Finding Shelter in the Shadow of His wings
Recently, our SIU team met virtually and we found ourselves referring to the book of Psalms and its beautiful poetry. The Story of David running from King Saul in the deserts of Judea is a familiar one to many of us. (You can find it in its entirety in 1 Samuel.) David experienced and wrote much of the Psalms while he ran from King Saul and hid in the desert and in caves seeking shelter and safety from his pursuers. David proclaims of the Lord in Psalm 36:5-7 (NLT):
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.”
What an amazing passage of poetry! David was truly in survivor mode running for his life, but he never forgot who he worshiped, who is ultimately above it all, and is all and controls all. It is clear in David’s writings that all humanity finds shelter in the shadow of God’s wings. I love the imagery…wings covering us just like a mother bird covers her young.
In All Types and Times of Trouble
At another point David says in Psalm 46:1-2 (NLT):
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.”
Trouble in the form of the earth quaking and mountains crumbling into the sea are big disastrous events. These events might be just as troublesome, or even more so, than a global pandemic. To me, the prophet David is making it clear in these sections of poetry that the Lord will be with us in ALL types and times of trouble.
God Is Our Rock
David also makes it clear God hides us in the day of trouble as stated in Psalm 27:5 (NLV):
“For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His holy tent. In the secret place of His tent He will hide me. He will set me high upon a rock.”
For those of us who know and follow the Lord Jesus, His spirit lives within us and He is with us and we are always with Him in His holy tent. David also says, “He will lift us up on high and upon a rock.” We know from other passages in Psalms that God is our rock, our shelter and our strong tower of refuge.
Deadly Disease
David even goes further in another passage of poetry which specifically talks to disease and disaster in Psalm 91:1-6 (NLT):
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.”
Wow! The description David used in this passage for all types of trouble specifically includes disease, possibly like a global pandemic. We should take note of this. In times of heavy duress, chaos and major conflict we can rest in the Lord’s promises.
Rock and Refuge
I also find great comfort in David’s words in Psalm 62:5-8 (NIV):
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”
Ahh…the repetition of “rock” and “refuge” in poetic form are honey to my lips and just what I need right now. Hopefully they give you comfort and hope as well. We know eventually David returns from the caves and deserts of Judea to lead Israel (at the end of 1 Samuel) as its rightful King and that God fulfills His promises to David. And then eventually a successor from the line of David comes to rescue all of us…King Jesus! For now, we rest in the Lord as King David did and we know He will never leave us, never forsake us and He is returning soon to establish His eternal Kingdom! Let’s seek Him and rest in Him until He returns.
Stay Connected
Hopefully this post encourages you. Thank you for connecting with Scriptures In Use, our Partners and all the Lord’s work happening in oral cultures around the world. Please feel free to ask or leave any questions or comments to this post. We look forward to hearing from you!
Scriptures In Use - 2020
Outstanding scriptures for the unprecedented times we are experiencing. It’s like the Lord is hitting the reset button for everyone to be calm, look and listen for HIM.
A special time to unite with family, support each other , love on each other. God Is With Us.
Greetings Stan,
Your comments are so true and right on target! Thanks for reading and engaging in this blog and providing your insights to these challenging times we are going through. Our Lord will guide us through them and will use it for HIS ultimate good purposes.
God bless, Kent
Excellent source of encouragement for me and my team. Thank you for the insights from the poetry book. God bless all those who are reading.
Thank you and that’s so good to hear, Daniel. We are praying for you, your family and your ministry and the Lord to guide and protect us in the shadow of His wings just like He did with the prophet David. God bless, Kent
Thanks for sending us to the Bible for our comfort. We all need to be encouragers now.
Thank you, Dennis. Sitting and resting in the Word is a great place for all of us to be right now. Praying for you, Eileen and your entire family. God bless, Kent
Exactly I am reading the book of 1 Samuel, Updated in FB some time back. It is really heart touching and comforting our spirit. Thank you for the good references.. God bless all the readers.
Thank you brother Daniel. So glad you are spending time with Lord in His Word and being encouraged. We are praying for you, your families and your ministries during this time and that your faith is increasing and that God will multiply our Kingdom focused resources!
God bless, Kent