His Wings for Protection
I’m sure
you all know how to play the game “Eagle Catches Chicks”. The person playing the role of the
mother hen spreads her arms just like wings and tries desperately to ward off
the attacks of the person playing the eagle, protecting the row of people behind
her back acting as chicks from being captured by the eagle. The most thrilling
moments of the game are when the eagle is able to catch the chicks who don’t
follow the hen closely. Those chicks that hide right behind their mother are much
harder to be caught. Those that wander farther from the protective wings of the
hen are more easily taken by the eagle.
Jesus
Christ said to the Jews who rejected Him, "O
Jerusalem, … how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
God sent His Son to earth and called often on people to gather to Him, just
like a hen gathering her chicks. “Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If
anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.’” (John 7:37) "Come to
me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew
11:28) Our Lord Jesus Christ will not abandon anyone who comes before Him to
petition Him, but will give them the life of God, for He came to earth to seek
and save those who are lost. Jesus Christ is willing to save, help, protect and
comfort all who are oppressed by sin and Satan, so that they will no longer be
slaves to sin but enjoy the freedom of the children of God.
“He who
dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I
trust.’ … He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will
find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:1-2,
4) The author of this psalm knew well the salvation and protection of God. He
used the words shelter, shadow, refuge, fortress and under His wings to
describe the absolute peace within the Lord. He encourages us to rely on God,
for in Him we no longer have to fear darkness, piercing arrows, pestilence, disease,
catastrophe, lions, vipers or distress. In the Old Testament the word “trust” has
the meaning of seeking refuge and protection. The author points out that God’s
faithfulness is like the feathers on the wings of a hen, like shields and
ramparts that become the protection of those who rely on the Lord. When we come
close to Jesus Christ and are willing to lay aside all our prejudices,
self-righteousness, hypocrisies, pride, stubbornness, burdens, vices and
corrupt behaviours, admit to and repent of our sins, and single-mindedly rely
on Jesus Christ the Son of God, we will receive His salvation and protection.
Christians
who have been saved still need to rely often on God, for the devil who opposes
God prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Satan is
not willing to lose control over us. He searches for opportunities to capture
people through trials, temptations and attacks. When he comes knocking at our
hearts’ door, we should know how to ask Christ to answer it, so that He will
confront the enemy for us. He will surely be our Lord of protection. David was
anointed king in his youth, but did not ascend to the throne in
“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May
you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you
have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2:12)
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