Under His Wings

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,
"He is my refuge ...
My God, in Him I will trust." ...
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge.
~ Psalms 91:1-2,4 (NKJV)

"I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."
~ Ruth 3:9 (NKJV)

"I spread My wing over you ... Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine," says the Lord GOD.
~ Ezekiel 16:8 (NKJV)

Various accounts tell the story of a man who walks through the site of a recent fire and finds the remains of a charred bird, still fixed in a position with partially outstretched wings. The curious man prods the remains with his foot, and three live baby birds scamper out. The mother had instinctively gathered her own under her wings to protect them, even at the cost of her life.

The well-known image of a hen gathering chicks under her wing finds tender expression between man and wife, between God and His people. The psalmist knows that whatever threatens—danger, disease, death, despair—we have relationship with our God in which we find protection and provision when we abide close to Him, under His wings.

Never did a more clear picture exist of that protection and provision than when Jesus stretched out His arms upon a cross to shield us from the fire of hell, and to shield us from death by dying Himself.

Lord, thank You for including us in the people You call, "Mine." Thank You for the abundance and security we find in the bosom of Your Word and under the wings of Your Spirit. Thank You for the shelter of Your blood, under which death cannot touch us. Thank You for eternal life.

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