Feathers

He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge…Psalm 91:4a

Feathers? Wings? Why did God chose this avian metaphor to describe His protective nature toward His people?

Think about what Jesus said to the citizens of Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…”

I believe He chose this metaphor because He wants you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He longs to wrap you up His arms, vigilantly guarding you as He keeps a watchful eye over you.

Sadly, the final comment from Jesus’ lips in Matthew 23:37 was this: “…but you were unwilling!” You see, God is a free-will Being, and because of that He respects the free will of each human to choose, reject, or ignore Him, even at the risk of their safety, both now and eternally. But I’m not focusing on subject today, so let’s move on.

What a comfort it is to trust Him as you go through life, knowing that He is near, alert, ready to swoop in to cover you with His protective wings! The more you meditate on this fact, the less fearful you will be when confronted with unsettling thoughts, news, conversations or events. Why? Because you have purposefully made your home in the secret place, becoming increasingly familiar with His loving, mindful heart toward you, and growing in confidence in His protective guardianship.

And if you think you need to be a Bible “guru” to access this awesome protection, think again! A friend of mine shared a story about a relatively new believer she knew who found herself in dire straits, fearing for her life. She believed the Lord loved her and wanted to rescue her from her dilemma, but she couldn’t bring any Scripture to mind. All she could think of was a verse that said something about feathers. Mustering her courage, she cried out to God, “FEATHERS!!” The danger dissipated, and she was safe.

Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t; when you make the Lord your dwelling place and abide under the shadow of His wings, no matter whether you’re proficient or not in the ins and outs of doctrine, He is bonded to you and committed to protect His own who cry out to Him in faith.

Be really glad—He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge!

Dorothy

© Dorothy Frick, 2021