Singing under the shadow of His wings!

Afflictions are but the shadow of His wings.

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(George MacDonald, The Curate of Glaston)

 

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:

¹Psalms 91 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the ...

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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 21^st 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.