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Afflictions are but the shadow of His wings.
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seeingjesus-heidi.blogspot.com
(George MacDonald, The Curate of
Glaston)
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The above pictorial illustration
immediately tells the viewers the motherly instinct of the hen to protect its
chicks!
We have an amazing
God Who uses ordinary examples of life to illustrate huge points; like wings
and feathers are often used in His Word for comfort to His people in times of
turmoil, devastation and deep trouble. If someone is raised in a farm these
words speaks volume. Little chicks when there is an alarm they fly quickly and
find rest and protection under the wings of its mother hen. The warmth of the
mother and the tender care of the mother comforts them and this is an amazing
illustration for the tender loving care of our heavenly Father. No other passage in the Bible can be this
descriptive relating to the above picture of the protective instinct of the
mother hen to God’s love for His children like Psalm 91. All of us who go
through emotional roller coasters if we are believers in Christ we have a hope:
the hope is still in spite of our situation and circumstances we can sing under
the shadow of His wings!
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most
High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say
of the Lord, He is my refuge and
my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall
deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He
shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his
truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that
wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and
ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only
with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
The above verses 1-8 of Psalm 91, shows the great truth in general: that is all
those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under the
protection of God, and therefore may preserve a holy serenity, quietness and
security of their mind and emotions at all times. Trials and tribulations are
part of the package of Christian life, but if we have the assurance that Jesus
Christ is with us, then indeed we can sing under the shadow of His wings as
according to Psalm 91. Holy Serenity, quietness, and security of the mind and
emotions are possible even in these turbulent times.
The
spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan,
which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is
a noisome pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of
danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall
keep them from being unduly afraid1.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy
habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall
any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his
angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They
shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou
shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou
trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my
name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will
be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With
long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Though one goes through trials and tribulations,
when we know Jesus is by our side, sympathizing and empathizing with our
situation our burdens are light. We know in Him these afflictions are made
light and we know they are temporary. Though it is hurting when we are under
the shadow of His wings, though we are crushed we are not perished. There is a
huge contrast between a genuine believer when they goes through trials and a
wicked man who has no hope.
An article supposedly reported in a
national magazine, though not true, provides a penetrating parable picture of
God's wings. After a forest fire in a national park, so the story goes, forest
rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One
ranger found a dead bird in the ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at
the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the
bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under
their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending
disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them
under her wings. She could have flown to safety but refused to abandon her
babies. When the blaze arrived and the heat singed her small body, the mother
remained steadfast.
This may not be a true story, but we
can imagine the protective instinct of mother hen, covering the chicks under
her wings. The powerful image of a mother hen and her nurturing female image is
related to God’s love for His own. The true story is the life of Jesus Christ
on this planet earth and His dying love on the cross for humanity. So, what is
said in Psalm 91, is very true because of the cross and we can sing under the
protective shadow of His wings.
God’s
mercy and grace are never ending when we are under the shadow of his wings, and
that is only for those who want to make their home under His wings. Jesus in
His earthly ministry used this illustration for Jerusalem which killed prophets
and stoned them and gave an invitation with tremendous love to bring the people
under the shadow of God’s wings. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matt:
23:37.
Let us look at a very bad scenario: A
spouse always being angry with his or her better half for no real solid
reason. Bible has some pretty strong
words against being angry without a reason. Anger is the response to a real or
perceived attack, but it meets the challenge by pushing harder in return. The result is increased loneliness and a
sense of futility. No one stands closer than the spouse, and very often our
spouses become the object of our anger and hatred! Anger is an emotion, and if
not rightly used this emotion becomes a demand for immediate vengeance. It is
an evil desire to make someone pay for the emptiness, unfairness, and the
cruelty of life. Anger says, “If I
suffer, then you will suffer too. If I get kicked by life, then I will kick
someone who is weaker and smaller in an attempt to bear the rage I feel toward
the strong.”
Even if someone is
caught in a marriage with a similar situation, the protective instinct of God
for a genuine believer is available to guard and protect our emotions undamaged.
The vulnerable person in marriage will be protected beneath the strong, tender
wings of the Almighty God, and in the shadow of God’s wings one finds perfect
loving protection. God is able to safely hold that person near His heart,
freeing that person from fear of destruction, to love and serve Him with
abandon delight.
22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his
brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall
say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever
shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there
thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother,
and then come and offer thy gift.
The shadow of God’s wings may be
confined, cramped, and may be very dark than one expected, because it is very
hard to see the horizon when one is in that shadow, because in our human nature
we want to stretch our own wings and soar on our own strength. Now we can
understand what the Psalmist meant by 1Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul
trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until
these calamities be overpast; Ps: 57:1. Even if we
feel our sufferings are bigger, life threatening some times, suffocating, and
unbearable, God’s nurturing wings and grace are much bigger than this.
2 But unto you that fear my
name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye
shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall; Mal:4:2.
This Word of God is very encouraging because God gives us shelter, guards us,
and teaches us how to trust Him and be abandon to Him and Him alone. He even
gives us the grace to sing in spite of the situation under the shadow of His
wings!
Below is a Biblical narrative of singing under the shadow of His wings.
1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth
his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James
the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it
pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days
of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put
him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him;
intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter
therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church
unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him
forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two
chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And,
behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison:
and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And
his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto
him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto
him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went
out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the
angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the
first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the
city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on
through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And
when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath
delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the
people of the Jews. 12 And when he had considered the thing, he
came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where
many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at
the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And
when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in,
and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto
her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said
they, It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and
when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But
he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them
how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things
unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day,
there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And
when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and
commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to
Caesarea, and there abode. 20 And Herod was highly displeased
with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having
made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their
country was nourished by the king's country. 21 And upon a set
day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration
unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice
of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the
Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms,
and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and
multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem,
when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname
was Mark.
May the
Spirit of God minister to us and may we find out in our lives that He is able
to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is
the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know
the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all
the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
End notes:
Read Psalms 91 commentary using Matthew Henry Commentary on
the Whole Bible (Complete). Study the bible online using commentary on Psalms 91 and more!
Website References:
Read Psalms 91 commentary using Matthew Henry Commentary on
the Whole Bible (Complete). Study the bible online using commentary on Psalms 91 and more!
Bible commentary about Psalm 91
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary).
... Christ Notes > Bible Commentary
> Matthew Henry’s Commentary > Psalm
> Psalm 91. Matthew Henry ...
biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/psalms/91.htm
Bible > Matthew Henry's Commentary
> Psalm 91 ... Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry Bible Hub ...
For further reading:
1. Millard J.
Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House: 1983-85.
2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a
Healthy Church in the 21st Century. 1996.
3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1979.
4.
Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
5. Robert P Lightner. Handbook
of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and
Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986.
6.
Charles Ryrie.
Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999.
7. A. H. Strong. Systematic
Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907.
8. Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical
Doctrine. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1994.
9. Steven W.
Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An
Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007.
10. John Theodore
Muller, Th.D. Christian Dogmatics,
A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen. St.
Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934.
11. Prayers To Move Your Mountains.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000.
12. John White. Parables, the
Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois: Inter varsity Press, 1988, 1999.
13. ESV Study Bible. English
Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois: Publishing ministry
of Good News publishers, 2008.
14. The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version. Iowa falls: World
Bible Publishers, Inc. 1990.
