HELP! I need a wing!
Hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.
Psalm 17:8b-9 (ESV)
When I imagine what I would do if I were ever under attack, I have never once thought of hiding underneath a wing. Slipping behind a big wall, hiding under a bed, or just running like a madwoman? Of course! But hiding in the shadow of a wing? Never.
David wrote Psalm 17 as a prayer of protection when he faced significant adversity at this time in his life. So why ask God to hide him in the shadow of His wing? Wouldn’t you want something physically bigger and stronger?
My animal-loving eight-year-old informed me that mama birds put their babies under their wings for several reasons: protection from predators, shelter from the weather, and warmth. When David was asking God to hide him in the shadow of His wing, he wasn’t merely asking for physical protection. David sought comfort from the God who cared for him.
How would scary situations in our lives look different if we sought the gentle protection and comfort that only God can provide—instead of the “obvious” solution?
I don’t know about you, but next time I am under attack, I will first seek the warmth and protection of my loving Father. It sure beats running like a madwoman any day!
Lord, help us seek refuge under Your wing in times of fear. Amen.
Leslie L. Bowers
