection is found in the book of Ruth when she said to Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”(a) Boaz, who later became Ruth’s husband says to Ruth, “May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”(b) Coming under God’s wings is a choice we make; it is not something that happens automatically. When we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we come under His wings.

David, seeking God’s protection, prayed, “Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”(c) “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”(d) “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.”(e) “Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!”(f) “Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.”(g)

The Lord’s promise is that “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”(h) He invites us, indeed calls us, to come under the shelter of His wings. With tears Jesus said to Jerusalem “How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”(i) May we not be like the children of Jerusalem, but respond to our Lord’s loving desire to cover us with His wings, where we will be perfectly safe.

Join me in this old familiar hymn:

Under His wings I am safely abiding,

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,

He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Refrain:
Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.
Refrain:
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain:
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,

Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.(j)

Footnotes:
(a)Ruth 1:16, (b) Ruth 2:12, (c) Psalm 17:8, (d) Psalm 36:7 NIV, (e) Psalm 57:1, (f) Psalm 61:4, (g) Psalm 63:7, (h) Psalm 91:4, (i) Matthew 23:37, (j) William O. Cushing.
All unmarked references are NLT.


“AT WHAT AGE WERE YOU BORN AGAIN?” Click your age bracket. The NEW POLL appears at the upper right side of this Blog, - Please cast your vote.

If today’s promise and comments have been meaningful to you – don’t hesitate to leave a comment. (Single space gives best appearance.)

You can e-mail this page by clicking on the envelope at the bottom of this page.