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
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:
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.