One of the great and wondrous themes of the Bible reassures us that God is our refuge and fortress, our shelter and protection, our strength and covering in times of danger.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge (Ps 91:4)
The psalmist undoubtedly has an specific bird in mind. This bird senses danger and protectively spreads out its wings while chicks quickly take cover underneath where they are safe and sheltered. While in Israel my friend and tour guide Sarai took my hand and led me to a tree in the Golan Heights. She pointed out a local bird that the psalmist could have been referring to. She explained that the wings of this birds are comprised of many, many bones and dense feathers to provide shelter, nourishment, and even a hiding place in the presence of enemies. So when the psalmist parallels God covering us as with His wings, it is more than a warm place to dwell… it could actually spare your life.
I don’t want to have a Bette Midler moment and break out into The Wind Beneath My Wings (I’ve watched Beaches more times than I can count and still cry), but really, my mother is pretty darn awesome. She, like God, spread out her wings to protect my sister and I during a alley shootout in 1984. Check it out…
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