Living in God's Shadow

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There are some things that are good in God that otherwise aren’t…like, for example, bearing a yoke, being the least of these, and or living in the shadows.

In the Lord, a yoke is good and easy. Being least is a quality of humility and selfless love that gives Him glory. And living in the shadows…well, it depends on whose shadow we’re talking about.

Generally, to live in someone’s shadow is to have your own person and accomplishments overlooked because another person is greater, bigger, or more noticeable. Younger siblings hear about this often –“you have a lot to live up to in the shadow of your big sister!”

But living in the shadow of God is quite the opposite.

We read over and over again in Scripture, particularly in Psalms, about taking refuge in the shadow of His wings.

What’s so different about this shadow?

The shadow of His wings is…

1. A Metaphor for His Guidance

We first read about being under God’s “wings” in Deuteronomy 32:11 in the song of Moses. The words come as a part of the tale of how God guided and cared for Moses.  

“Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.”

Have you seen how an eagle cares for its young and teaches them to fly? Eagles hover over their children, keeping them close and safe. Stirring them up, eagles encourage their children to fly but they never leave them. Their young are always in the shadow of their wing and are caught and carried when they grow weary or falter.

2. A Picture of His Presence

“I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” –Psalm 61:4

What is His tent? What is the shelter of His wings? The place of God’s presence. A place that is eternal and that is a refuge. The Hebrew word for refuge here is “chasah” and is also translated “my trust.”

I will put my trust in the shelter of your wings, the Psalmist says. I will, as chasah means, confide in your presence and trust in you for safety, we read.

Based on the word chasah, we know that taking refuge in the shadow of His wings calls us to go aside from our usual places of fear and self and this world to the place of hoping and resting fully in Him.  

3. An Example of His Protection

In Psalm 91:4, we read that: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

To be in the Lord’s presence, close to Him and relying on Him, means that you are wholly protected. You are covered as by a shield, and He’s got your back too:

“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” –Psalm 63:7

Worthy of our praise and giving us the peace that we are indeed safe from all harm, we find ourselves in such joy that we sing. When we’re under His watchful, faithful covering, we have reason and space to sing!

4. A Description of a Loving Relationship with the Lord

His guarding us and keeping us close isn’t mere obligation or instinct. The Lord’s love is far more perfect and sweet than that.

As the Psalmist wrote: “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” –Psalm 17:8

Just one verse earlier God is praised for His “lovingkindness.” Psalm 36:7 phrases it this way: “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Living in the shadows, or rather, someone else’s shadow, isn’t so bad when the shadow is the Lord’s. He is greater. The shadow He casts isn’t one we’ll ever measure up, and His isn’t over-reaching.

We find the guidance, safety, hope, joy, and the love that we need to be who we are in the Lord when we are in His presence –and to be in His presence is to be in His shadow, under His wing.

Hebrews 12:9 reminds us: “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!” To be under His wing is to be in His care, treated as one of His young.

Though pride tells us we know how to fly and protect ourselves, God knows better. God knows the best place for us is in His presence, under His wing –even though that means giving up control and pride…

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” –James 4:7-8 

There’s no better place to be. 

This post is being shared on: #TestimonyTuesday, #RaRaLinkup, Intentionally Pursuing,Titus2sday, Esther Girl, Thought-Provoking Thursday, and Faith-Filled Friday.

Have You (Re)Learned a Word Recently?

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I spent a few hours in my husband’s truck the other day helping him make a repair. It was actually a lot of fun, and I learned a new word: bezel. A bezel is a secure but removable cover for the inner parts of a car. There’s probably a bezel over your radio system and your dashboard, keeping it smooth and attractive.

It might be silly, but I really enjoy that word! I love learning new words because they push me to expand my thoughts.

Previously, I would have just called that part of the truck “the plastic part” or “the dashboard,” but those terms aren’t really accurate. When I say “bezel” the term applies very specifically. It represents the desire to keep the mess both protected and out of sight.

There’s another word that I’ve been learning the definition of recently: reveal.

Yes, I knew the term already. But as I read Daniel 2, it’s like I’m re-learning it.

In Daniel, the Lord “reveals” a whole lot.

For instance, in the NIV the chapter uses the refrain 8 times.

What does it mean to “reveal?” Often, the word used in the chapter is related to “galah” in Hebrew, which is more literally translated “uncover” or “remove.” It’s the same word used to describe the Israelites being removed, or carried away, from their land to be brought into exile in Babylon.

Though not considered so wonderful or miraculous, that, too, was orchestrated by the Lord.

Daniel 2 describes King Nebuchadnezzar having a troubling dream and growing so agitated when his best magicians and wise men couldn’t interpret it that he commanded the whole lot be put to death. But Daniel stepped up.

He didn’t know what the dream was or what it meant, but Daniel knew that He could pray to the One who did know…the one who does know.

God saw fit to uncover that which was in darkness, to cease to protect a mystery and begin to employ it instead. As Daniel received the vision and interpretation from the Lord, he began to praise God:

“He gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what lies in darkness,

and light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:

You have given me wisdom and power,

you have made known to me what we asked of you,

you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

-2:21-23

What is it that dwells in darkness these days in my life and in the lives of those I love? The One who reveals will bring all things to light! (Luke 8:17)

In verse 30, Daniel continues on, saying: “As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.”

What the Lord reveals to us isn’t about how special we are or how wise we seek to be. The mysteries of the Lord, the things hidden in darkness, the things we wonder but are afraid to ask about…these are all known to God.

His perfect will includes moments of unveiling, uncovering, and carrying us away from what we once thought into a new place that is equally a part of His plan. He reveals stuff so that we can know it, so that we can be warned, humbled, and corrected (as in Daniel 4.) But also simply that we better understand.

I’m glad I re-learned the word “reveal” recently, and even more grateful to see the Lord actively at work uncovering things formerly shrouded in darkness.

Are there any words the Lord is re-teaching you?

Happy to be linking to:  RaRaLinkup   and Testimony Tuesday!