larshaukeland

10 Under His wings

Encouragement for difficult days (10):
UNDER HIS WINGS

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. “
Psalm 91:1

In 1892 D.L. Moody sailed home from England to the States with his family after a year of intensive work. Three das after leaving Southampton, the ship halted with a broken shaft, starting to take in water. Everybody was worried for two whole days when Moody asked to hold a meeting on the ship. Nearly everybody attended. He opened his Bible and read from Psalm 91. God answered Moody’s prayer and sent a tow vessel to get them to port. They had indeed been put “under His wings” (Psalm 91:4).

Being under Gods wings doesn’t mean that God has the appearance of a physical bird with wings, but he cares for us and protects us by raining an invisible wall around us. Just like a hen will protect her chickens by placing her wings over them, the good Lord puts His everlasting arms around us who trust in Him.

The Old Testament Jews talked of another type of wings. Where was the secret place of the Most High? In the tabernacle, the holiest of holies was the most secret place. In the tabernacle, there was an outer court where sacrifices were made, then there was a holy place where the priests burned their incense, and there was the holiest of holies where the ark of the covenant was kept. Over the ark was a mercy seat where two cherubims and their wings overshadowed the ark.

In the Old Testament days, only the high priest was allowed to enter the holiest of holies, and that only once a year. Today, after Jesus’ death at Calvary, any Christian can come in close communion with the Father and enter into the holiest of holies after Jesus has pulled down the walls between men and God. Today, both you and me are invited by God to come to him in the secret place and enjoy the intimacy with our Savior under His protecting wings.

Then, of course, there are the famous words of the devil when he tried to tempt our Lord in the desert are also found in this psalm.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
(Psalm 91:11-12)

These are wonderful promises to the believer, but is not to be misused. We are not in position to demand anything of the Lord, but in his loving kindness, He does offer us protections through life’s storms and billows. As we surrender completely to Him, He will not let us down. God gives us more than we can ever give back to Him.